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Texts -- 2 Samuel 18:1-30 (NET)

Context
The Death of Absalom
18:1 David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds . 18:2 David then sent out the army – a third under the leadership of Joab , a third under the leadership of Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah , and a third under the leadership of Ittai the Gittite . The king said to the troops , “I too will indeed march out with you.” 18:3 But the soldiers replied , “You should not do this! For if we should have to make a rapid retreat , they won’t be too concerned about us. Even if half of us should die , they won’t be too concerned about us. But you are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support .” 18:4 Then the king said to them, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” So the king stayed beside the city gate , while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands . 18:5 The king gave this order to Joab , Abishai , and Ittai : “For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom .” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom . 18:6 Then the army marched out to the field to fight against Israel . The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim . 18:7 The army of Israel was defeated there by David’s men . The slaughter there was great that day – 20,000 soldiers were killed. 18:8 The battle there was spread out over the whole area , and the forest consumed more soldiers than the sword devoured that day . 18:9 Then Absalom happened to come across David’s men . Now as Absalom was riding on his mule , it went under the branches of a large oak tree . His head got caught in the oak and he was suspended in midair , while the mule he had been riding kept going . 18:10 When one of the men saw this, he reported it to Joab saying , “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree . 18:11 Joab replied to the man who was telling him this, “What! You saw this? Why didn’t you strike him down right on the spot ? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a commemorative belt !” 18:12 The man replied to Joab , “Even if I were receiving a thousand pieces of silver , I would not strike the king’s son ! In our very presence the king gave this order to you and Abishai and Ittai , ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 18:13 If I had acted at risk of my own life – and nothing is hidden from the king !– you would have abandoned me.” 18:14 Joab replied , “I will not wait around like this for you!” He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree . 18:15 Then ten soldiers who were Joab’s armor bearers struck Absalom and finished him off . 18:16 Then Joab blew the trumpet and the army turned back from chasing Israel , for Joab had called for the army to halt . 18:17 They took Absalom , threw him into a large pit in the forest , and stacked a huge pile of stones over him. In the meantime all the Israelite soldiers fled to their homes . 18:18 Prior to this Absalom had set up a monument and dedicated it to himself in the King’s Valley , reasoning “I have no son who will carry on my name .” He named the monument after himself , and to this day it is known as Absalom’s Memorial .
David Learns of Absalom’s Death
18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said , “Let me run and give the king the good news that the Lord has vindicated him before his enemies .” 18:20 But Joab said to him, “You will not be a bearer of good news today . You will bear good news some other day , but not today , for the king’s son is dead .” 18:21 Then Joab said to the Cushite , “Go and tell the king what you have seen .” After bowing to Joab , the Cushite ran off . 18:22 Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab , “Whatever happens , let me go after the Cushite .” But Joab said , “Why is it that you want to go , my son ? You have no good news that will bring you a reward .” 18:23 But he said, “Whatever happens , I want to go !” So Joab said to him, “Then go !” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain , and he passed the Cushite . 18:24 Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates , and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall . When he looked , he saw a man running by himself . 18:25 So the watchman called out and informed the king . The king said , “If he is by himself , he brings good news .” The runner came ever closer . 18:26 Then the watchman saw another man running . The watchman called out to the gatekeeper , “There is another man running by himself .” The king said , “This one also is bringing good news .” 18:27 The watchman said , “It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok .” The king said , “He is a good man , and he comes with good news .” 18:28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king , “Greetings !” He bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and said , “May the Lord your God be praised because he has defeated the men who opposed my lord the king !” 18:29 The king replied , “How is the young man Absalom ?” Ahimaaz replied , “I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me, your servant , but I don’t know what it was all about.” 18:30 The king said , “Turn aside and take your place here.” So he turned aside and waited .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Joab

    [ebd] Jehovah is his father. (1.) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David's sister, and "captain of the host" during the whole of David's reign (2 Sam. 2:13; 10:7; 11:1; 1 Kings 11:15). His father's name is nowhere mentioned, alth...
    [smith] (whose father is Jehovah), the most remarkable of the three nephews of David, the children of Zeruiah, David?s sister. (B.C. 1053-1012.) Joab first appears after David?s accession to the throne at Hebron. Abner slew in battle...
    [nave] JOAB 1. Son of David's sister, 1 Chr. 2:16. Commander of David's army, 2 Sam. 8:16; 20:23; 1 Chr. 11:6; 18:15; 27:34. Dedicated spoils of his battles, 1 Chr. 26:28. Defeated the Jebusites, 1 Chr. 11:6. Defeats and slays ...

  • David

    [ebd] beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal ...
    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • Ahimaaz

    [ebd] brother of anger = irascible. (1.) The father Ahinoam, the wife of Saul (1 Sam. 14:50). (2.) The son and successor of Zadok in the office of high priest (1 Chr. 6:8, 53). On the occasion of the revolt of Absalom he remained ...
    [isbe] AHIMAAZ - a-hi-ma'-az, a-him'-a-az ('achima`ats, perhaps "my brother is rage," or "brother of rage"): (1) Father of Ahinoam the wife of King Saul (1 Sam 14:50). (2) The son of Zadok the high priest (1 Ch 6:8,9,53). With his ...
    [smith] (brother of anger). Son of Zadok the high priest in David?s reign, and celebrated for his swiftness of foot. During Absalom?s rebellion he carried to David the important intelligence that Ahithophel had counselled an immedia...
    [nave] AHIMAAZ 1. Father in law of king Saul, 1 Sam. 14:50. 2. Son of Zadok, the high priest. Loyal to David, 2 Sam. 15:36; 17:17-20; 18:19-33; 1 Chr. 6:8, 9, 53. 3. Solomon's son in law, 1 Kin. 4:15.

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Rebellion

    [nave] REBELLION, treasonable, Prov. 17:11. Instances of Absalom, 2 Sam. 15-18. Sheba, 2 Sam. 20. Revolt of the ten tribes, 1 Kin. 12:16-20; 2 Chr. 10; 13:5-12. See: Insurrection; Mutiny; Revolt; Sin; Usurpation.

  • Chronicles, Books of

    [ebd] The two books were originally one. They bore the title in the Massoretic Hebrew Dibre hayyamim, i.e., "Acts of the Days." This title was rendered by Jerome in his Latin version "Chronicon," and hence "Chronicles." In the Sep...

  • Cushi

    [isbe] CUSHI - ku'-shi: This name represents kushi, in the original Septuagint Chousei, Chousi), either with or without the article. With the article (so in 2 Sam 18:21-32 seven out of eight times, all readings supported by the Sep...
    [smith] Properly "the Cushite," "the Ethiopian," a man apparently attached to Joab?s person. (2 Samuel 18:21-25,31,32)
    [nave] CUSHI 1. A messenger, who brought good news to David, 2 Sam. 18:21-32. 2. Father of Shelemiah, Jer. 36:14. 3. Father of Zephaniah, Zeph. 1:1.

  • Ephraim

    [nave] EPHRAIM 1. Second son of Joseph, Gen. 41:52. Adopted by Jacob, Gen. 48:5. Blessed before Manasseh; prophecies concerning, Gen. 48:14-20. Descendants of, Num. 26:35-37; 1 Chr. 7:20-27. Mourns for his sons, 1 Chr. 7:21, 22...

  • Readings, Select

    [nave] READINGS, SELECT. Judah's Defense Gen. 44:18-34 Joseph Revealing His Identity Gen. 45:1-15 The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh Ex. 14:5-30 Song of Moses When Pharaoh and His Army Were Overthrown Ex. 15:1-1...

  • Ittai

    [ebd] near; timely; or, with the Lord. (1.) A Benjamite, one of David's thirty heroes (2 Sam. 23:29). (2.) A native of Gath, a Philistine, who had apparently the command of the six hundred heroes who formed David's band during his...
    [isbe] ITTAI - it'-a-i, it'-i ('ittay, 'ithay): (1) A Gittite or native of Gath, one of David's chief captains and most faithful friends during the rebellion of Absalom (2 Sam 15:11-22; 18:2,4,12). The narrative reveals David's chi...
    [smith] (with the Lord). "Ittai the Gittite," i.e. the native of Gath, a Philistine in the army of King David. He appears only during the revolution of Absalom. (B.C. 1023.) We first discern him on the morning of David?s flight. The...
    [nave] ITTAI A chief of David, 2 Sam. 18:2; 1 Chr. 11:31. Supports David against Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:19-22; 18:2, 5.

  • Absalom

    [ebd] father of peace; i.e., "peaceful" David's son by Maacah (2 Sam. 3:3; comp. 1 Kings 1:6). He was noted for his personal beauty and for the extra-ordinary profusion of the hair of his head (2 Sam. 14:25,26). The first public a...
    [nave] ABSALOM, called also Abishalom. Son of David by Maacah, 2 Sam. 3:3; 1 Chr. 3:2. Beauty of, 2 Sam. 14:25. Slays Amnon, 2 Sam. 13:22-29. Flees to Geshur, 2 Sam. 13:37, 38. Is permitted by David to return to Jerusalem, 2 Sa...

  • CUSHITE

    [isbe] CUSHITE - kush'-it: Whereas kushi, is elsewhere rendered Ethiopian, in 2 Sam 18:21-32 it is rendered Cushite in the Revised Version (British and American) (see CUSHI and compare CUSHITE WOMAN). Its plural, which occurs in Ze...

  • Oak

    [ebd] There are six Hebrew words rendered "oak." (1.) 'El occurs only in the word El-paran (Gen. 14:6). The LXX. renders by "terebinth." In the plural form this word occurs in Isa. 1:29; 57:5 (A.V. marg. and R.V., "among the oaks"...
    [isbe] OAK - ok: Several Hebrew words are so translated, but there has always been great doubt as to which words should be translated "oak" and which "terebinth." This uncertainty appears in the Septuagint and all through English V...
    [nave] OAK, a tree. Grew in Palestine, Gen. 35:4. Absalom hung in the boughs of, 2 Sam. 18:9, 14. Deborah buried under, Gen. 35:8. Oars made of, Ezek. 27:6. Figurative Amos 2:9.

  • Abishai

    [ebd] father of (i.e., "desirous of") a gift, the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel (2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Chr. 2:16). Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he went to the camp of ...
    [isbe] ABISHAI - ab'-i-shi, a-bi'-shi ('abhishai, in Ch 'abhshai; meaning is doubtful, probably "my father is Jesse," BDB): Son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and one of the three famous brothers, of whom Joab and Asahel were the othe...
    [nave] ABISHAI Son of Zeruiah, David's sister, 1 Chr. 2:16. One of David's chief men, 2 Sam. 23:18. Seeks Saul's life, 1 Sam. 26:6-8. Pursues and slays Abner, 2 Sam. 2:24; 3:30. Defeats the Edomites, 1 Chr. 18:12; the Ammonites...

  • FOREST

    [ebd] Heb. ya'ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great primeval forests of Syria (Eccl. 2:6; Isa. 44:14; Jer. 5:6; Micah 5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2 Sam. 18:6, 8; J...
    [isbe] FOREST - for'-est: (1) choresh (compare proper name Harosheth), 2 Ch 27:4. In 1 Sam 23:15 ff translated "wood"; in Isa 17:9, "wood"; in Ezek 31:3, "forest-like shade." Applied to any thick growth of vegetation but not necess...

  • ABSALOM (1)

    [isbe] ABSALOM (1) - ab'-sa-lom ('abhshalom, "father is peace," written also Abishalom, 1 Ki 15:2,10): David's third son by Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, a small territory between Hermon and Bashan. 1. A General Favor...

  • Watches

    [ebd] the periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to the duties of watchmen w...

  • Loyalty

    [nave] LOYALTY Enjoined, Ex. 22:28; Num. 27:20; Ezra 6:10; 7:26; Job 34:18; Prov. 24:21; Eccl. 8:2; 10:4; Rom. 13:1; Tit. 3:1. Enforced, Ezra 10:8; Prov. 17:11. Disloyalty, 2 Pet. 2:10. See: Patriotism. Instances of Israelites...

  • Armies

    [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...

  • Citizenship

    [nave] CITIZENSHIP. Duties of Ex. 22:28 Acts 23:5. Num. 27:20; Ezra 6:10; Ezra 7:26; Ezra 10:8; Prov. 16:14, 15; Prov. 24:21; Prov. 25:6, 7, 15; Eccl. 8:2-4; Eccl. 10:4, 20; Jer. 29:7; Matt. 17:24-27; Matt. 22:17-21 Mark 12:14-17...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • 2:4 Having related the creation of the universe as we know it, God next inspired Moses to explain for his readers what became of it.129Sin entered it and devastated it."The destiny of the human creation is to live in God's wo...
  • At Jericho, Israel learned God's strength. At Ai, she learned her own weakness. She could only conquer her enemies as she remained faithful to God's covenant."We are never in greater danger than right after we have won a grea...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • "In the short pericope 13:7b-15a obedience was the stone on which Saul stumbled; here it is the rock that crushes him."147Chapter 15 records one of the battles Saul had with the Amalekites, Israel's enemy to the south (cf. 14...
  • The basic theme in Samuel, that blessing, and in particular fertility of all kinds, follows from faithful commitment to God's revealed will, continues in this section. However another major motif now becomes more prominent. W...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Samuel)V. David's triumphs chs. 1-8A. The beginning of David's kingdom 1:1-3:51. David's discovery of Saul and Jonathan's deaths ch. 12. David's move to Hebron 2:1-4a3. David's overtures to Jabesh-g...
  • The first 20 chapters of 2 Samuel are divisible into four units each of which ends with a list of names that is four verses long (1:1-3:5; 3:6-5:16; 5:17-8:18; 9:1-20:26).2The first two units conclude with lists of David's so...
  • "Saul the king is dead, Jonathan the heir apparent is dead, Abinadab and Malki-Shua (two of Jonathan's brothers) are dead (1 Sam 31:2), Abner the commander of the army is dead--and no other viable claimants or pretenders cont...
  • "As the story of David's accession to kingship over Judah (1:1-3:5) parallels that of his accession to the throne of Israel (3:6-5:16), each concluding with a list of his sons (3:2-5; 5:13-16), so the account of his powerful ...
  • Chapters 9-20 contrast with chapters 2-8 in that this later section is negative whereas the earlier one was positive. It records failure; the former records success. Compare the similar narrative of Saul's triumphs (1 Sam. 7-...
  • At first, David piously tried to salve Joab's conscience for his complicity in Uriah's death (11:25). The Hebrew word translated "displease"literally means "be evil in your sight."David was calling what was sin something othe...
  • This is the longest literary section in the Court History of David (chs. 9-20). It records Absalom's antagonism to David that resulted in the king having to flee Jerusalem, but it ends with David's defeat of his enemy and his...
  • Evidently Joab (David's commander-in-chief and nephew by his half-sister, Zeruiah) concluded that it would be politically better for David and Israel if David brought Absalom back to Jerusalem from Geshur (cf. vv. 7, 13-15). ...
  • Joab's masquerade proved effective. David agreed to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem (v. 21). However even though he did not execute him, neither did David restore Absalom to fellowship with himself (v. 24). His forgivene...
  • The people of Israel had formerly given the kingdom to David as a gift (5:1-3), but now they took that gift from him (v. 13).237David knew that Absalom was popular with the people. Evidently he fled Jerusalem to save his own ...
  • This is the central unit of chapters 5-20, and its central focus is the judgment that Hushai's advice was better than Ahithophel's (17:14). This advice is the pivot on which the fortunes of David swung in his dealings with Ab...
  • "In the overall structure of 15:1-20:22, the story of Absalom's death (18:1-18) provides a counterpoise to that of Shimei's curse (16:5-14 . . .). Just as in the earlier narrative an adversary of David (Shimei) curses him (vv...
  • The writer referred to David no less than five time in this section as "the king"leaving no doubt as to who was the legitimate ruler and who was really in charge. Perhaps David instructed his three commanders to deal gently w...
  • The location of the forest of Ephraim is unknown, but it was probably in Gilead (cf. Judg. 12:1-5).256As early as the judges period so many Ephraimites had settled in Gilead that the western Ephraimites called the Gileadites ...
  • "The mule was a royal mount; losing his mule [v. 9] Absalom has lost his kingdom."258The text says Absalom's head caught in an overhanging oak branch (v. 9). Josephus interpreted this, perhaps in view of 14:26, as his hair go...
  • Ahimaaz wanted to be the first to tell David the news of his victory since messengers often received a reward for bringing good news. Joab discouraged him thinking he would also report that Absalom was dead. David would not h...
  • "In the overall structure of chapters 15-20 (more precisely 15:1-20:22), the literary unit describing the return of King David' (v. 11) to Jerusalem (vv. 9-43) parallels that depicting his flight (15:13-37) caused by Absalom'...
  • "The account of Sheba's rebellion against David serves as a counterpoise to the story of Absalom's conspiracy (15:1-12) in chapters 15-20, which constitute the major part of the narrative that comprises chapters 13-20 (more p...
  • "With Joab's return to the king in Jerusalem, the grand symphony known as the Court History of David reaches its conclusion for all practical purposes (at least as far as the books of Samuel are concerned . . .). The last fou...
  • Achtemeier, Paul J., and Elizabeth Achtemeier. The Old Testament Roots of Our Faith. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979.Ackerman, James S. "Knowing Good and Evil: A Literary Ananysis of the Court History in 2 Samuel 9-20 and ...
  • The first segment of the writer's story (1:1-2:12) continues the history of Israel's monarchy where 2 Samuel ended. It records the final events in David's reign that led to Solomon's succession to the throne. It answers the q...
  • Adonijah was David's fourth son (2 Sam. 3:4) and the eldest one living at this time. Evidently he believed it was more important that the eldest son succeed David, as was customary in the Near East, than that the king of Yahw...
  • David had warned Solomon to keep Shimei under close observation and to put him to death (vv. 8-9). Evidently David realized because of Shimei's past actions that it would only be a matter of time before he would do something ...
  • The title of this psalm identifies the writer as David. All but four of the psalms in Book 1 of the Psalter (Pss. 1-41) identify David as their writer, all except Psalms 1, 2, 10, and 33. The occasion of his writing this one ...
  • It seemed to Isaiah's audience that the promises in chapter 60 could hardly come to pass since the Babylonian exile was still ahead of them. The Lord assured them that He would surely fulfill these promises."Much of this chap...
  • 3:16 At the end of these seven days the Lord's word came to Ezekiel. "The word of the Lord came to me"is a key phrase in Ezekiel occurring in 41 verses. It appears in Jeremiah nine times and in Zechariah twice."For no other p...
  • 24:15-16 The Lord told Ezekiel that He was about to take the life of his beloved wife. The English word "blow"(v. 16) implies a sudden, unexpected death. The Hebrew word, magephoh, does not demand a sudden death, but it somet...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • 2 Samuel 18:18-33The first verse of this passage and the one preceding it give a striking contrast between the actual and the designed burial-place of Absalom. The great pit among the somber trees, where his bloody corpse was...
  • And brings before us three men, each in different ways exhibiting how small a thing Absalom's death was to all but the heartbroken father, and each going his own road, heedless of what lay below the heap of stones. The world ...
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