2 Samuel18
English Standard Version
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1 Then the were with him and them of and of .
2 And the , one of , one of the of , , and one of the . And the to the , I will you.
3 But the , You shall . we , they will about us. of us , they will about us. you are of us. it is that you send us the .
4 The to them, to I will . So the at the of the , while the by and by .
5 And the and and , Deal for my sake with the . And the when the to the .
6 So the into the , and the was fought in the of .
7 And the of were there the of , and the there was on that , men.
8 the of the , and the that the .
9 And happened to the of . was on his , and the the of a , and his in the , and he was , while the was him .
10 And a it and , , I in an .
11 to the who him, , you him! then did you him to the ? I would have been glad to you .
12 But the to , Even I felt my the of a , I would reach my against the , in our the you and and , For my the .
13 On the other , if I had against his (and there is the ), then you yourself would have .
14 , I will like with . And he in his and them into the of while he was in the .
15 And , , and him and him.
16 Then the , and the from , .
17 And they and him into a in the and him a of . And every to his own .
18 Now in his had and for himself the is in the , he , I have my in . He the his own , and it is to .
19 Then the of , me and to the the Lord has him the of his .
20 And to him, are not to carry . You may carry , but you shall carry , the is .
21 Then to the , , the you have . The before , and .
22 Then the of to , Come may, me the . And , will you , my , seeing that you will have for the ?
23 Come may, he said, I will . So he to him, . Then by the of the , and the .
24 Now was the , and the to the of the by the , and when he his and , he a .
25 The and the . And the , he is , there is in his . And he and .
26 The . And the to the and , , another ! The , brings .
27 The , I the of the is like the of the of . And the , is a and with .
28 Then cried to the , All is . And he before the with his to the and , be the Lord your , who has the who their against my the .
29 And the , Is it with the ? , When the , your , I a , but I do it was.
30 And the , Turn and . So he and .
31 And , the , and the , Good for my the ! the Lord has you this the of who you.
32 The to the , Is it with the ? And the , May the of my the and you for be like that .
33 And the was and to the the and . And as he , he , O my , my , my ! I of you, O , my , my !
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2 Samuel 18Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 18. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Absalom's army defeated. (1–8). He is slain. (9–18). David's over-sorrow. (19–33).
vv1-8
How does David render good for evil! Absalom would have only David smitten; David would have only Absalom spared. This seems to be a resemblance of man's wickedness towards God, and God's mercy to man, of which it is hard to say which is most amazing. Now the Israelites see what it is to take counsel against the Lord and his anointed.
vv9-18
Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed, forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrence of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery and contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.
vv19-33
By directing David to give God thanks for his victory, Ahimaaz prepared him for the news of his son's death. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. Some think David's wish arose from concern about Absalom's everlasting state; but he rather seems to have spoken without due thought. He is to be blamed for showing so great fondness for a graceless son. Also for quarrelling with Divine justice. And for opposing the justice of the nation, which, as king, he had to administer, and which ought to be preferred before natural affection. The best men are not always in a good frame; we are apt to over-grieve for what we over-loved. But while we learn from this example to watch and pray against sinful indulgence, or neglect of our children, may we not, in David, perceive a shadow of the Saviour's love, who wept over, prayed for, and even suffered death for mankind, though vile rebels and enemies.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
פָּקַד: to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שַׂר: a head person (of any rank or class)
אֶלֶף: hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
מֵאָה: a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
Cross References
2 Samuel 18David never forgot Joab's slaying of Absalom in direct violation of his command.
Supported by JFB
Under God's law, a stubborn and rebellious son like Absalom deserved the death penalty.
Supported by JFB
The people refuse to let David enter battle, valuing him as worth ten thousand of them.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Absalom's famous hair, previously his proud boast, likely contributed to his being caught in the oak.
Supported by JFB
Absalom is buried under a heap of stones, symbolizing a cursed criminal, like Achan.
Supported by JFB
David entrusts a third of his forces to Ittai the Gittite, who recently pledged lifelong loyalty.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Absalom hanging on the tree, accursed of God, typifies the curse of sin borne by Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The sword falling on Absalom fulfills Nathan's prophecy that the sword would never depart from David's house.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Absalom erected a pillar because his three sons had died, leaving him with no heir.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David's plea to spare his rebellious son shadows Christ's superior love, praying for His executioners.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Wood of Ephraim east of Jordan likely gained its name from Jephthah's slaughter of Ephraimites.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God uses natural elements (the forest) to destroy more of Israel's rebellious army than the sword.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The horrific death of Absalom illustrates the biblical warning of judgment upon children who mock parents.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The watchman on the roof overlooking the gate detects approaching messengers, matching ancient military watch routines.
Supported by Matthew Poole