2 Samuel 18

David mustereth his men, and putteth the battle in aray, but himself (at the peoples request) tarrieth at Mahanaim, ver.1, etc. giveth order to favour Absalom, 5. Absaloms men are smitten, and Absalom himself hanging on an Oak by his long hair, is thrust thorough by Joab, and cast into a pit, a great heap of stones being laid upon it, 7. Of Absaloms Pillar, which in his life-time he had caused to be set up for his Monument, 8. Absamaaz and Cuschi bring David tidings, 19. Who maketh great moan for Absalom, 33.

1. And David mustered the people, that were with him: And he set Commanders of thousand, and Commanders of hundreds over them.

2. Moreover, David sent the people forth, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abisai, the son of Zeruja, Joabs brother, [See above chapter 15.on v.19.] and a third part under the hand of Ithai, [see above chap.15.on ver.19.] the Gethite: And the King said unto people; I; I will surely go forth with you my self also.

3. But the people said, Thou shalt not march forth; for if we should quite flee (away), they would not set the heart upon us, [i.e. Not care for it, be much troubled at it, make much ado about it; for they do not mind or regard us, but thy person onely] yea if the (one) half of us should die, they would not set the heart upon us; but (thou art) now as ten thousand of us: [i.e. thy person is of more concernment, then many thousands of us. Compare herewith the words of Achitophel, above chap.17.2, 3. Oth. Though (there were) ten thousand times more of us, according as we (are) now] so it will be now heither, for thee to be a succour to us [heb. for thee to help. or, succour: when we should be in a strait] out of the city. [viz. Mahanaim; as above chap.17.24, 27.]

4. Then said the King unto them; I will do that which is good in your eyes: [i.e. That which pleaseth you, or seemeth good unto you] now the King stood by the side of the gate; [or, on the place, between the two gates, below ver.24. Heb. Properly hand: but of such use of this word, see Deut.23.on verse 18. and else-where] and all the people marched forth by hundreds, and by thousands.

5. And the King commanded Joab, and Abisai, and Ithai, saying; (Deal) me gently with the young-man, with Absalom: and all the people heard it, when the King charged all the Commanders concerning the matters of Absalom.

6. So the people marched forth into the field, to meet Israel: [i.e. Absalom and his men, who are constantly called Israel in this place, in regard the far greater part of Israel were joined with him] and the battle happened by the wood of Ephraim. [this wood lay not far from Mahanaim, or the East-side of the Jordan, in Gilead, in the tribes of Gad; but received the name of Ephraims wood (as some conceive) from the defeat of Ephraim, in the time of Jephte the Gileadite: see Judges 12:1 4, 5. The Land of Ephraim was on the West side of the Jordan, in the Land of Canaan.]

7. And the people of Israel were smitten there before the face of David’s servants; and there happened that day a great slaughter of twenty thousand. [Of the Israelites, which were smitten by David’s men.]

8. For the battle was there spread over all that Land: And the wood devoured more of the people that day, then the sword devoured. [i.e. Those that fled into the wood, or were driven thither, perished in the wood, entangling and wounding themselves in one bush or other, and falling into pits and bogs, perhaps also being rent of wild beasts, and dying of hunger and thirst. Heb. The wood multiplied, to devour, &c.]

9. Now Absalom met before the face of David’s servants; and Absalom rode upon a Mule, and when the Mule came under the thick [Heb. The thickness] boughs of a great Oak, his head was fastened to the Oak, [in regard his long hair (whereof above chap.14.26.) slipped about the thick bough s of the Oak, and caught hold thereon] (so) that he continued [Heb. was given] hanging between the heaven, and between the earth; and the Mule that was under him, went away.

10. When a man saw that, then he certified Joab thereof, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging on an Oak.

11. Then said Joab unto the man that certified him thereof; Behold now, thou sawest it, why then didst thou not smite him there to the ground? seeing it (appertained) to me, to give thee ten silverlings, [see Gen.20.on v.16.] and a girdle.

12. But that man said unto Joab; And though I might weigh a thousand silverlings on mine hands, [i.e. Being weighed unto me, received them in mine hands, or tell them] I would not lay mine hand on the Kings son; for the King charge thee, and Abisai, and Ithai, before our ears, saying; Beware, whoever (thou art) of [meaning, touching or hurting] the young man, of Absalom, [Heb. Properly keep thy self, consider, lay hold of, take it into consideration, look to it, (as we say) whosoever, to, or, toward the young man, to Absalom. The meaning is, whosoever, or he that hurteth him, him will I, &c. ‘Tis an abrupt kind of speech or sentence, much in use even among us; or look to it, that no man hurt him. Oth. let every man consider the young man, Absalom.]

13. If I should have dealt falsly against mine (own) soul, yet nothing would be bid from the King: [i.e. If having slain Absalom, I should fasly deny it, yet it would not be hid from the King, and then should I go in danger of my life. oth. his soul, i.e. toward, or against Absaloms life or person] also thou thy self wouldest set thy self against (me). [i.e. thou wouldest forsake me, and stand aloof off, without helping me. Compare Psal.38.12. oth. oppose.]

14. Then said Joab, I will not tarry thus here with thee [Heb. Before thy face: as if he should say, ‘Tis no time to stay long herewith you. I’ll do as I please] and he took three arrows, [meaning darts, javelins, small lances, or any such like sharp weapon, used in war in those times] and thrust them into Absloms heart, [i.e. into the midst of his body, about the heart; for it appeareth v.15. that he lived yet a while] where he was yet alive in the midst of the Oak. [Heb. in the heart of the Oak. See Deut.4.on v.11.]

15. And ten Lads, Joabs armour-bearers, compassed (him) about, and they smote Absalom, and killed him.

16. Then Joab blew with the trumpet, and all the people turned away from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held the people back.

17. And they took Absalom, and threw him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: [An other kind of Monument, set up by Gods righteous judgment, then that which he had caused to be set up for himself in his life-time: see the following verse] and all Israel [viz. which had followed Absalom] fled every one to his tent. [i.e. dwelling place.]

18. Now Absalom in his life-time had taken, and reason up for himself a Pillar, which is in the kings dale; [See Gen.14.17.] for he said, I have no son, [hence appeareth that Absaloms sons (whereof mention was made above chap.14.27.) were dead at this time] to cause my name to be remembered: and he called that Pillar after his (own) name, therefore it is called unto this day, Absaloms hand. [i.e. Monument, or, hand; i.e. his work: some conceive that it was a Pillar, so called from the fashion of an hand. Tooth place, or, room: see above on v.4. compare 1 Sam.15.on v.12.]

19. Then said Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok; Let me, I pray thee, run, and ber the King tidings, that the LORD hath done him right, [i.e. Doing right, hath delivered him: so below v.31. compare the annotate. Judg.2.on v.16.] from his enemies hand.

20. But Joab said unto him; Thou shalt be no bringer of tidings [Heb. No man of errand, or, tidings: compare above chap.8 on v.10.] this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: now this day thou shalt not bear tidings, because the Kings son is dead. [As if he should say, Thou wilt carry such news or tidings, which will not please the King. Oth. for it would be of the Kings dead son.]

21. And Joab said unto Cuschi; [Or, the Blackamore, or Arabian: (see Numb.12.on v.4.) being also one of David’s servants, as appeareth by v.29. Joab seemeth to have made choice of this man, because he was a stranger. Some conceive it to be a proper name] Go thy ways, and tell the King what thou hast seen; and Cuschi; bowed himself before Joab, and ran his ways.

22. But Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, proceeded yet on, and said unto Joab; What ever it be, [As if he should say, be it what it will: Let there issue from, what will issue: so in the following verse. It seemeth, that he imagined a better thing then Joab had said] let me, I pray thee, run also after Cuschi: and Joab said; Wherefore shouldest thou now run, my son, [i.e. good young man, whom I love, as my son. Thus persons that are elder and greater, are wont to speak in a loving and friendly way to the younger and meaner sort: see Gen.43.on v.29.] seeing thou hast no fit tidings. [Heb. finding tidings: i.e. pleasant, sit,well agreeing, suitable: compare Numb.11.22. Oth.seeing it would be no profitable tidings for thee; or, seeing it would bring thee nothing in: i.e. no messengers reward or favour, but the contrary. Or thus: seeing no good tidings is offered unto thee, or, offers it self unto thee.]

23. Whatsoever it be, (said he) [viz. Ahimaaz] let me run my ways; then he [viz. Joab] said unto him, Run thy ways: and Ahimaaz ran the way of the plain field, and out went Cuschi.

24. Now David sat between the two gates: And the Watch-man went up to the roof of the gate unto the Wall, and lift up his eyes, and behold, there ran a man alone.

25. So the Watch-man cried, and told the King; and the King said; If he be alone, then there is tidings in his mouth: and he [viz. Ahimaaz, whom the Watch-man saw first] went on and drew near. [Heb. he went going.]

26. Then the Watch-man saw another man running, and the Watch-man cried to the Porter, and said, Behold there runneth (yet) a man alone: Then said the King, he is also abringer of tidings.

27. Moreover, the Watch-man said; I spy the running of the foremost, as the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok. Then said the King; That is a good man, and will come with good tidings.

28. Then Ahimaaz called, and said unto the King, Peace, [i.e. All is well; as if he should say, I bring good news] and he bowed himself before the King with his face to the ground; and he said, Praise [Heb. blessed] be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up [or, shut up, viz. in the hand of David’s men; so 1 Sam.24.19. & 26.8. and elsewhere] the men that lifted up their hand against my Lord the King.

29. Then said the King; Is it well with the young man, with Absalom? [Heb. Hath be peace? So below v.32.] And Ahimaaz said; When Joab sent away the Kings servant, [viz. Cuschi] and (me) thy servant, I saw a great tumult [or, a great multitude] but I know not, what. [Having further considered of Joabs words, he concealeth the news concerning Absalom.]

30. And the King said, Turn aside, set thy self here: so be turned aside and stood still.

31. And behold, Cuschi came, and Cuschi said; Tidings is come to my Lord the King; that the LORD hath done thee right, [as above v.19.] this day of the hand of all them that rose up against thee.

32. Then said the King unto Cuschi; Is it well with the young man, with Absalom? [As ver.29.] and all that rise up against thee for evil, be as that young man.

33. Then the King was much troubled, and went up to the upper room of the gate, and wept, and in his going he said thus; My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O that I, I, had died for thee, [Heb. Who will give, or, O that any man would give, that, etc. See of such phrase or manner of speaking in wishing, Exod.16. on verse 3. Deut.5. on verse 29, &c.] Absalom my son, my son! [David had sundry causes or occasions to be heartily grieved for his mishap, especially when besides his sons temporal death, he might fear his eternal ruin and destruction.]