2 Samuel 18:5
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
As the army marched out to battle, David gave a direct charge to his three captains, Joab and Abishai and Ittai, to deal gently for his sake with the young man, even Absalom. He repeated the command to treat his son gently, making it a public charge given in the hearing of all the people. The charge was an expression of deep love and pity for Absalom that endured despite his open rebellion. It showed that David's chief concern as the battle began was not the crown nor his own safety, but the life of his son. That solicitude for Absalom angered the soldiers, who regarded Absalom as an unnatural son unworthy of such pity.