2 Samuel 18 - Study the King James Bible

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

numbered: Exodus 17:9, Joshua 8:10
captains of thousands: 1 Samuel 8:12
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:4 - by hundreds

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.

a third part: Judges 7:16, Judges 7:19, Judges 9:43
the hand of Joab: 2 Samuel 10:7-10
Ittai: 2 Samuel 15:19-22
I will surely: 2 Samuel 17:11, Psalms 3:6, Psalms 27:1-3, Psalms 118:6-8
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 6:10 - Gittite 2 Samuel 15:18 - Gittites 2 Samuel 20:6 - Abishai 2 Samuel 23:18 - Abishai 1 Kings 2:28 - Joab had 1 Chronicles 11:20 - Abishai Acts 19:30 - the disciples

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.

Thou shalt: 2 Samuel 21:17
if we flee: 2 Samuel 17:2, 1 Kings 22:31, Zechariah 13:7
care for us: Heb. set their heart on us
but now: The particle attah, Now, is doubtless a mistake for the pronoun attah, Thou, and so it appears to have been read by the LXX, Vulgate, and Chaldee, and by two of Kennicott's and De Rossi's manuscripts.
worth: etc. Heb. as ten thousand of us, Lamentations 4:20
succour: Heb. be to succour, 2 Samuel 10:11, Exodus 17:10-12
Reciprocal: Exodus 18:23 - and all this 1 Samuel 14:38 - chief Jeremiah 40:15 - wherefore Acts 19:30 - the disciples Romans 5:7 - some

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.

by the gate: 2 Samuel 18:24, Isaiah 28:6
by hundreds: David's small company, by this time, was greatly recruited; but what its number was we cannot tell. Josephus says it amounted only to 4,000 men. 2 Samuel 18:1, 1 Samuel 29:2
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:8 - sat in the gate 1 Chronicles 19:9 - put the battle Matthew 16:18 - and the

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.

Deal gently: 2 Samuel 16:11, 2 Samuel 17:1-4, 2 Samuel 17:14, Deuteronomy 21:18-21, Psalms 103:13, Luke 23:34
all the people: 2 Samuel 18:12
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 26:6 - to Abishai 2 Samuel 18:14 - thrust them 2 Samuel 18:20 - because 2 Samuel 19:1 - General 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab Philemon 1:10 - my son

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

wood of Ephraim: The wood of Ephraim was evidently beyond Jordan, and apparently not far from Mahanaim; and it is supposed to be the place where the Ephraimites were slain by Jephthah. Joshua 17:15, Joshua 17:18, Judges 12:4-6
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:8 - for Israel 2 Samuel 22:44 - delivered

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.

the people: 2 Samuel 2:17, 2 Samuel 15:6, 2 Samuel 19:41-43
a great: Proverbs 11:21, Proverbs 24:21
twenty thousand men: 2 Samuel 2:26, 2 Samuel 2:31, 2 Chronicles 13:16, 2 Chronicles 13:17, 2 Chronicles 28:6
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 4:10 - a very great Psalms 3:6 - ten Psalms 18:38 - General Proverbs 24:22 - their Ecclesiastes 4:16 - they also

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.

in the wood, That is, probably, many more were slain in pursuit through the wood than in the battle, by falling into swamps, pits, etc., and being entangled and cut down by David's men. Such is the relation of Josephus; but the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic state, that they were devoured by wild beasts in the wood. Exodus 15:10, Joshua 10:11, Judges 5:20, Judges 5:21, 1 Kings 20:30, Psalms 3:7, Psalms 43:1
devoured more: Heb. multiplied to devour
Reciprocal: Psalms 18:38 - General Proverbs 24:22 - their Ecclesiastes 4:16 - they also

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.

his head: Riding furiously under the thick boughs of a great oak, which hung low and had never been cropped, either the twisted branches, or some low forked bough of the tree, caught him by the neck, or, as some think, by the loops into which his long hair had been pinned, which had been so much his pride, and was now justly made a halter for him. He may have hung so low from the bough, in consequence of the length of his hair, that he could not use his hands to help himself, or so entangled that his hands were bound, so that the more he struggled the more he was embarrassed. This set him up as a fair mark to the servants of David; and although David would have spared his rebellious son, if his orders had been executed, yet he could not turn the sword of Divine justice, in executing the just, righteous sentence of death on this traitorous son. 2 Samuel 18:14, 2 Samuel 14:26, 2 Samuel 17:23, Matthew 27:5
taken up: Deuteronomy 21:23, Deuteronomy 27:16, Deuteronomy 27:20, Job 18:8-10, Job 31:3, Psalms 63:9, Psalms 63:10, Proverbs 20:20, Proverbs 30:17, Jeremiah 48:44, Mark 7:10, Galatians 3:13
Reciprocal: Genesis 36:24 - found Leviticus 19:19 - thy cattle gender 2 Samuel 3:3 - Absalom 2 Samuel 13:29 - mule Psalms 55:15 - Let death Ezekiel 17:20 - I will spread John 12:32 - if

10.

And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 21:6 - hang Proverbs 30:17 - eye Galatians 3:13 - for

11.

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.

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:13 - room of Joab Psalms 143:3 - smitten Proverbs 1:19 - every

12.

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.

receive: etc. Heb. weigh upon mine hand
in our hearing: 2 Samuel 18:5
Beware: etc. Heb. Beware, whosoever ye be, of the, etc
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:1 - General 2 Samuel 20:6 - Abishai 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab Psalms 55:20 - put

13.

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.

wrought: 2 Samuel 1:15, 2 Samuel 1:16, 2 Samuel 4:10-12
for there is no: 2 Samuel 14:19, 2 Samuel 14:20, Hebrews 4:13
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 28:9 - wherefore

14.

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.

with thee: Heb. before thee
thrust them: 2 Samuel 18:5, Judges 4:21, Judges 5:26, Judges 5:31, Psalms 45:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:3
midst: Heb. heart, Matthew 12:40
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 12:10 - the sword 2 Samuel 18:9 - his head 2 Samuel 19:1 - General 2 Samuel 19:10 - is dead 2 Samuel 23:5 - Although 1 Kings 2:5 - Joab 1 Kings 2:28 - Joab had 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom Job 20:25 - drawn Psalms 35:8 - into Psalms 55:15 - Let death Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Proverbs 30:17 - eye Galatians 3:13 - for

15.

And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 12:10 - the sword 1 Kings 2:28 - Joab had Psalms 35:8 - into Proverbs 17:11 - General Ecclesiastes 10:8 - that Galatians 3:13 - for

16.

And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

blew the trumpet: 2 Samuel 2:28, 2 Samuel 20:22, Numbers 10:2-10, 1 Corinthians 14:8
Reciprocal: Judges 9:55 - General

17.

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.

laid: This was the ancient method of burying, whether heroes or traitors; the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The Arabs in general make use of no other monument than a heap of stones over a grave. Thus, in an Arabic poem, it is related, that Hatim the father, and Adi the grandfather of Kais, having been murdered, at a time before Kais was capable of reflection, his mother kept it a profound secret; and in order to guard him against having any suspicion, she collected a parcel of stone on two hillocks in the neighbourhood, and told her son that the one was the grave of his father, and the other of his grandfather. The ancient cairns in Ireland and Scotland, and the tumuli in England, are of this kind. Joshua 7:26, Joshua 8:29, Joshua 10:27, Proverbs 10:7, Jeremiah 22:18, Jeremiah 22:19
Reciprocal: Genesis 31:46 - Gather Genesis 35:20 - the pillar 2 Kings 14:12 - they fled Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Ecclesiastes 3:5 - to cast Acts 5:6 - General

18.

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.

reared up: 1 Samuel 15:12
the king's: Genesis 14:17
I have no son: 2 Samuel 14:27, Job 18:16, Job 18:17, Psalms 109:13, Jeremiah 22:30
he called: Genesis 11:4, 1 Samuel 15:12, Psalms 49:11, Daniel 4:30
Absalom's place: Josephus says there was in his time, about two furlongs from Jerusalem, a marble pillar called Absalom's hand, as it is in the Hebrew - see note on 1 Samuel 15:12, and there is one shown to the present day, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which, though comparatively a modern structure, probably occupies the site of the original one set up by Absalom. Genesis 11:9, Acts 1:18, Acts 1:19
Reciprocal: Genesis 4:17 - the name Genesis 28:18 - set it Genesis 35:20 - the pillar 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom Ecclesiastes 2:4 - made Ecclesiastes 3:5 - to cast Isaiah 22:16 - hewed

19.

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.

Ahimaaz: 2 Samuel 18:23, 2 Samuel 18:27-29, 2 Samuel 15:36, 2 Samuel 17:17
avenged him: Heb. judged him from the hand, etc. Psalms 7:6, Psalms 7:8, Psalms 7:9, Psalms 9:4, Psalms 9:16, Psalms 10:14, Psalms 10:18, Romans 12:19
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:54 - Send me Judges 11:36 - forasmuch 2 Samuel 4:8 - the Lord 2 Samuel 18:29 - Is the young man Absalom safe 2 Samuel 18:31 - the Lord 2 Samuel 22:48 - avengeth me 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz Proverbs 17:11 - General Jeremiah 51:31 - post

20.

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.

bear tidings: Heb. be a man of tidings, 2 Samuel 17:16-21
because: 2 Samuel 18:5, 2 Samuel 18:27, 2 Samuel 18:29, 2 Samuel 18:33
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:1 - General

21.

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

22.

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?

howsoever: Heb. be what may
ready: or, convenient, Romans 1:28, Ephesians 5:4
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 3:6 - General 2 Samuel 18:29 - Is the young man Absalom safe 1 Kings 11:22 - let me go 2 Kings 2:17 - they urged 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz

23.

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.

overran Cushi: John 20:4
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:19 - Ahimaaz 1 Kings 11:22 - let me go 2 Kings 2:17 - they urged

24.

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.

between: 2 Samuel 18:4, 1 Samuel 4:13
the watchman: 2 Kings 9:17-20, Isaiah 21:6-9, Isaiah 21:11, Isaiah 21:12, Ezekiel 33:2-7
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:8 - sat in the gate Jeremiah 48:19 - ask Habakkuk 2:1 - tower

25.

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.

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.

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 7:10 - the porter

27.

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.

thinketh: Heb. I see, 2 Kings 9:20
He is a good: 1 Kings 1:42, Proverbs 25:13, Proverbs 25:25, Isaiah 52:7, Romans 10:15
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:54 - Send me 2 Samuel 18:19 - Ahimaaz 2 Samuel 18:20 - because 1 Chronicles 6:8 - Ahimaaz Acts 11:24 - he was Romans 5:7 - a good

28.

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.

All is well: or, Peace be to thee, Heb. Peace, he fell down upon his face, This act was not only in reverence to the king, but in humble adoration of God, whose name he praises for this victory. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. 2 Samuel 1:2, 2 Samuel 14:4
Blessed: 2 Samuel 22:27, Genesis 14:20, Genesis 24:27, 2 Chronicles 20:26, Psalms 115:1, Psalms 124:6, Psalms 144:1, Psalms 144:2, Revelation 19:1-3
delivered up: Heb. shut up, 1 Samuel 24:18, 1 Samuel 26:8, Psalms 31:8
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:54 - Send me Exodus 18:10 - General 1 Samuel 25:6 - Peace be both 2 Samuel 18:31 - the Lord Psalms 55:18 - He hath

29.

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.

Is the young man Absalom safe: Heb. is there peace to, etc. I saw a great. 2 Samuel 18:19, 2 Samuel 18:20, 2 Samuel 18:22

30.

And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31.

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.

Tidings: Heb. Tidings is brought
the Lord: 2 Samuel 18:19, 2 Samuel 18:28, 2 Samuel 22:48, 2 Samuel 22:49, Deuteronomy 32:35, Deuteronomy 32:36, Psalms 58:10, Psalms 94:1-4, Psalms 124:2, Psalms 124:3, Luke 18:7, Luke 18:8, cushi was the man Joab ordered to carry the tidings to David. He was an Ethiopian, as his name signifies, and some think he was so by birth - a black, who waited on Joab, probably one of the ten who had helped to dispatch Absalom; though it was dangerous for one of those to bring the news to David, lest his fate should be the same with theirs that reported the death of Saul and Ishbosheth to him.
Reciprocal: Judges 11:36 - forasmuch 2 Samuel 4:8 - the Lord Daniel 4:19 - My Lord

32.

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.

The enemies: Thus Cushi obliquely and slowly informs David of the death of his son Absalom. Judges 5:31, Psalms 68:1, Psalms 68:2, Daniel 4:19
Reciprocal: Genesis 37:14 - see whether it be well with 1 Samuel 25:26 - now let Job 27:7 - General Psalms 109:20 - Let this

33.

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!

O my son: 2 Samuel 19:4
would God: 2 Samuel 12:10-23, Psalms 103:13, Proverbs 10:1, Proverbs 17:25, James 5:17
Reciprocal: Genesis 21:11 - because Genesis 44:30 - his life Exodus 16:3 - Would Judges 11:35 - rent his clothes 2 Samuel 3:3 - Absalom 2 Samuel 3:32 - lifted 2 Samuel 13:36 - very sore 2 Samuel 14:1 - toward Absalom 2 Samuel 18:20 - because 2 Samuel 19:1 - General 1 Chronicles 3:2 - Absalom Job 1:19 - they are dead Psalms 3:1 - when Proverbs 17:21 - that Proverbs 19:13 - foolish Luke 8:52 - all Acts 26:29 - I would 2 Corinthians 12:15 - though 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - ye sorrow