CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
2 Samuel 18
Chapter 18 of 24
Chapter Overview
What happens in 2 Samuel 18
David's army defeats Absalom's forces in the forest of Ephraim. Absalom gets caught in a tree by his hair, and Joab kills him against David's orders. When David hears that Absalom is dead, he is devastated with grief.
Scripture
2 Samuel 18
David Organizes His Army
Study note
David organized his forces into three groups under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite. David wanted to go into battle himself, but his men insisted he stay behind, saying he was worth ten thousand of them. As the soldiers marched out, David gave a command that everyone heard: 'Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.' Despite everything Absalom had done, David still loved his son deeply.
1 David organized his troops. He put commanders over groups of 1,000 and groups of 100. And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 He split the army into three groups. One was under Joab. One was under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah. One was under Ittai the Gittite. David said, "I am going to march out with you myself." And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now you are worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that you support us out of the city. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 The king agreed, "I will do whatever you think is best." He stood at the gate as the troops filed out in their companies. And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 The king gave a clear order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. All the troops heard it. "For my sake, be gentle with my son Absalom." And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
The Battle in the Forest
Study note
The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim, east of the Jordan. David's experienced warriors routed Absalom's larger army. The thick forest actually killed more men than the swords did that day, as soldiers became lost and trapped in the dense wilderness. Twenty thousand men fell in the battle.
6 The army went out to fight the Israelites in the forest of Ephraim. So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 David's troops won a decisive victory that day. The losses were devastating -- 20,000 men fell. Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 The battle spread throughout the countryside. The dense forest claimed even more lives that day than actual combat did. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
Absalom's Death
Study note
During the battle, Absalom was riding his mule when his head got caught in the thick branches of a large oak tree. The mule kept going, leaving Absalom hanging in midair. A soldier reported this to Joab but refused to kill the king's son. Joab had no such hesitation. He took three spears and thrust them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the tree. Then ten of Joab's armor bearers finished him off. Joab blew the trumpet to end the battle, and Absalom's body was thrown into a deep pit in the forest and covered with a pile of stones. All of Absalom's forces scattered and fled to their homes.
9 During the fighting, Absalom unexpectedly ran into a group of David's soldiers. He was riding his mule, and as it passed under a massive oak tree, Absalom's head got wedged in the thick branches. He dangled in midair as the mule ran on without him. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10 A soldier saw it happen and reported to Joab, "I spotted Absalom hanging from an oak tree!" And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 Joab demanded, "You saw him? Why did you not kill him there? I would have rewarded you with ten silver pieces and a warrior's belt." And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou 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.
12 The soldier answered, "Even if you put a thousand silver coins in my hand, I would not touch the king's son. We all heard the king personally order you, Abishai, and Ittai, 'Protect young Absalom for my sake.'" And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 "If I had killed him, nothing stays secret from the king, and you yourself would have turned against me." Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14 Joab snapped, "I do not have time for this." He grabbed three spears and drove them into Absalom's chest while Absalom still hung alive in the oak tree. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 Then ten of Joab's young armor-bearers closed in on Absalom, struck him, and finished him off. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 Joab sounded the trumpet, calling off the pursuit. His soldiers stopped chasing the Israelites. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 They took Absalom's body, threw it into a deep pit in the forest, and heaped a large mound of stones over it. Meanwhile, every Israelite who had supported Absalom fled to their homes. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18 While he was still alive, Absalom had built a stone monument for himself in the King's Valley. He said, "I have no son to carry on my name." He named it after himself. It is still called Absalom's Monument today. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
The News Reaches David
Study note
Ahimaaz son of Zadok wanted to run and tell David about the victory. Joab initially refused and sent a Cushite messenger instead, but Ahimaaz insisted and outran the Cushite. David was sitting between the two gates of the city, watching. He was more concerned about Absalom than about winning the battle. When Ahimaaz arrived, he reported the victory but avoided telling David about Absalom's death. When the Cushite arrived, David asked about Absalom. The Cushite implied that Absalom was dead. David went up to the room above the gate, weeping and crying, 'O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you!' This is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the Bible.
19 Ahimaaz son of Zadok asked, "Let me run and bring the king the good news that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies." Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
20 Joab told him, "You are not the right person to carry today's message. You can take news another day, but not today -- not when the king's own son has died." And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
21 Joab told a Cushite soldier, "Go tell the king what you witnessed." The Cushite bowed and took off running. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 Ahimaaz pleaded again, "Whatever happens, please let me run too, after the Cushite." Joab asked, "Why? You will not get any reward for this news." Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23 "I do not care -- I want to go," Ahimaaz insisted. "Then go!" said Joab. Ahimaaz took the faster route across the plain and outran the Cushite. But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24 David sat waiting between the inner and outer city gates. A lookout climbed to the roof above the gate and scanned the distance. He spotted a lone runner approaching. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25 The lookout called the news down to the king. David said, "If he is alone, he is probably bringing good news." The runner drew closer. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 Then the lookout spotted a second runner. He shouted to the gatekeeper, "Another man running by himself!" The king said, "He must have good news too." 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 bringeth tidings.
27 The lookout said, "The first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok." The king replied, "He is a good man. He must be bringing good news." And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 Ahimaaz arrived and called to the king, "Everything is all right!" He bowed face-down before the king and said, "Praise the Lord your God! He has defeated the men who rebelled against my lord the king." And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 The king asked the question that weighed on his heart: "Is young Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent me, I saw some big commotion, but I do not know what it was about." And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30 The king said, "Step aside and wait." Ahimaaz moved aside and stood there. And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 Then the Cushite arrived and said, "Good news for my lord the king! The Lord has vindicated you today against all who stood against you." And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 The king asked the Cushite, "Is young Absalom safe?" The Cushite replied, "May all who rise against you, my lord the king, end up like that young man." And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 The king was overcome with grief. He went up to the room above the gate, sobbing as he climbed. He cried, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you -- Absalom, my son, my son!" And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Key Themes
Themes in 2 Samuel 18
A father's unconditional love for a wayward childThe cost of rebellion and broken relationshipsObedience to authority versus personal judgmentThe heartbreak of consequences that cannot be undone
Apply This Today
Living 2 Samuel 18
David's anguished cry over Absalom captures the heart of every parent who has watched a child self-destruct. No matter how badly our loved ones behave, love does not stop. This gives us a glimpse of how God grieves over His children who rebel against Him.
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