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2 Samuel 18:4-14

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4 Then the king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So 1the king stood beside * the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.
5 The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And 2all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning * Absalom.
6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in 3the forest of Ephraim.
7 The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 * men.
8 For the battle there was spread over * the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than * the sword devoured.
9 Now 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 4his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.
10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
11 Then 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."
12 The 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 5in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Protect for me the young man Absalom!'
13 "Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and 6there is nothing * * hidden from the king ), then you yourself would have stood aloof *."
14 Then Joab said, "I will not waste time here with you." 7So 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.
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2 Samuel 18:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 18

In this chapter is an account of David's review of his army, preparing it for battle with Absalom, and those with him, 2Sa 18:1-5; and of the defeat and flight of the rebels, 2Sa 18:6-8; and of the death of Absalom, and the manner of it, and of his burial, 2Sa 18:9-18; and of the news of it brought to David by different persons, 2Sa 18:19-32; and of his great grief and sorrow on that account, 2Sa 18:33.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 7

  • 1. 2 Samuel 18:24
  • 2. 2 Samuel 18:12
  • 3. Joshua 17:15, 18; 2 Samuel 17:26
  • 4. 2 Samuel 14:26
  • 5. 2 Samuel 18:5
  • 6. 2 Samuel 14:19, 20
  • 7. 2 Samuel 14:30

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Lit "smitten"
  • [b]. Lit "placed"
  • [c]. So with some mss and the ancient versions; M.T. "Take care whoever" you are "of"
  • [d]. Lit "tarry thus"
  • [e]. Lit "heart"
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.