|  Home  |  Old Testament Studies  |  2 Samuel Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |

2 SAMUEL 18

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:1-5
  ¹Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. ²David sent the people out, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I myself will surely go out with you also." ³But the people said, "You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city." ⁴Then the king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. ⁵The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.

18:1 "Then David numbered the people" The term means "mustered" or "organized for battle" (BDB 823, KB 955, cf. 1 Sam. 11:8). Josephus, Antiq. 7.10.1, tells us that he had four thousand men but this is uncertain.

▣ "thousands" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph).

The MT has the VERB "sent out" (BDB 1018, KB 1511, Piel IMPERFECT with waw). The LXX translated a similar Hebrew VERB "divided," which is supported by the UBS Text Project, p. 249, with a "C" rating (considerable doubt).

▣ "one third under the command of Ittai" Probably David's army was made up of Israeli and foreign elements. David put the command of the foreigner troops under a loyal foreigner.

▣ "I shall surely go with you" This was normal with kings but David was extremely old and the people thought it best for him to stay in the city (v. 3).

This is an intensified grammatical form (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root).

18:3 "for if we indeed flee" This is also an emphatic form like the one above.

▣ "But you are worth ten thousand of us" This is from the LXX. The MT has "for now there are ten thousand like us."

▣ "that you be ready to help" The MT has a Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT but the Masoretic scholars suggested a Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT.

▣ "the city" Mahanaim was the city where Mephibosheth and later Ishbosheth sought refuge. David's kindness to the same leader in rural Gilead made him want to help David in his time of need.

18:5 "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, Absalom" There is no VERB here but there is in v. 12. Obviously David rememembered the prophecy of doom upon his own house (cf. 2 Sam. 12:11-12). I think he was conscious that his sin related to Bathsheba and Uriah was ripping his own family apart.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:6-8
  ⁶Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. ⁷The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. ⁸For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

18:6 "the forest of Ephraim" David had a smaller but better trained army. The element of surprise and the terrain were on his side. Apparently this battle occurred on the eastern side of the Jordan in the rocky and treacherous upclimb from the Jordan Rift Valley.

Some LXX MSS have "the forest of Mahanaim." The UBS Handbook, p. 1003, mentions that 1 Macc. 5.46, has a village on the eastern bank of the Jordan named "Ephron," which may be the geographical place denoted here.

18:7 Civil wars are terrible things! Again, it is uncertain if the number 20,000 deals with

1. individuals
2. military units
3. total casualties on both sides

SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph)

18:8 "the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured" This refers either

1. literally to those who were killed by falling off cliffs, down holes, into marshes
2. as a symbol of the fact that most of Absalom's army were untrained volunteers who, when the battle began, simply deserted into the forest

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:9-15
  ⁹Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. ¹⁰When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak." ¹¹Then Joab said to the man who had told him, "Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt." ¹²The man said to Joab, "Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Protect for me the young man Absalom!' ¹³Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof." ¹⁴Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. ¹⁵And ten young men who carried Joab's armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

18:9 "Absalom happened to meet the servants of David" Obviously Absalom was not prepared for battle. He did not have his bodyguard with him. Apparently he was out in front of the troops, which implied that they were still marching toward the uplands of Gilead when a surprise attack occurred.

The NASB, NRSV, NJB, and Peshitta have the word "happened" (BDB 896 II). YHWH was against Absalom, there was no "just happened" (cf. vv. 19,31; 2 Sam. 17:14)!

▣ "his mule" This was probably David's royal mule which Absalom had commandeered as a sign of his kingship.

▣ "his head caught fast in the oak" Josephus, (Antiq. 7.11.1) tells us it was because of his long hair (cf. 2 Sam. 14:26), but also, Absalom was a very tall man and maybe simply his height caused him to be caught, not by the hair, but his neck caught in the forks of the branches. It is all so obvious that his excited hurry to leave the scene caused him to be less cautious than normal. The very things he took pride in (i.e., his height and hair) now result in his death.

▣ "between heaven and earth" Heaven in this context, refers to the atmosphere above the earth.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN (OT)

18:11 "ten pieces of silver and a belt" This was a significant reward. The word "pieces" refers to shekels of silver.

The "belt" (BDB 292) refers to a military girdle which held all other military clothing in place (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 23).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES

18:12 The man who found Absalom caught in the tree was apparently one of David's servants. He had heard David's command (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal IMPERATIVE). The VERB can mean

1. keep
2. watch
3. preserve

The JPSOA translates this as "watch over my boy Absalom, for my sake." The footnote mentions that "most Heb. MSS and editions read 'who' ‒perhaps meaning 'whoever you are.'"

David wanted Absalom spared! Joab knew he must die. There could be only one king!

The MT is like the NASB, NRSV, JPSOA, but the NET Bible prefers the Peshitta's "me."

18:14-15 "Joab. . .took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom" Joab was the first to strike Absalom (i.e., LXX and Targum) but, as we see in v. 15, his loyal military men also struck Absalom so that Joab would not take all the blame from David.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:16-18
  ¹⁶Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. ¹⁷They took Absalom and cast him into a deep pit in the forest and erected over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent. ¹⁸Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to preserve my name." So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.

18:16 "Joab blew the trumpet" This was a way of communicating both religious festivals and military commands in the field.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL

▣ "for Joab restrained the people" This was a gesture of mercy (cf. 2 Sam. 2:28). Joab really cared for the Israelite people and as soon as Absalom was dead he stopped the slaughter of the green Israeli conscripts.

18:17 "a deep pit" The "deep pit" obviously is a well known place (i.e., has the DEFINITE ARTICLE).

▣ "erected over him a great heap of stones" This refers to a sign of reproach (cf. Josh. 7:26. How different from his monument in the King's Valley (2 Sam. 18:18).

▣ "all Israel fled, each to his tent" This is an idiom from the exodus and wandering period. It means they all went home (i.e., 1 Sam. 4:10; 2 Chr. 25:22).

18:18 "set up a pillar" It is irony that the monument (BDB 663) Absalom set up for himself was so different from the monument set up at his death (i.e., a heap of stones).

▣ "the King's Valley" Josephus (Antiq. 7.10.3) tells us it is near Jerusalem but Gen. 14:17 makes it near Sodom. We really do not know the exact location of the King's Valley.

▣ "I have no son to preserve my name" If you compare this statement with 2 Sam. 14:27, it is obvious that Absalom's three sons died at an early age because it is highly unusual for a daughter to be named. See Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 184-185.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:19-23
  ¹⁹Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Please let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has freed him from the hand of his enemies." ²⁰But Joab said to him, "You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king's son is dead." ²¹Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. ²²Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why would you run, my son, since you will have no reward for going?" ²³"But whatever happens," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.

18:19-23 David was so emotional about Absalom (cf. v, 12) that anyone who brought bad news was in jeopardy of a reaction!

18:21 "the Cushite" This would refer to an Ethiopian or Sudanese person who was part of David's servants or possibly Joab's slave. Joab must have thought the bad news about Absalom would cause the king to hurt or kill the messenger (i.e., 2 Samuel 1).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:24-27
  ²⁴Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. ²⁵The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, "If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth." And he came nearer and nearer. ²⁶Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running by himself." And the king said, "This one also is bringing good news." ²⁷The watchman said, "I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "This is a good man and comes with good news."

18:24 "between the two gates" This apparently refers to an outer gate and a second inner gate for added security.

18:25 "If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth" Obviously, a mass retreat would involve numerous soldiers running frantically for the protection of the city, therefore, one soldier running probably meant good news.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:28-30
  ²⁸Ahimaaz called and said to the king, "All is well." And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, "Blessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king." ²⁹The king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was." ³⁰Then the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still.

18:28 "who has delivered up the men. . ." The VERB in the MT (BDB 688, KB 742, Piel PERFECT) means "shut up the man." This refers to the Hebrew concept of "blessing" as being in a wide unconfined place (cf. 2 Sam. 22:30; Ps. 31:8).

18:30 David's IMPERATIVES show how anxious he was to receive the second messenger's report (i.e., v. 32).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:31-32
  ³¹Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, "Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you." ³²Then the king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!"

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 18:33
  ³³The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

The MT has the VERB (BDB 919, KB 1182, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) which basically means "to quiver" or "to shake" with emotion (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 1045-1046).

1. with fear
2. with anxiety
3. with sorrow

▣ "Would I had died instead of you" David's sorrow is unrestrained. Hie emotional state is almost unexpressionable! This is one of the saddest statements in the OT. I think the intensity of emotion is a result of the recognition of David's own sin and the consequences of his acts in the life of his family. David, though a great man of God and a great soldier and a wonderful musician, was a horrendous father!

This verse starts chapter 19 in the MT.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. How was David's smaller army able to defeat Absalom's much larger army?
2. How was Absalom caught so off guard in v. 9?
3. Why did Joab kill Absalom against the direct orders of David?
4. Why was David so grieved over the loss of this son?

|  Home  |  Old Testament Studies  |  2 Samuel Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |