1 And David H1732 numbered H6485 the people H5971 that were with him, and set H7760 captains H8269 of thousands H505 and captains H8269 of hundreds H3967 over them.
2 And David H1732 sent forth H7971 a third part H7992 of the people H5971 under the hand H3027 of Joab, H3097 and a third part H7992 under the hand H3027 of Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 Joab's H3097 brother, H251 and a third part H7992 under the hand H3027 of Ittai H863 the Gittite. H1663 And the king H4428 said H559 unto the people, H5971 I will surely H3318 go forth H3318 with you myself H589 also.
3 But the people H5971 answered, H559 Thou shalt not go forth: H3318 for if we flee H5127 away, H5127 they will not care H7760 H3820 for us; neither if half H2677 of us die, H4191 will they care H7760 H3820 for us: but now thou art worth H3644 ten H6235 thousand H505 of us: therefore now it is better H2896 that thou succour H5826 H5826 us out of the city. H5892
4 And the king H4428 said H559 unto them, What seemeth H5869 you best H3190 I will do. H6213 And the king H4428 stood H5975 by the gate H8179 side, H3027 and all the people H5971 came out H3318 by hundreds H3967 and by thousands. H505
5 And the king H4428 commanded H6680 Joab H3097 and Abishai H52 and Ittai, H863 saying, H559 Deal gently H328 for my sake with the young man, H5288 even with Absalom. H53 And all the people H5971 heard H8085 when the king H4428 gave all the captains H8269 charge H6680 concerning H1697 Absalom. H53
6 So the people H5971 went out H3318 into the field H7704 against H7125 Israel: H3478 and the battle H4421 was in the wood H3293 of Ephraim; H669
7 Where the people H5971 of Israel H3478 were slain H5062 before H6440 the servants H5650 of David, H1732 and there was there a great H1419 slaughter H4046 that day H3117 of twenty H6242 thousand H505 men.
8 For the battle H4421 was there scattered H6327 over the face H6440 of all the country: H776 and the wood H3293 devoured H398 more H7235 people H5971 that day H3117 than the sword H2719 devoured. H398
9 And Absalom H53 met H7122 the servants H6440 H5650 of David. H1732 And Absalom H53 rode H7392 upon a mule, H6505 and the mule H6505 went H935 under the thick boughs H7730 of a great H1419 oak, H424 and his head H7218 caught hold H2388 of the oak, H424 and he was taken up H5414 between the heaven H8064 and the earth; H776 and the mule H6505 that was under him went away. H5674
10 And a certain H259 man H376 saw H7200 it, and told H5046 Joab, H3097 and said, H559 Behold, I saw H7200 Absalom H53 hanged H8518 in an oak. H424
11 And Joab H3097 said H559 unto the man H376 that told H5046 him, And, behold, thou sawest H7200 him, and why didst thou not smite H5221 him there to the ground? H776 and I would have given H5414 thee ten H6235 shekels of silver, H3701 and a H259 girdle. H2290
12 And the man H376 said H559 unto Joab, H3097 Though H3863 I should receive H8254 a thousand H505 shekels of silver H3701 in mine hand, H3709 yet would I not put forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against the king's H4428 son: H1121 for in our hearing H241 the king H4428 charged H6680 thee and Abishai H52 and Ittai, H863 saying, H559 Beware H8104 that none touch the young man H5288 Absalom. H53
13 Otherwise H176 I should have wrought H6213 falsehood H8267 against mine own life: H5315 for there is no matter H1697 hid H3582 from the king, H4428 and thou thyself wouldest have set H3320 thyself against me.
14 Then said H559 Joab, H3097 I may not tarry H3176 thus with thee. H6440 And he took H3947 three H7969 darts H7626 in his hand, H3709 and thrust H8628 them through the heart H3820 of Absalom, H53 while he was yet alive H2416 in the midst of the oak. H424
15 And ten H6235 young men H5288 that bare H5375 Joab's H3097 armour H3627 compassed about H5437 and smote H5221 Absalom, H53 and slew H4191 him.
16 And Joab H3097 blew H8628 the trumpet, H7782 and the people H5971 returned H7725 from pursuing H7291 after H310 Israel: H3478 for Joab H3097 held back H2820 the people. H5971
17 And they took H3947 Absalom, H53 and cast H7993 him into a great H1419 pit H6354 in the wood, H3293 and laid H5324 a very H3966 great H1419 heap H1530 of stones H68 upon him: and all Israel H3478 fled H5127 every one H376 to his tent. H168
18 Now Absalom H53 in his lifetime H2416 had taken H3947 and reared up H5324 for himself a pillar, H4678 which is in the king's H4428 dale: H6010 for he said, H559 I have no son H1121 to keep my name H8034 in remembrance: H2142 and he called H7121 the pillar H4678 after his own name: H8034 and it is called H7121 unto this day, H3117 Absalom's H53 place. H3027
19 Then said H559 Ahimaaz H290 the son H1121 of Zadok, H6659 Let me now run, H7323 and bear H1319 the king H4428 tidings, H1319 how that the LORD H3068 hath avenged H8199 him of his enemies. H3027 H341
20 And Joab H3097 said H559 unto him, Thou H376 shalt not bear tidings H1309 this day, H3117 but thou shalt bear tidings H1319 another H312 day: H3117 but this day H3117 thou shalt bear no tidings, H1319 because the king's H4428 son H1121 is dead. H4191
21 Then said H559 Joab H3097 to Cushi, H3569 Go H3212 tell H5046 the king H4428 what thou hast seen. H7200 And Cushi H3569 bowed H7812 himself unto Joab, H3097 and ran. H7323
22 Then said H559 Ahimaaz H290 the son H1121 of Zadok H6659 yet again H3254 to Joab, H3097 But howsoever, H4100 let me, I pray thee, also run H7323 after H310 Cushi. H3569 And Joab H3097 said, H559 Wherefore wilt thou run, H7323 my son, H1121 seeing that thou hast no tidings H1309 ready? H4672
23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. H7323 And he said H559 unto him, Run. H7323 Then Ahimaaz H290 ran H7323 by the way H1870 of the plain, H3603 and overran H5674 Cushi. H3569
24 And David H1732 sat H3427 between the two H8147 gates: H8179 and the watchman H6822 went up H3212 to the roof H1406 over the gate H8179 unto the wall, H2346 and lifted up H5375 his eyes, H5869 and looked, H7200 and behold a man H376 running H7323 alone.
25 And the watchman H6822 cried, H7121 and told H5046 the king. H4428 And the king H4428 said, H559 If he be alone, there is tidings H1309 in his mouth. H6310 And he came H3212 apace, H1980 and drew near. H7131
26 And the watchman H6822 saw H7200 another H312 man H376 running: H7323 and the watchman H6822 called H7121 unto the porter, H7778 and said, H559 Behold another man H376 running H7323 alone. And the king H4428 said, H559 He also bringeth tidings. H1319
27 And the watchman H6822 said, H559 Me thinketh H7200 the running H4794 of the foremost H7223 is like the running H4794 of Ahimaaz H290 the son H1121 of Zadok. H6659 And the king H4428 said, H559 He is a good H2896 man, H376 and cometh H935 with good H2896 tidings. H1309
28 And Ahimaaz H290 called, H7121 and said H559 unto the king, H4428 All is well. H7965 And he fell down H7812 to the earth H776 upon his face H639 before the king, H4428 and said, H559 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 which hath delivered up H5462 the men H582 that lifted up H5375 their hand H3027 against my lord H113 the king. H4428
29 And the king H4428 said, H559 Is the young man H5288 Absalom H53 safe? H7965 And Ahimaaz H290 answered, H559 When Joab H3097 sent H7971 the king's H4428 servant, H5650 and me thy servant, H5650 I saw H7200 a great H1419 tumult, H1995 but I knew H3045 not what it was.
30 And the king H4428 said H559 unto him, Turn aside, H5437 and stand H3320 here. H3541 And he turned aside, H5437 and stood still. H5975
31 And, behold, Cushi H3569 came; H935 and Cushi H3569 said, H559 Tidings, H1319 my lord H113 the king: H4428 for the LORD H3068 hath avenged H8199 thee this day H3117 of all them H3027 that rose up H6965 against thee.
32 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Cushi, H3569 Is the young man H5288 Absalom H53 safe? H7965 And Cushi H3569 answered, H559 The enemies H341 of my lord H113 the king, H4428 and all that rise H6965 against thee to do thee hurt, H7451 be as that young man H5288 is.
33 And the king H4428 was much moved, H7264 and went up H5927 to the chamber H5944 over the gate, H8179 and wept: H1058 and as he went, H3212 thus he said, H559 O my son H1121 Absalom, H53 my son, H1121 my son H1121 Absalom! H53 would God I had died H4191 for thee, H5414 O Absalom, H53 my son, H1121 my son! H1121
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 18
Commentary on 2 Samuel 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 18
2Sa 18:1-4. David Reviewing the Armies.
1, 2. David numbered the people that were with him—The hardy mountaineers of Gilead came in great numbers at the call of their chieftains, so that, although without money to pay any troops, David soon found himself at the head of a considerable army. A pitched battle was now inevitable. But so much depending on the life of the king, he was not allowed to take the field in person; and he therefore divided his forces into three detachments under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, the commander of the foreign guards.
2Sa 18:5-13. Gives Them Charge of Absalom.
5. Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom—This affecting charge, which the king gave to his generals, proceeded not only from his overwhelming affection for his children, but from his consciousness that this rebellion was the chastisement of his own crimes, Absalom being merely an instrument in the hand of retributive Providence;—and also from his piety, lest the unhappy prince should die with his sins unrepented of.
6. wood of Ephraim—This wood, of course, was on the east of Jordan. Its name was derived, according to some, from the slaughter of the Ephraimites by Jephthah—according to others, from the connection of blood with the trans-jordanic Manasseh.
7. the people of Israel were slain—This designation, together with the immense slaughter mentioned later, shows the large extent to which the people were enlisted in this unhappy civil contest.
8. the wood devoured more people than the sword—The thick forest of oaks and terebinths, by obstructing the flight, greatly aided the victors in the pursuit.
9. Absalom met the servants of David—or was overtaken. "It is necessary to be continually on one's guard against the branches of trees; and when the hair is worn in large locks floating down the back, as was the case with a young man of the party to which I belonged, any thick boughs interposing in the path might easily dislodge a rider from his seat, and catch hold of his flowing hair" [Hartley]. Some, however, think that the sacred historian points not so much to the hair, as to the head of Absalom, which, being caught while running between two branches, was enclosed so firmly that he could not disengage himself from the hold, nor make use of his hands.
the mule that was under him went away—The Orientals, not having saddles as we do, do not sit so firmly on the beasts they ride. Absalom quitting his hold of the bridle, apparently to release himself when caught in the oak, the mule escaped.
11, 12. Joab said unto the man that told him, … I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle—that is, would have raised him from the ranks to the status of a commissioned officer. Besides a sum of money, a girdle, curiously and richly wrought, was among the ancient Hebrews a mark of honor, and sometimes bestowed as a reward of military merit. This soldier, however, who may be taken as a fair sample of David's faithful subjects, had so great a respect for the king's wishes, that no prospect of reward would have tempted him to lay violent hands on Absalom. But Joab's stern sense of public duty, which satisfied him that there could be neither safety to the king, nor peace to the kingdom, nor security to him and other loyal subjects, so long as that turbulent prince lived, overcame his sensibilities, and looking upon the charge given to the generals as more befitting a parent than a prince, he ventured to disobey it.
2Sa 18:14-32. He Is Slain by Joab.
14. he took three darts … and thrust them through the heart of Absalom—The deed, partially done by Joab, was completed by his bodyguard. Being a violation of the expressed wish, as well as of all the fond paternal feelings of David, it must have been deeply offensive to the king, nor was it ever forgotten (1Ki 2:5); and yet there is the strongest reason for believing that Joab, in doing it, was actuated by a sincere regard to the interests of David, both as a man and a monarch.
16. Joab blew the trumpet, … and held back the people—Knowing that by the death of the usurper there was no occasion for further bloodshed, he put an end to the pursuit and thereby evinced the temperate policy of his conduct. However harsh and unfeeling to the king Joab may appear, there can be no doubt that he acted the part of a wise statesman in regarding the peace and welfare of the kingdom more than his master's private inclinations, which were opposed to strict justice as well as his own interests. Absalom deserved to die by the divine law (De 21:18, 21), as well as being an enemy to his king and country; and no time was more fitting than when he met that death in open battle.
17. they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit … and laid a very great heap of stones upon him—The people of the East indicate their detestation of the memory of an infamous person by throwing stones at the place where he is buried. The heap is increased by the gradual accumulation of stones which passers-by add to it.
18. Absalom in his lifetime had reared up for himself a pillar—literally, "hand." In the valley of Jehoshaphat, on the east of Jerusalem, is a tomb or cenotaph, said to be this "pillar" or monument: it is twenty-four feet square, dome-topped, and reaches forty feet in height. This may occupy the spot, but cannot itself be the work of Absalom, as it evidently bears the style of a later architecture.
19. Then said Ahimaaz … Let me … run and bear the king tidings—The reasons why Joab declined to accept Ahimaaz' offer to bear intelligence of the victory to David, and afterwards let him go along with another, are variously stated by commentators—but they are of no importance. Yet the alacrity of the messengers, as well as the eager excitement of the expectants, is graphically described.
23. by the way of the plain—or ciccar, "circle." This word is only used elsewhere in connection with the valley of the Jordan. It is possible that there may have been a place or region so called on the tablelands of Gilead, as the Septuagint seems to indicate. Or Mahanaim may have been so situated, with the regard to the battlefield, as to be more easily accessible by a descent to the plain of the Jordan, than over the hills themselves. Or the word may signify (as Ewald explains) a manner of quick running [Stanley].
24-32. David sat between the two gates—that is, in the tower-house on the wall that overhung the gate of Mahanaim. Near it was a watchtower, on which a sentinel was posted, as in times of war, to notify every occurrence. The delicacy of Ahimaaz' communication was made up by the unmistakable plainness of Cushi's. The death of Absalom was a heavy trial, and it is impossible not to sympathize with the outburst of feeling by which David showed that all thoughts of the victory he had won as a king were completely sunk in the painful loss he had sustained as a father. The extraordinary ardor and strength of his affection for this worthless son break out in the redundancy and vehemence of his mournful ejaculations.