In this chapter is an account of David’s review of his army, preparing it for battle with Absalom, and those with him, 2 Sam. 18:1–5; and of the defeat and flight of the rebels, 2 Sam. 18:6–8; and of the death of Absalom, and the manner of it, and of his burial, 2 Sam.

And David numbered the people that were with him Which Josephus says [[3]] were four thousand; but one would think there should be more by what follows: and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them; he divided his army into companies, which consisted some of a thousand and…

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab Very likely that which made the centre of the army, since Joab was the general of the army; though this distribution was made when David thought to have headed the army himself, and so made with respect to that: and a third part…

But the people answered, thou shalt not go forth They were as resolute as David: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; to pursue after us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; they will make no account of the victory; but if they could slay David, or get him into their hands,…

And the king said unto them, what seemeth you best I will do, &c.] Which was an instance of great condescension in him; and it was his wisdom and prudence to yield to them at such a time as this, and especially as their sentiments were founded on affection and loyalty to him: and the king stood by…

And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai His three generals, to whom he had committed his army divided into three parts: saying, deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom; he does not call him his son, being in rebellion against him, but the young man, who was young,…

So the people went out into the field against Israel Josephus [[4]] calls it a great field, with a wood behind it: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; or near it [[5]] rather; not in a wood in the tribe of Ephraim, which lay on this side Jordan; whereas this battle was fought on the other…

Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David That is, the people of Israel that were under Absalom, these were beaten by David’s army: and there was a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men; including both those that fell in the field of battle, and that were slain in…

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country Or the warriors were scattered, as the Targum; Absalom’s soldiers, their ranks were broken, and they were thrown into the utmost confusion, and ran about here and there all over the field or plain in which the battle was fought,…

And Absalom met the servants of David When his army was routed, he was in such a fright that he knew not which way to flee, and instead of flying from David’s men, he fled in the way of them; but none of them attempted to slay him, nor even to stop him, but let him pass by them, knowing David’s…

And a certain man saw it Saw him in the above posture, one of David’s soldiers: and told Joab, and said, behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak; caught by the neck in one, out of which he could not disengage himself, but there he hung, though alive.

And Joab said unto the man that told him That gave the above account of him: and, behold, thou sawest him; in reality; or, “didst thou see him?” is it a fact? and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground; kill him on the spot, that he might have dropped from the tree to the ground: and I…

And the man said unto Joab Disdaining his proposal: though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand; or such a sum should be offered to me; the Arabic version is a million; yet would I not put forth my hand against the king’s son; to smite him, and slay him: for in our hearing the…

Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life Or “soul”; he should not only have exposed his life to danger, but acted falsely to the king, by going contrary to his orders; yea, would have done that which was contrary to his own conscience; and if he had buoyed himself up with the…

Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee It is not worth while to talk with thee any longer, nor must I lose time, and neglect my opportunity; I do not desire you to go and smite him, I will go and do it myself: and he took three darts in his hand; or three rods, which were either all iron,…

And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour That waited upon him in the battle, to carry his armour, and supply him with it as he should have occasion; these, by his orders, compassed about, and smote Absalom, and slew him; they enclosed him that none might rescue him, and smote him with their spears…

And Joab blew the trumpet As the sign of a retreat: and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; upon the sound of the trumpet, the meaning of which they understood: for Joab held back the people: from shedding any more blood; the head of the conspiracy being removed, the thing would be…

And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood In the wood of Ephraim, near to which the battle was fought, and into which Absalom fled, and where he was slain: and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: his punishment was very exemplary; he was first hanged on an oak, and…

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken Had taken it into his head, had of himself devised it, as Kimchi explains it; he contrived the following scheme to perpetuate his memory: and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: or valley, the valley of Jehoshaphat; this pillar was of…

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok To Joab; for it seems he stayed with the army when he with Jonathan brought the message from Hushai to David: let me now run, and bear the king tidings how that the Lord hath avenged him on his enemies; which he thought would be very acceptable to hear of as soon…

And Joab said unto him, thou shall not bear tidings this day, &c.] Because Joab knew the tidings of Absalom’s death would not be acceptable to the king; and Ahimaaz being a good man, and the son of a priest, for whom Joab had a respect, he would not send the tidings by him, which he was sensible…

Then said Joab to Cushi The Ethiopian, or blackamoor; who either was an Ethiopian by birth and proselyted, or he was an Israelite of a black complexion, and therefore so called; and was judged a proper person by the general to carry such dismal news to the king, as he knew it would be.

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab He could not be easy, even though a messenger was dispatched, but pressed Joab still: but howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi; only permit me to go after him, though not as a messenger: and Joab said, wherefore wilt thou run, my…

But howsoever (said he) let me run Be it as it may, I beg I may have leave; and being so very importunate, it was granted: and he said unto him, run; since he would take no denial: then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi; who ran by the way of the mountains; which though the…

And David sat between the two gates Of the city of Mahanaim; which being a fortified place had two walls, one within another, and in each wall a gate; and between these David sat, waiting for news of the battle: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall; the gate to the…

And the watchman cried and told the king Called with a loud voice from the roof of the watchtower to the king, sitting between the gates, and informed him what he saw: and the king said, if he be alone there is tidings in his mouth; for if the army was routed and fled, and were pursued, there would…

And the watchman saw another man running At a further distance: and the watchman called unto the porter; that kept the gate, under which the watchtower was: and said, behold, another man runneth alone; as the other, and has the same appearance of a messenger: and the king said, he also bringeth…

And the watchman said, me thinketh Or, “I see” [[1]]; I perceive, so it appears to me: that the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok; who it seems was well known, and famous for his manner of running and swiftness in it, having been employed in carrying expresses…

And Ahimaaz called and said unto the king As soon as he came so near as to be heard by him, before he came up to him, he said with a loud voice: all is well; the king’s army has had success, beat the rebels, and obtained a complete victory: or “peace” [[4]]; for it is but one word in the original,…

And the king said, is the young man Absalom safe? &c.] Or, is there “peace” [[5]] to him? you say there is peace, and that prosperity and success have attended my army; but what peace has Absalom? is he well, and in safety? David seemed more concerned for him than for his army and the success of…

And the king said unto him, turn aside, and stand here, &c.] On the side of him, not far from him, until the other messenger came, that he might learn from them both the true state of the case: and he turned aside, and stood still; saying nothing more to the king, nor he to him.

And, behold, Cushi came A little after: and Cushi said, tidings, my lord the king; news is sent and brought by me, and good news it is: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee; they are either killed or dispersed; there is an entire victory over them, and…

And the king said unto Cushi, is the young man Absalom safe? &c.] The same question that was put to Ahimaaz, ; which shows what lay nearest his heart, and was uppermost in his mind, and Cushi answered, the enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young…

And the king was much moved His affections were moved, his passions were stirred up; he was greatly troubled, distressed, and grieved: and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; got out of sight and company as soon as he could; as his own dwelling was at some distance, he made haste to the…