9 And Absalom H53 met H7122 the servants H6440 H5650 of David. H1732 And Absalom H53 rode H7392 upon a mule, H6505 and the mule H6505 went H935 under the thick boughs H7730 of a great H1419 oak, H424 and his head H7218 caught hold H2388 of the oak, H424 and he was taken up H5414 between the heaven H8064 and the earth; H776 and the mule H6505 that was under him went away. H5674
10 And a certain H259 man H376 saw H7200 it, and told H5046 Joab, H3097 and said, H559 Behold, I saw H7200 Absalom H53 hanged H8518 in an oak. H424
11 And Joab H3097 said H559 unto the man H376 that told H5046 him, And, behold, thou sawest H7200 him, and why didst thou not smite H5221 him there to the ground? H776 and I would have given H5414 thee ten H6235 shekels of silver, H3701 and a H259 girdle. H2290
12 And the man H376 said H559 unto Joab, H3097 Though H3863 I should receive H8254 a thousand H505 shekels of silver H3701 in mine hand, H3709 yet would I not put forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against the king's H4428 son: H1121 for in our hearing H241 the king H4428 charged H6680 thee and Abishai H52 and Ittai, H863 saying, H559 Beware H8104 that none touch the young man H5288 Absalom. H53
13 Otherwise H176 I should have wrought H6213 falsehood H8267 against mine own life: H5315 for there is no matter H1697 hid H3582 from the king, H4428 and thou thyself wouldest have set H3320 thyself against me.
14 Then said H559 Joab, H3097 I may not tarry H3176 thus with thee. H6440 And he took H3947 three H7969 darts H7626 in his hand, H3709 and thrust H8628 them through the heart H3820 of Absalom, H53 while he was yet alive H2416 in the midst of the oak. H424
15 And ten H6235 young men H5288 that bare H5375 Joab's H3097 armour H3627 compassed about H5437 and smote H5221 Absalom, H53 and slew H4191 him.
16 And Joab H3097 blew H8628 the trumpet, H7782 and the people H5971 returned H7725 from pursuing H7291 after H310 Israel: H3478 for Joab H3097 held back H2820 the people. H5971
17 And they took H3947 Absalom, H53 and cast H7993 him into a great H1419 pit H6354 in the wood, H3293 and laid H5324 a very H3966 great H1419 heap H1530 of stones H68 upon him: and all Israel H3478 fled H5127 every one H376 to his tent. H168
18 Now Absalom H53 in his lifetime H2416 had taken H3947 and reared up H5324 for himself a pillar, H4678 which is in the king's H4428 dale: H6010 for he said, H559 I have no son H1121 to keep my name H8034 in remembrance: H2142 and he called H7121 the pillar H4678 after his own name: H8034 and it is called H7121 unto this day, H3117 Absalom's H53 place. H3027
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 18
Commentary on 2 Samuel 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
This chapter puts a period to Absalom's rebellion and life, and so makes way for David to his throne again, whither the next chapter brings him back in peace and triumph. We have here,
2Sa 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,
Bishop Hall thus descants on this: "What means this ill-placed love? This unjust mercy? Deal gently with a traitor? Of all traitors, with a son? Of all sons, with an Absalom? That graceless darling of so good a father? And all this, for thy sake, whose crown, whose blood, he hunts after? For whose sake must he be pursued, if forborne for thine? Must the cause of the quarrel be the motive of mercy? Even in the holiest parents, nature may be guilty of an injurious tenderness, of a bloody indulgence. But was not this done in type of that immeasurable mercy of the true King and Redeemer of Israel, who prayed for his persecutors, for his murderers, Father, forgive them? Deal gently with them for my sake.' When God sends an affliction to correct his children, it is with this charge, "Deal gently with them for my sake;' for he knows our frame.
2Sa 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, v. 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 his way, through thick and thin, and so rode headlong upon his own destruction. Thus he that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare, Jer. 48:44. David is inclined to spare him, but divine justice passes sentence upon him as a traitor, and sees it executed-that he hang by the neck, be caught alive, be embowelled, and his body disposed of disgracefully.
2Sa 18:19-33
Absalom's business is done; and we are now told,