2 Samuel 18
Overview
18:1 David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom;
18:6 The Israelites are sorely smitten in the wood of Ephraim;
18:9 Absalom, hanging in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit;
18:18 Absalom's place;
18:19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David;
18:33 David mourns for Absalom. Verse 1 numbered Exodus 17:9; Joshua 8:10 captains of thousands 1 Samuel 8:12 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 18:4 - by hundreds Verse 2 a third part Judges 7:16, 7:19, 9:43 the hand of Joab 2 Samuel 10:7-10 Ittai 15:19-22 I will surely 17:11; Psalm 3:6, 27:1-3, 118:6-8 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 6:10 - Gittite; 15:18 - Gittites; 20:6 - Abishai; 23:18 - Abishai; 1 Kings 2:28 - Joab had; 1 Chronicles 11:20 - Abishai; Acts 19:30 - the disciples Verse 3 Thou shalt 2 Samuel 21:17 if we flee 17:2; 1 Kings 22:31; Zechariah 13:7 care for usHeb. set their heart on usbut nowThe particle attah, Now, is doubtless a mistake for the pronoun attah, Thou, and so it appears to have been read by the LXX, Vulgate, and Chaldee, and by two of Kennicott's and De Rossi's manuscripts.worthetc. Heb. as ten thousand of us, Lamentations 4:20 succourHeb. be to succour, 2 Samuel 10:11; Exodus 17:10-12 Reciprocal 18:23 - and all this; 1 Samuel 14:38 - chief; Jeremiah 40:15 - wherefore; Acts 19:30 - the disciples; Romans 5:7 - some Verse 4 by the gate 2 Samuel 18:24; Isaiah 28:6 by hundredsDavid's small company, by this time, was greatly recruited; but what its number was we cannot tell. Josephus says it amounted only to 4,000 men. 2 Samuel 18:1; 1 Samuel 29:2 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 19:8 - sat in the gate; 1 Chronicles 19:9 - put the battle; Matthew 16:18 - and the Verse 5 Deal gently 2 Samuel 16:11, 17:1-4, 17:14; Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Psalm 103:13; Luke 23:34 all the people 2 Samuel 18:12 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 26:6 - to Abishai; 2 Samuel 18:14 - thrust them; 18:20 - because; 19:1 - General; 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab; Philemon 1:10 - my son Verse 6 wood of EphraimThe wood of Ephraim was evidently beyond Jordan, and apparently not far from Mahanaim; and it is supposed to be the place where the Ephraimites were slain by Jephthah. Joshua 17:15, 17:18; Judges 12:4-6 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 19:8 - for Israel; 22:44 - delivered Verse 7 the people 2 Samuel 2:17, 15:6, 19:41-43 a great Proverbs 11:21, 24:21 twenty thousand men 2 Samuel 2:26, 2:31; 2 Chronicles 13:16, 13:17, 28:6 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 4:10 - a very great; Psalm 3:6 - ten; 18:38 - General; Proverbs 24:22 - their; Ecclesiastes 4:16 - they also Verse 8 in Exodus 15:10; Joshua 10:11; Judges 5:20, 5:21; 1 Kings 20:30; Psalm 3:7, 43:1 devoured moreHeb. multiplied to devourReciprocal 18:38 - General; Proverbs 24:22 - their; Ecclesiastes 4:16 - they also Verse 9 his headRiding furiously under the thick boughs of a great oak, which hung low and had never been cropped, either the twisted branches, or some low forked bough of the tree, caught him by the neck, or, as some think, by the loops into which his long hair had been pinned, which had been so much his pride, and was now justly made a halter for him. He may have hung so low from the bough, in consequence of the length of his hair, that he could not use his hands to help himself, or so entangled that his hands were bound, so that the more he struggled the more he was embarrassed. This set him up as a fair mark to the servants of David; and although David would have spared his rebellious son, if his orders had been executed, yet he could not turn the sword of Divine justice, in executing the just, righteous sentence of death on this traitorous son. 2 Samuel 18:14, 14:26, 17:23; Matthew 27:5 taken up Deuteronomy 21:23, 27:16, 27:20; Job 18:8-10, 31:3; Psalm 63:9, 63:10; Proverbs 20:20, 30:17; Jeremiah 48:44; Mark 7:10; Galatians 3:13 Reciprocal Genesis 36:24 - found; Leviticus 19:19 - thy cattle gender; 2 Samuel 3:3 - Absalom; 13:29 - mule; Psalm 55:15 - Let death; Ezekiel 17:20 - I will spread; John 12:32 - if Verse 10 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 21:6 - hang; Proverbs 30:17 - eye; Galatians 3:13 - for Verse 11 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 19:13 - room of Joab; Psalm 143:3 - smitten; Proverbs 1:19 - every Verse 12 receiveetc. Heb. weigh upon mine handin our hearing 2 Samuel 18:5 Bewareetc. Heb. Beware, whosoever ye be, of the, etcReciprocal 19:1 - General; 20:6 - Abishai; 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab; Psalm 55:20 - put Verse 13 wrought 2 Samuel 1:15, 1:16, 4:10-12 for there is no 14:19, 14:20; Habakkuk 3:1 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 28:9 - wherefore Verse 14 with theeHeb. before theethrust them 2 Samuel 18:5; Judges 4:21, 5:26, 5:31; Psalm 45:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:3 midstHeb. heart, Matthew 12:40 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 12:10 - the sword; 18:9 - his head; 19:1 - General; 19:10 - is dead; 23:5 - Although; 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab; 2:28 - Joab had; 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom; Job 20:25 - drawn; Psalm 35:8 - into; 55:15 - Let death; 119:96 - I have seen; Proverbs 30:17 - eye; Galatians 3:13 - for Verse 15 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 12:10 - the sword; 1 Kings 2:28 - Joab had; Psalm 35:8 - into; Proverbs 17:11 - General; Ecclesiastes 10:8 - that; Galatians 3:13 - for Verse 16 blew the trumpet 2 Samuel 2:28, 20:22; Numbers 10:2-10; 1 Corinthians 14:8 Reciprocal Judges 9:55 - General Verse 17 laidThis was the ancient method of burying, whether heroes or traitors; the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The Arabs in general make use of no other monument than a heap of stones over a grave. Thus, in an Arabic poem, it is related, that Hatim the father, and Adi the grandfather of Kais, having been murdered, at a time before Kais was capable of reflection, his mother kept it a profound secret; and in order to guard him against having any suspicion, she collected a parcel of stone on two hillocks in the neighbourhood, and told her son that the one was the grave of his father, and the other of his grandfather. The ancient cairns in Ireland and Scotland, and the tumuli in England, are of this kind. Joshua 7:26, 8:29, 10:27; Proverbs 10:7; Jeremiah 22:18, 22:19 Reciprocal Genesis 31:46 - Gather; 35:20 - the pillar; 2 Kings 14:12 - they fled; Psalm 119:96 - I have seen; Ecclesiastes 3:5 - to cast; Acts 5:6 - General Verse 18 reared up 1 Samuel 15:12 the king's Genesis 14:17 I have no son 2 Samuel 14:27; Job 18:16, 18:17; Psalm 109:13; Jeremiah 22:30 he called Genesis 11:4; 1 Samuel 15:12; Psalm 49:11; Daniel 4:30 Absalom's placeJosephus says there was in his time, about two furlongs from Jerusalem, a marble pillar called Absalom's hand, as it is in the Hebrew - see note on 1 Samuel 15:12
and there is one shown to the present day, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which, though comparatively a modern structure, probably occupies the site of the original one set up by Absalom. Genesis 11:9; Acts 1:18, 1:19 Reciprocal Genesis 4:17 - the name; 28:18 - set it; 35:20 - the pillar; 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom; Ecclesiastes 2:4 - made; 3:5 - to cast; Isaiah 22:16 - hewed Verse 19 Ahimaaz 2 Samuel 18:23, 18:27-29, 15:36, 17:17 avenged himHeb. judged him from the hand, etc. Psalm 7:6, 7:8, 7:9, 9:4, 9:16, 10:14, 10:18; Romans 12:19 Reciprocal Genesis 24:54 - Send me; Judges 11:36 - forasmuch; 2 Samuel 4:8 - the Lord; 18:29 - Is the young man Absalom safe; 18:31 - the Lord; 22:48 - avengeth me; 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz; Proverbs 17:11 - General; Jeremiah 51:31 - post Verse 20 bear tidingsHeb. be a man of tidings, 2 Samuel 17:16-21 because 18:5, 18:27, 18:29, 18:33 Reciprocal 19:1 - General Verse 22 howsoeverHeb. be what mayreadyor, convenient, Romans 1:28; Ephesians 5:4 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 3:6 - General; 2 Samuel 18:29 - Is the young man Absalom safe; 1 Kings 11:22 - let me go; 2 Kings 2:17 - they urged; 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz Verse 23 overran Cushi John 20:4 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 18:19 - Ahimaaz; 1 Kings 11:22 - let me go; 2 Kings 2:17 - they urged Verse 24 between 2 Samuel 18:4; 1 Samuel 4:13 the watchman 2 Kings 9:17-20; Isaiah 21:6-9, 21:11, 21:12; Ezekiel 33:2-7 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 19:8 - sat in the gate; Jeremiah 48:19 - ask; Habakkuk 2:1 - tower Verse 26 Reciprocal 2 Kings 7:10 - the porter Verse 27 thinkethHeb. I see, 2 Kings 9:20 He is a good 1 Kings 1:42; Proverbs 25:13, 25:25; Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15 Reciprocal Genesis 24:54 - Send me; 2 Samuel 18:19 - Ahimaaz; 18:20 - because; 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz; Acts 11:24 - he was; Romans 5:7 - a good Verse 28 All is wellor, Peace be to thee, Heb. Peace, he fell down upon his face, This act was not only in reverence to the king, but in humble adoration of God, whose name he praises for this victory. 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. 2 Samuel 1:2, 14:4 Blessed 22:27; Genesis 14:20, 24:27; 2 Chronicles 20:26; Psalm 115:1, 124:6, 144:1, 144:2; Revelation 19:1-3 delivered upHeb. shut up, 1 Samuel 24:18, 26:8; Psalm 31:8 Reciprocal Genesis 24:54 - Send me; Exodus 18:10 - General; 1 Samuel 25:6 - Peace be both; 2 Samuel 18:31 - the Lord; Psalm 55:18 - He hath Verse 29 Is the young man Absalom safeHeb. is there peace to, etc. I saw a great. 2 Samuel 18:19, 18:20, 18:22
Verse 31 TidingsHeb. Tidings is broughtthe Lord 2 Samuel 18:19, 18:28, 22:48, 22:49; Deuteronomy 32:35, 32:36; Psalm 58:10, 94:1-4, 124:2, 124:3; Luke 18:7, 18:8
Cushi was the man Joab ordered to carry the tidings to David. He was an Ethiopian, as his name signifies, and some think he was so by birth - a black, who waited on Joab, probably one of the ten who had helped to dispatch Absalom; though it was dangerous for one of those to bring the news to David, lest his fate should be the same with theirs that reported the death of Saul and Ishbosheth to him.Reciprocal Judges 11:36 - forasmuch; 2 Samuel 4:8 - the Lord; Daniel 4:19 - My Lord Verse 32 The enemiesThus Cushi obliquely and slowly informs David of the death of his son Absalom. Judges 5:31; Psalm 68:1, 68:2; Daniel 4:19 Reciprocal Genesis 37:14 - see whether it be well with; 1 Samuel 25:26 - now let; Job 27:7 - General; Psalm 109:20 - Let this Verse 33 O my son 2 Samuel 19:4 would God 12:10-23; Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 10:1, 17:25; James 5:17 Reciprocal Genesis 21:11 - because; 44:30 - his life; Exodus 16:3 - Would; Judges 11:35 - rent his clothes; 2 Samuel 3:3 - Absalom; 3:32 - lifted; 13:36 - very sore; 14:1 - toward Absalom; 18:20 - because; 19:1 - General; 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom; Job 1:19 - they are dead; Psalm 3:1 - when; Proverbs 17:21 - that; 19:13 - foolish; Luke 8:52 - all; Acts 26:29 - I would; 2 Corinthians 12:15 - though; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - ye sorrow