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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-8

Which way David raised an army here, and what reinforcements were sent him, we are not told; many, it is likely, from all the coasts of Israel, at least from the neighbouring tribes, came in to his assistance, so that, by degrees, he was able to make head against Absalom, as Ahithophel foresaw. Now here we have, I. His army numbered and marshalled, 2 Sam. 18:1, 2. He had, no doubt, committed his cause to God by prayer, for that was his relief in all his afflictions; and then he took an account... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:9-18

Here is Absalom quite at a loss, at his wit's end first, and then at his life's end. He that began the fight, big with the expectation of triumphing over David himself, with whom, if he had had him in his power, he would not have dealt gently, is now in the greatest consternation, when he meets the servants of David, 2 Sam. 18:9. Though they were forbidden to meddle with him, he durst not look them in the face; but, finding they were near him, he clapped spurs to his mule and made the best of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:6

So the people went out into the field against Israel ,.... Josephus F5 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 10.) sect. 2. calls it a great field, with a wood behind it: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ; or near it F6 ביער "ad sylvam", Junius & Tremellius; "prope sylvam", Piscator. rather; not in a wood in the tribe of Ephraim, which lay on this side Jordan; whereas this battle was fought on the other side Jordan, in the land of Gilead, not far from Mahanaim, where was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:7

Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David ,.... That is, the people of Israel that were under Absalom, these were beaten by David's army: and there was a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men ; including both those that fell in the field of battle, and that were slain in the pursuit; and this is to be understood only of Absalom's party. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:8

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country ,.... Or the warriors were scattered, as the Targum; Absalom's soldiers, their ranks were broken, and they were thrown into the utmost confusion, and ran about here and there all over the field or plain in which the battle was fought, and into the neighbouring wood: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured ; there were more slain in it the in the field of battle, what by one thing or another; as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:9

And Absalom met the servants of David ,.... When his army was routed, he was in such a fright that he knew not which way to flee, and instead of flying from David's men, he fled in the way of them; but none of them attempted to slay him, nor even to stop him, but let him pass by them, knowing David's charge concerning him: and Absalom rode upon a mule ; as was common for great personages to do in those days, 2 Samuel 13:29 , and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:7

Twenty thousand men - Whether these were slain on the field of battle, or whether they were reckoned with those slain in the wood of Ephraim, we know not. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:8

The wood devoured more people - It is generally supposed that, when the army was broken, they betook themselves to the wood, fell into pits, swamps, etc., and, being entangled, were hewn down by David's men; but the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, state that they were devoured by wild beasts in the wood. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:9

And his head caught hold of the oak - It has been supposed that Absalom was caught by the hair, but no such thing is intimated in the text. Probably his neck was caught in the fork of a strong bough, and he was nearly dead when Joab found him; for it is said, 2 Samuel 18:14 , he was yet alive, an expression which intimates he was nearly dead. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-8

( MAHANAIM .) David's victory over his rebellious subjects. Having found refuge in the fortified city of Mahanaim ( 2 Samuel 2:8 ), and recruited their exhausted energies, David and those who were with him prepared for the conflict which now seemed inevitable. Meanwhile (during several weeks) Absalom collected a great army ( 2 Samuel 17:11 ), appointed Amasa captain, crossed the Jordan, and encamped in the land of Gilead ( 2 Samuel 17:24-27 ). Here, "in the wood of Ephraim" ( 2... read more

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