Chapter 18

1 David viewing the armies in their march giveth them charge of Absalom. 6 The Israelites are sore smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9 Absalom, hanging in an oak, is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit. 18 Absalom’s place. 19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David. 33 David mourneth for Absalom.

1. Numbered the people. That is, David mustered the people, organizing his forces for the impending attack. Men were constantly flocking to him and needed to be incorporated into already existing detachments or organized into new units.

2. A third part. The army was organized into three grand divisions. How large each of these divisions was is not revealed. Some think that there was a total of only 3,000 men, with 1,000 men in each division, but of this there is no evidence. The division of armies into three parts seems to have been common among the Hebrews (see Judges 7:16; 9:43; 1 Sam. 11:11).

The hand of Joab. Joab was the commander in chief, under David. His name is always listed first among the three commanders (see vs. 5, 12), and he is clearly recognized as the one in supreme command (vs. 10, 16, 20, 21, 29). Joab was made “chief” of the army when David first captured Jerusalem (1 Chron. 11:6), and at the close of David’s reign he still held the supreme command (2 Sam. 24:2; 1 Chron. 27:34).

Ittai the Gittite. Ittai was of the Philistine city of Gath and had only recently come to Israel and joined himself to the forces of David (ch. 15:19–21). He had accepted the Hebrew religion and proved himself true both to David and to Israel’s God (see PP 732).

Surely go forth. David was facing the supreme crisis of his career, but he lacked nothing of courage. He was willing to take the same risks he was asking of his people, and more.

3. Not go forth. The soldiers saw that in this instance David’s presence with them would be more of a hindrance than a help. If the opposing army learned that David was with his men, every effort would be made against his person. If he could be slain, Absalom would have attained his purpose. So David was urged not to be present in the battle.

Thou art worth. In the majority of the Hebrew manuscripts the clause thus introduced reads literally, “For now like us [there are] ten thousand.” The translation of the KJV is obtained from the LXX, the Syriac, the Vulgate, and two Hebrew manuscripts. The difference between the two readings of this clause is only one letter in the Hebrew.

Out of the city. Taking his place in the city with the reserve forces, David would be in a position to take advantage of any turn of battle. If things went against his men, he would be able to send relief. Whatever turn the battle might take, the army would know that their commander was safe. His presence within the walls of the fortress would be a source of strength and inspiration to them as they fought, stirring them up to effort and bravery.

4. What seemeth you best. In this instance the counsel of the army was better than the will of the king, and David recognized it as such. Instead of rashly insisting that he join his men in the conflict, he bowed to their wishes and expressed his willingness to comply with their purpose. David may actually have been happy to remain behind, because it would not have been easy for him to direct this battle in person against his son.

5. Commanded Joab. Joab as the commander in chief came first, leading his men. As he passed by, David gave his last parting instructions. This was a battle against his own son, who must be defeated, or David would lose both his throne and his life. But as the battle began, David’s tender heart went out in love and pity to his son. His last words to Joab were to deal gently with Absalom—the leader of the rebellion. At the time it seemed to David that he would rather lose his own life and his kingdom than to see harm come to his wicked son. David’s fatherly concern for the man who had brought to the nation so much of pain and suffering only intensified the bitterness of Joab and his men against Absalom (see PP 743).

6. Wood of Ephraim. There is not other reference in the Bible to this wood. The location was in Gilead, to the east of the Jordan, although Ephraim itself was to the west. In a wooded area the huge army of Absalom would find itself at a disadvantage. It would be impossible to keep under control the large number of undisciplined men. Battling here and there in the woods, separated from one another, not knowing what was going on elsewhere, the men would become confused.

8. Over the face of all the country. These words give a vivid picture of the fluid nature of the battle. It was spread over a vast area, with men running in all directions, becoming lost in the woods, separated from one another, and entangled in the brush.

Devoured more people. The rocky thickets and dense vegetation of the wild terrain, intricate thorn groves interspersed with swamps and stretches of gravel and sand, provided a battlefield that was evidently more deadly to the hosts of Absalom than to the seasoned veterans of David.

11. Why didst thou not smite him? Joab realized that if the leader of the conspiracy could be put out of the way, victory would be won and the rebellion be over. Joab had done much for Absalom, befriending him and securing his return to Jerusalem (ch. 14:1–24). But Absalom’s shameless betrayal of the trust placed in him turned Joab bitterly against him. Joab was determined to put him out of the way regardless of the orders of David.

12. The king charged thee. The soldier was a man of principle and would obey the command of the king, however unreasonable it might appear. He reminded Joab of the orders that had been given him and all the army, and he felt that those orders should be obeyed.

13. Against mine own life. Literally, “against his life.” The reading of the KJV is found in the margin of the Hebrew Bible and in a number of Hebrew manuscripts. If the soldier had taken the life of Absalom, inquiry would have immediately been made, and when it was discovered who had disobeyed the king’s command, the offender would have been slain. Joab himself would probably have taken his stand against him and issued the order for the execution. Joab was a valiant commander, but he was self-willed and unscrupulous. Happy though he might have been over Absalom’s death, he might have feigned great indignation at such a gross violation of the king’s command and have ordered the violator put to death.

14. I may not tarry thus with thee. The Targums and one of the manuscripts of the LXX read, “wherefore I will pierce [him] in thy presence.” Joab felt the thrusts of the man’s argument, but he was determined to have Absalom slain.

15. Ten young men. These men composed Joab’s bodyguard.

16. Joab blew the trumpet. The blast on the trumpet was the signal that the war was over (see ch. 2:28; 20:22). The death of Absalom ended the struggle. With the leader of the revolt out of the way, there was no need of further bloodshed; so Joab immediately called off the battle.

17. Cast him into a great pit. To deny him the honor of burial in the family tomb. Like some dead beast, his body was tossed into a pit in the forest where he was slain. That was the end of the proud and handsome prince who placed his own interests before the interests of his people, his father, and his God.

Heap of stones. A lasting memorial of ignominious reproach.

All Israel. In this narrative the expression refers to the followers of Absalom (see v. 16).

To his tent. That is, to his home (see Deut. 16:7; Joshua 22:4–8; 1 Sam. 13:2; 2 Sam. 19:8).

18. A pillar. Absalom had erected for himself a beautiful and costly monument. But instead of being interred in a sepulcher of the kings, his body was thrown into a pit in the forest. The site of Absalom’s pillar has not been identified. Some think that it was in Jerusalem and others believe that it was at Hebron.

The so-called “Absalom’s Tomb,” an elaborate square structure with columns in partial relief carved from the rock, in the upper Kidron Valley, actually dates from the Hellenistic period and has nothing to do with Absalom, except in name.

The Hebrew word translated “place” literally means “hand,” and may, perhaps, stand for a stele. In the excavations of Lachish an altar was found with a right hand, palm outward and fingers spread, depicted in deep relief on one of its sides. Hands were also carved into the steles of Carthage. Hence it is possible that Absalom had a stele erected with a hand carved in it.

No son. His three sons (ch. 14:27) presumably died in infancy.

19. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. It was Ahimaaz who with Jonathan had carried Hushai’s message to David (ch. 17:17–21; cf. ch. 15:27). He appears to have been a well-known runner (ch. 18:27). In the present war he served as a messenger, and thus was ready to carry the tidings to David as soon as the trumpet had sounded and the battle was over.

20. The king’s son is dead. Joab recognized that the tidings that were to be carried to David would not be regarded by him as good. He would be concerned over one thing only—the fate of Absalom. Under the circumstances, nothing else mattered, whether it was defeat or victory, as long as Absalom was safe.

21. To Cushi. Literally, “to the Cushite.”

22. Run after Cushi. The victory over the forces of Absalom was news of the greatest importance, and Ahimaaz keenly desired to carry that message to David.

No tidings ready. The Hebrew word for “tidings” may also be translated “reward for good tidings” (ch. 4:10). In the LXX the clause is translated “thou hast no tidings for profit.” Ahimaaz would be expected to be the bearer of good tidings (v. 27), but Joab knew well that David would receive the word of Absalom’s death as a most heartbreaking and tragic report. For the delivery of such a sad message Ahimaaz would have no thanks from the king.

23. By the way of the plain. Probably by the way of the Jordan valley rather than the shorter but more difficult way over the hills. The two roads probably met some distance from Mahanaim. Starting later, but being a fleet runner and choosing the swifter way, Ahimaaz outran the Cushite.

24. The roof over the gate. There was frequently a tower over the gate of an Oriental city, and on the roof a watchman stood, eagerly looking for the approach of some messenger with news of the battle.

25. If he be alone. David immediately caught the significance of a man running alone—he would be a messenger with news of the battle. If he were a fugitive from the battle he would probably not be alone, others would be running with him.

27. He is a good man. David judged the nature of the message from the nature of the runner. Such a man as Ahimaaz would be the bearer of welcome tidings.

28. All is well. In his eager haste Ahimaaz announced to the king that all was well—the battle was over, and the Lord had delivered David’s enemies into his hand. Such news indeed was good, but that was not the news the king was most interested to hear.

29. I saw a great tumult. Ahimaaz skillfully evaded David’s question. He well knew that Absalom was dead, for it was his death that had brought an end to the battle. But the information as to exactly what had taken place he left for the Cushite to deliver.

31. Hath avenged thee. The Cushite’s message was couched in the same general terms as that of Ahimaaz, but it clearly implied that Absalom had been killed. Out of deference to the king, however, that detail was not specifically mentioned.

33. O Absalom, my son. There are few places in the Bible that picture more poignant grief. David’s sorrow was not merely that of a father for his departed son, although for the tenderhearted king such a sorrow would be heavy enough. What made the situation more difficult for David was that he himself was responsible for the course of events that had had its climax in this terrible tragedy. Absalom had slain his brother after Amnon had violated his sister, Tamar, and now he in turn was slain in battle against his own father. All this followed in natural consequence of David’s heinous sin.

Ellen G. White comments

1–33PP 742–745

1–4PP 742

5–13PP 743

14–17, 24–33PP 744