2 Samuel 18
PATwas Ultra, an Israelite. By religion, though by birth an Ishmaelite. (Sec 1 Chron. ii. 27.) Abarbincl thinks the quite contrary, that he was an Israelite by birth, but had lived long in the land of the Ishmaelites. And by the son of a man he understands an illustrious person. TJiat ivent in to Abigail the daughter of Naliash.] That is, ho married one of the daughters of Jesse, who is here called Nahasli. For, as Kimchi observes, many persons had two names: and this signifies a serpent. From whence it is, that when Isaiah,saith, xiv. 29. out of the serpent’s root (or the root ofNahash) shall come forth a cockatrice, or basilisk; the Chaldee paraphrase expounds it, out of the root of Jesse shall come forth the Messiah. Who was typified by the brazen serpent in the wilderness. Sister to Zeruiah, JoaVs mother.] So Amasa was cousingerman to Joab: and David was uncle to them both. Absalom, one would think, should not have trusted in such an office so near a relation of David: but he himself was much nearer; and he took Amasa to be as ambitious as himself. encouragement to them, and make them fight the more valiantly.
2 Samuel 18:1
JiiND David numbered the people that were with him. And found them sufficient to make a considerable army. And set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.] Formed them into regiments and companies (as we now speak), and set proper officers and commanders over them.
2 Samuel 18:2
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab. Who was the general of the whole host: but now David intended to command in chief himself (as we read in the end of this verse), and therefore committed only a third part of the army to the conduct of Joab. And a third part under the hand ofAbishai, the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite.] Order and discipline is of more force in a battle than great numbers: therefore David disposes his, little army, for so it was in comparison (Josephus saith but four thousand men), into three bodies, under three eminent commanders: who were to succour one another as they saw’ occasion. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.] Which he thought would be a great
2 Samuel 18:3
But the people answered, Thou shaltnot go forth: for if we flee, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us. They did not think.it advisable that he should hazard himself: for which they give a good reason. That if they should be routed, and half of them slain, Absalom would not think himself a conqueror as long as David was alive: who might raise new forces, and give him battle again. And, as Josephus adds, they might possibly think the king had another army to guard his person. But now thou art worth ten thousand of vs.] Whose person, therefore, ought not to be exposed to danger. Tlierefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.’] By sending them, if there were need, a fresh supply of men, which he kept with him as a reserve in. the city: and provision also, with counsel and advice, as occasion required.
2 Samuel 18:4
And the king said unto them, What seemetk you best I will do. He submitted to their opinion; for it was not a time now to oppose the sense of his people. And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people came out by hundreds, and by thousands.] Whom, Josephus saith, he exhorted to be faithful and courageous, remembering what he had done for them, vikyjv avrotg Inzv- Zafxzvoc, praying God to make thevi victorious.
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. If they got the better, he prayed, or rather required them, to spare Absalom’s life: though he did not deserve it, yet because David desired it, whose affection was wonderfully great to him as his son; and in hope, perhaps, to reclaim him and bring him to repentance. He considered him also as a rash yo’ung man, and therefore an object of his and their pity. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.] So that no private soldier might voluntarily kill him.
2 Samuel 18:6
And the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood ofEphraim. Josephus saith, that Joab drew up his men, lv rtj> inSitp /leyaXy, in a large fields which had a wood behind it. Which is called the wood of Ephraim, not because it belonged to the tribe ofEphraim, for they had no possessions on this aide Jordan, where the battle was fought: but the Gileadites gave it that naine in memory of the great slaughter Jephthah made of the Ephraimites hereabout, mentioned Judg. xii.
2 Samuel 18:7
Where the men of Israel were slain before the servants of David. They who fought for Absalom being called the men of Israel, it looks like an argument that David’s army was principally gathered out of his own tribe of Judah. But it will appear from xix. 11. that this is not true: and therefore by Israel we are to understand the tribes on the other side Jordan, who pursued David into the land of Gilead, where he had got together a small army. And there was a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.] For the fight was obstinate, as Josephus thinks, both sides having great reason to stand stoutly to it, lib. vii. Antiq. cap. 9.
2 Samuel 18:8
For the battle was there scattered over the face of vol. ii. ninii all the country. Thereabout, both in the field and in the wood. And the wood devoured more people that day than. the sword devoured.] Some think the wood is said to devour them, because they fell into pits, or stumbled upon stumps of trees, or pressed one another to death as they came into strait placies, or were" killed by wild beasts. But the most simple meaning is, that there were more slain in the wood than in the field. That is, more in flight than in the fight: SO Josephus, d>c fevyovrai Tnativ irXdovac v fxa\oixivov^ For they could not run away so fast in the wood as in the open field. - Many also being weary, it is likely, got into lurking-places, and were there killed like wild beasts.
2 Samuel 18:9
And Absalom met the servants of David. In this flight through the wood, he chanced to meet with some of David’s soldiers, who would not kill him, nor so much as stop him, much less seize him: for so it seems they underr stood David’s commandment, that they should not meddle with him. But though they let him go, yet God met with him, and put a stop to his flight/ as it here follows. And- Absalom rode upon a mule.] Full speed, as fast as it could carry him. And the mule went under the thick bouglis of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak.] His neck, I suppose, stuck fast between the boughs of this oak. And he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.] He hung there, having nothing to support him: and his neck was so wedged between the boughs, by the swift motion of the mule, that he was not able to disengage himself. I do not see any colour for their opinion who think he hung. by his hair, which being very long, was wrapped about the boughs of the tree: nor is it probable he was without a helmet, which covered his hair. And besides, it is said afterward, that Joab smote him while he ivas yet alive, in the middle of the oak, (ver. 14.) Which had been no wonder, if he had only hung by his hair; which would not have lulled him: whereas when Joab came to him, he was only not quite dead, but very near it. Yet that great man Bochartus, in his epistle about the weight of Absalom’s hair, supposes it to have been so thick, and,‘so strong, that the weight of his whole body could not break it when he hung thereby. Though in his last work he saith, " Hsesit inter ramos arborum, et jumento praetergresso pependit inter coelum et terram/" He stuck between the boughs of trees, and his beast going from under him, he hung between heaven and earth. (Hierozoicon, par. i.lib. ii. cap. 11.)
2 Samuel 18:10
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. But not dead.
2 Samuel 18:11
And Joab answered to the man that told him, And, behold, thon sawest him; and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.] A military belt, which was much esteemed, (1 Sam. xviii. 4.)
2 Samuel 18:12
And the man said, Though I should receive a. thousand shekels of silver in my hand. In ready money (as we speak) paid down beforehand. Yet would I not put forth my hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai.] It was a thing notoriously known, not only to him, but to all the army. 3A ~J A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. XVIII. Saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.] Do him no hurt; but leave mc to punish him.
2 Samuel 18:13
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life. Not only been false and disobedient.to the king, but brought his own life in danger; and therefore not have been true to himself. For there is no matter hid from the king; and thou thyself wouldest have set thijsclf against me.] He knew the genius of Joab so well, that he was sure he would, have been as forward as ajiy, both to inform the king of what he had done, and to have him punished for disobeying his sovereign. Joab also knew this to be so true, that he^doth not rebuke him for this bold saying.
2 Samuel 18:14
Tliensaid Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. Lose time in such discourse.’ And he took three darts into his hand.].From the Hebrew spatim, which we translate darts, comes the Latin word spatha: which was a sort of weapon among the ancient Gauls, as Bochartus shews, called by the Chaldee gis<e; from whence the Latin gesum: which Festus saith, was grave jaculum, a heavy dart, being made all of iron. (See his Canaan, lib. i. cap. 42.) And thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.] Not through that part which is strictly called theheart (for then he would have died immediately, and there would have been no need of his soldiers falling upon him, as we read they did in the next verse), but through the midst of his body; which did not kill him outright, but there was still some life remain-, ing iu him.
2 Samuel 18:15
And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour. Who waited upon his person, as general of the army. Compassed about, and smote Absalom, and sleiv him.] Surrounded him, and thrust their spears or swords through him; and so put an end to his life. Joab, I suppose, thought himself not safe as long as Absalom was alive. For some unquiet people, he thought, who were deeply engaged in this rebellion, would move new disturbances to set. him on the throne. Therefore he did not as David commanded, but as he imagined he should have commanded. Kimchi hath a conceit that some of Absalom’s crimes arc legible in his punishment: for he was thrust through with three darts, having stolen the heart of the king, and then of the two hundred men that followed him out of Jerusalem, and then of all Israel. And as he committed incest with his father’s ten concubines; so ten young men compassed him about, and killed him. Ver. 1G. And Joab blew the trumpet.] Sounded a retreat. And the people returned from jmrming after Israel: for Joab held back the people.] This was done like a good man: for he knew the people were drawn into this rebellion, and would return to their duty, now they had none to head them. Thus Ca;sar, after the defeat of Pompcy, and the scattering of his army, cried, “Miles parce embus;” Soldiers, spare your fellow-citizens.
2 Samuel 18:17
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood. They would not bring his body to be disposed of by his father’s ordgr, lest it should too much move his passion. And laid a great heap of stones upon him.] So that after a, sort he was stoned: as the law ordered a rebellious son to be, (Deut. xxi. 20, 21.) Adricomius, in his description of the holy land, saith this heap remained to his days; and all travellers, as they went by it, were wont to throw a stone to add to the heap, in detestation of his rebellion against his father. Andall Israel fled every one to histent.] See 1 Sam. iv. 10.
2 Samuel 18:18
Now Absalom in his life-time had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale. This dale is mentioned Gen. xiv. 17. and was not far from Jerusalem: there he thought to perpetuate his memory (which had better been forgotten) by a very magnificent structure; as Rasi, and several other Jewish doctors fancy: and some that have been in the holy land, tell us of such a noble fabric in the valley of Jehoshaphat. But this is a supposititious monument, as Wagenscil observes upon Sota, p. 221. For Josephus, who is more to be believed than these later authors, saith, that it was only a pillar, lib. vii; Antiq. cap. 9. where he calls it, crrvXoc XtSov fiapfiaphov, a pillar of marble; which he saith was two furlongs from Jerusalem: in a place where the king’s horses run races, as some say, and other exercises used to be performed. For he said, I have no son to keep my name in remem* brance.] We read before, xiv. 27. that he had three sons and, one daughter: but, as Kimchi and other Hebrew doctors say, they were all dead: so that he had no hope to make his name survive him by any other means but this. And he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day Absalom’s Place.] In the Hebrew the word which wfc translate place \sjad, which signifies a hand. As much as to say, his work: though Kimchi observes, that this word sometimes is the same with makom, a place, as in Isa. lvi. 5. And when this book was written, it bare Absalom’s name: though it is likely it did not last very long: for such works of vanity arc commonly short-lived. Of which the most famous instance we meet with in history is recorded by Pliny, lib. xxxvii. Natural. Hist cap. G. where he saith, Demetrius Phalereus had as many statues erected to him in Athens as there are days in the year, viz. three hundred and sixty; " nondum anno hunc numerum dierum excedente;" which is more, he thinks, than ever man had. But they were all thrown down, and broken in pieces, before a year was expired.
2 Samuel 18:19
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies. By this it appears Ahimaaz did not return to Jerusalem after he carried intelligence to David, but stayed with him, and was in this battle; for the priests bore arms as well as other men: and particularly performed the office of trumpeters to the army, (2 Chron. xiii. 12.) And here it is observable what strict discipline was kept in those days: that no man durst stir to carry the news of what had been done without the leave of the commander-in-chief.
2 Samuel 18:20
And honey. Milk and honey in those times were reckoned the greatest delicacies, and were the food of kings and great persons; as tho same Bochart observes, lib. iv. cap. 11., And butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine,for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat.] The making of butter, I have observed elsewhere, was early known in these countries; and so was cheese. For, as the author now mentioned observes, though these words saphoth lachar be very variously interpreted, yet the Chaldee and Syriac, as well as all the Hebrews, understand by saphoth, cheese made of cow’s milk: from the Hebrew and, Chaldee word saphar, which signifies to strain; cheese being made by pressing the whey out of the curds. (See Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 33.) Here is no mention of any fleshmeat but sheep, which were very plentiful in those countries: and so was fish also, but we never read any mention of its being eaten, till the latter times. For it is supposed by learned men, that the ancients despised it, as too light and delicate for strong stomachs. Whence they observe that Homer never speaks of it, nor any Grecian writer of the heroic times. For they said, Tlie people are weary, and hungry, and thirsty, in the wilderness.] Where there w T as scarcity of provision, and therefore they needed refreshment, when they were come out of it. Which moved these good people to bring them beds to rest themselves in, after their journey: and all these good things which this rich country afforded, to satisfy their hunger: and it is highly probable, bottles of wine were not wanting, to make their entertainment more noble. And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt riot bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day.] Some reward, no doubt, was wont to be given, to him that brought good tidings, especially of a great victory: which made him so desirous to be the messenger. But this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.] Which he knew would be unwelcome news to David, and procure no good to Ahimaaz.
2 Samuel 18:21
Then said Joab to Cushi. An Ethiopian by birth, as some think, but had embraced the Jewish religion; and CHAP. XVIII.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. it is probable, was one of those ten young men who attended on Joab, and was present when Absalom was killed; and helped perhaps to dispatch him, (ver. 15.) Go tell the kingtvhat thou hast seen!] He mentioned, it is likely, the particulars: which he would not put in writing, but have him deliver by word of mouth. * For he himself would not relate what he had done to Absalom. And Cushi bowed.himself unto him, and ran.] It was a great honour io be a messenger of such good tidings, as the defeat of the king’s enemies.
2 Samuel 18:22
Then said Ahimaaz, the son o/Zadok, yet again to Joab, But, howsoever, let vie, J pray thee, also run after Cushi. We cannot tell what made him so earnest to carry tidings, unless it was hope of reward, and confidence that his own swiftness would tnake him the first messenger of good news. For Josephus saith, he told Joab he would relate nothing to the king, but nspl uovr\q rrjg v(»o)c, only concerning the victory: -n<xvxa<ntv Si -n-tpt r?je ^Afiaakwfxov TtXevTTjg, but say not a word about the death of Absalom. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing thou hast no tidings ready?] Concerning the particulars of the fight, which he had not time to acquaint him withal. He calling him my son, it signifies he had a great affection, to him, and therefore had denied his first request: for Joab knew the king better than Ahimaaz did; who had a mind to run, because he imagined the king would be pleased to hear he was out of danger: whereas Joab knew the king loved Absalom so dearly, that nobody would be acceptable to him that could not assure him he was safe.
2 Samuel 18:23
But, howsoever, said he, let me run. He did not understand Joab’s kindness, and therefore presses. him again to grant his desire. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.] There were two ways from hence to the place where David was: one over the mountains, which was the shorter way; the other by the plain, which, though the longer, according to the proverb, proved the nearest. Or, as Josephus understands it, Ahimaaz ran a more compendious way, which he alone knew, £7T(To/iOT£/)av iufiaXwv rtov oSwv, juovog yap civttJv iniyi- VtoXJKlV.
2 Samuel 18:24
And David sat between the two gates. The gate was a very large place, where public meetings used to be; and had an inward and an outward door, between which David sat to hear news. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall.] Over the gate there was a watch-tower, from whence they might see round about,, whether any were coming, and from what quarter. And lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.] Whom he spied at some distance,- but could not discern who he was.
2 Samuel 18:25
And the watchman cried, and told the king: and the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. He took it for a sign that he was a messenger sent from Joab, and that he brought good news: for if they had been routed, there would have been more than one seen running away. And he came apace, and drew near.] So that, in a little time, he could discern who he was. Ver. 2G. And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, He also brings tidings.] More news than the former.
2 Samuel 18:26
So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead. Waiting an opportunity to fight David.
2 Samuel 18:27
And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi, the son ofNahash ofRabbah of the children ofAmmon. This was a comfort to David; to see himself honoured in his distress by one of a strange country: which he had made his enemy by the terrible execution he’had made among them, (xii. 2G, &c.) But it is thought, that this Shobi, the brother ofHanun, abhorring the base affront which he put upon David, was preserved by him, and made king of the country in the room of Hanun. And shewed his gratitude for so great a kindness, by coming to his relief, and perhaps to his assistance in his extreme necessity. AndMachir the son of Ammielof Lo-debar.] Who bred up •Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, till David sent for him, (ix.fi) r And Barzillai the Giteadite of Rogelim.] Who was a man of great wealth, (xix. 32.) and of as great goodness: for he maintained David while he was in those parts. And the watchman said, Methinks.the running of the foremost is like the naming of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.] Who was remarkable, it seems, for his speed in running. v » And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.] He was one true to the king’s interest, and therefore, he concluded, would not bring bad news.
2 Samuel 18:28
Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels. All manner of household stuff, which they now wanted. And wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beaiis, and lentiles, and parched pulse.] All sorts of provision, which were necessary for the sustenance either of man or beast. And they brought it of their own accord, without asking, which was a token of their affectionate loyalty. The word kali is twice repeated among these provisions, and is first joined with wlteat, barley, and flour. And properly signifies, tostas fruges, parched corn, as we well translate it. And in the latter end of the verse, after beans and lentiles, it must signify, as Bochart observes, " tostum aut frictum aliquod legumen, viz. frictum deer," some parched or fried sort of pulse, to wit, fried vetches: which grew plentifully in Judea; as it was common among both Greeks and Romans in their food, as Bochart shews, in his Hierozoicon, par. ii. lib. i. cap. 7. where he observes that it is called kali by the Arabians to this day. And here we may learn, by the way, from this story, and the present made him by Abigail, and by Ziba, what was the ordinary victuals used in those days." Grain $nd pulse made up a great part of it, which were the com T mon food of the ancient Egyptians. And the Romans, in their best times, when they most of all applied themselves to agriculture, did scarcely live.upon any thing else: whence came the illustrious names of Fabius, Piso, Cicero, and Lcntulus. And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well.] He was in haste to let the king know the good success they had in the battle, and therefore seems to have said at a distance, before he came up to him, Peace; which is the word in the Hebrew, signifying all happiness and prosperity. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king.] When he approached nearer to him. And said, Blessed be the Lotd thy God, zvhich hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.] Like a truly religions man, he ascribes the vie-* tory they had got unto the Lord; who still shewed his mercy unto David, and continued to be his God; i.e. bis benefactor.
2 Samuel 18:29
And the king said, Is the young man Absalomsafe?. He would not expresshis joy until he heardthat- Absalom was preserved. And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant.] This seems to signify that Cushi was oue belonging to the court. I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.] He dissembled his knowledge. of Absalom’s death; and perhaps in this said true, that he did not know the particular) manner of it; though it appears plainly (from ver; 20.) that* he knew he was dead….;
2 Samuel 18:30
And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and’ stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. He would not have him go away until Cushi came, supposing he might find more of the truth, by examining them both to^\ gether..
2 Samuel 18:31
And, behold, Cushi came. Not long after Ahw maaz had delivered his message. And Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord? hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.] He said no more than Ahimaaz had done; thinking; it would be unacceptable news to mention Absalom’s, death.
2 Samuel 18:32
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man: Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, TJie enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.] This was a decent manner of speech to inform him that he was dead.
2 Samuel 18:33
And the king tvas much moved. So that we do not find he inquired after the manner of his death, nor, after any of the particulars of the victory. And went up to the chamber over the gate*] See xix. 8. And tvept.] Being extremely disturbed, he retired as far as he could from all company, IttXtq v^jXorarov TrJeTroAewc; (as Josephus speaks), to the highest part of the city, where, he bewailed his son, knocking his breast, and tearing hishair (as the same author’s words are), k&\ iravrotwc avrbvi aiKtZofjtvog, afflicting himself all manner of zvays. And, as he went up, fie said.] When he came into the Microsoft a A 2 A COMMENTARY UPON [ciiAr, XIX. chamber, it was not so easy to know what he did, or heat what he said, because he shut up himself privately; but as he went up the stairs, ho thus bemoaned the loss of his son. O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!] No words can be more passionate; and it is likely his wish, that he had died in Absalom’s stead, was only the effect of excessive love to him, and grief for him, which made him vent himself in expressions which were not considerate. But Pellicanus (in which he follows St. Austin) thinks this was a deliberate wish, because Absalom died impenitent, and might have lived to be a better man; but if David had died, he had good hope of his own salvation. But I take this not to be well-grounded; for if David had died, in all likelihood his son would not have been sorry for it, but triumphed in his good success, and proved a wicked tyrant over a base people. The stupidity of the Jewish doctors is inconceivable, who fancy Absalom would have cut his hair, by which Tie hung, with his sword, had he not seen hell gaping for him, if he fell down; which made him choose to die in the oak: but his father, by his lamentation over him, crying seven times, my son, my son, delivered him from the seven gates of hell, and, brought him ihto paradise. (See Bartoloccius, in his Kirjath-sepher, torn. ii. p. 128, &c. 162.)