Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 18

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

Which flocked to him thither, so as to make up a small Army.

2 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 [illegible: 1+ letters]oabs 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 my self also .

To wit, for his especial conduct and management in the [illegible: 1+ letters]attel: otherwise, Ioab was the General of all the Forces; nor had David yet taken away that power from him, nor was this a time to do it. But such distributions of Forces are usual in Battels.

That by my presence I may put life and courage into my Soldiers; and because it is fit I should run the same hazards with you, which you do for my sake.

3 But the people answered, Thou shall 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 : [illegible: 1 word] now it is better that thou succour us out of the city .

For this was Absalom's great error, into which he was drawn by a Divine infatuation, and by Hushai's craft to go to Battel in his own person, which was the utter ruin of him and of his Cause.

Not onely for the Dignity of thy Person▪ but also for the importance of our common cause and concern, which, if thou art slain, is irrecoverably lost.

By sending us Supplies of Men, and Provisions of all sorts, as we have occasion; and by securing our retreat, if we be defeated. Or thus: not go along to the Battel with us, but onely go out with us, or accompany us out of the City (to incourage the Company) and then retire for thy own safety. And so it seems by the next Verse.

Marginal references: Chap. 21▪ [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] their heart on us.; Heb. a[illegible: 1+ letters] ten thousand of us.; Heb. be to succour.

4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best, I will do. And the king stood by [illegible: 1 word] gateside , and all the people came out by hundreds, and by thousands.

i. e. Between the two Gates of the City, as it is expressed below, v. 24.

5 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.

If you Conquer (which he presaged they would by Gods Gracious answer to his prayer for the turning of Ahitopbel's counsel into foolishness), take him Prisoner, but do not kill him. Which desire proceeded, partly, from his great indulgence towards his Children: partly, from David ▪s consciousness that he himself was the meritorious and procuring cause of this Rebellion, Absalom being given up to it for the punishment of David's sins; and therefore did indeed deserve some pity from him: partly, from the consideration of his youth, which commonly makes men foolish, and heady, and violent, and subject to ill counsels: and partly, from his Piety, being loth that he should be cut off in the act of his sin without any space, or means for repentance, whereby both his Soul and Body would be in danger to perish for ever.

To wit, the Citizens and others who stood with the King in the Gate when the Army Marched forth.

6 ¶ So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battel was in the wood of Ephraim ,

So called, not from its situation in the Tribe of Ephraim, which was on the other side Iordan, as is evident; but from some memorable action or occurrent of the Ephraimites beyond Iordan; whether it was their killing of Oreb and Zeeb there, Iudg. 7. 25. and 8. 3. or, their slaughter by Iephthah, Iudg. 12. 5, 6. or, some other not mentioned in Sacred Scripture.

7 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.

i. e. The Soldiers of Absalom so called; partly, to note that all Israel (some few excepted) were ingaged in this Rebellion, which made David's deliverance more glorious and remarkable: and partly, in opposition to David's men, who, as to the main Body, or most considerable part, were of the Tribe of Iudah, or had followed him from Iudah.

8 For the battel was there scattered over the face of all the countrey: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured .

i. e. The Warriers being beaten in the fight, fled and were dispersed: the abstract being put for the concrete, as poverty is put for poor men, 2 King. 24. 14. and deceit for the deceiver, and dreams for dreamers, Prov. 12. 24. and 13. 6.

i e. More people died in the Wood, either through hunger, and thirst, and weariness: or, by the wild Beasts, whereof great numbers were there, which though they were driven away by no[illegible: 1+ letters]se and clamour from the place of the main Battel, yet might easily meet with them when they s[illegible: 1+ letters]ed several ways, which also might be directed and sent to them by Gods Providence, and just Judgment, to punish them for their Rebellion: or, by falling into Ditches and Pits, which were in that place, v. 17. and probably were covered with Grass or Wood, so as they could not see them till they fell into them: or, by being hanged in Trees, as Absalom was▪ v. 9. and especially by David's men, who pursued them, and killed them in the Wood; and the Wood is rightly said to have devoured them, because it gave the occasion to their destruction, inasmuch as the Trees, and Ditches, and Pits, entangled them, and stopped their flight, and made them an easie prey to David's men, who followed them, a[illegible: 1+ letters]d slew them in the pursuit, being therein directed and assisted by the people of that Countrey, who, after the manner, fell in with the victorious side.

To wit, in the main Battel: the Sword being put for the Battel, by a common Meto [illegible: 1+ letters]ymy.

Marginal references: Isa. 15. 9.; Heb. multiplied to devour.

9 ¶ 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 .

Who according to David's command, spared him, and gave him an opportunity to escape.

In which probably he was [illegible: 1+ letters]ntangled by the hair of the head, which being very long and thick, might easily [illegible: 1+ letters]atch hold of a Bough, especially when the Great God directed it. Either he wore no Helmet, or his Helmet was such as left much of his hair visible; or he had thrown away his Helmet as well as his other Arms, to hasten his flight, or because of the heat of the season. Thus the matter of his pride was the instrument of his ruin, as also Asahel's swiftness, chap. 2. 18. and Ahitophel's policy, chap. 17. 23. were the occasions of their destruction.

Which might easily happen, because being in [illegible: 1+ letters]light the Mule passed along very swiftly.

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 ?

Why didst thou not smite him down from the Oak, and with thy Spear nail him to the ground?

A Military Belt of more than ordinary price, as a Testimony of thy Valour and good Service. See on 1 Sam. 18. 4.

12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put [illegible: 1+ letters]orth mine hand against the kings son: for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

Or, take heed what (for so the Hebrew Pronoun, mi▪ is sometimes used, as Iud[illegible: 1+ letters]. 13. 17.) ye do with the young man. He expresse[illegible: 1+ letters]h David's sense, though not his words.

Marginal references: Heb. weigh upon mine hand.; Heb. Beware whosoever ye▪ be, of, &c.

13 Otherwise I should have wrought falshood against mine own life : for there is no matter hid from the king , and thou thy self wouldest have set thy self against me .

Either, First, I should have been guilty of false and perfidious dealing against the Kings express Injunction, and that with the manifest hazard of my own life. Or, Secondly, I should have betray'd my own life. I should not onely have deceived my self with false hopes, either of concealing my Fact from the King, or of obtaining a reward, yea or a pardon, from him or thee for it, but also have destroyed my self thereby, and laid a plot against my own life.

This, as all other things, would certainly come to the Kings ear.

Thou wouldest have been mine adversary and accuser; partly, because it was thy duty to be so; and partly, to vindicate thy self by casting the blame upon another. Or, thou wouldst have stood afar of, as this Phrase is used, Psal. 38. 11. Thou wouldest not have stood to me to intercede for my life or reward, but wouldest keep at a distance from me.

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.

I must not lose time in contending with thee till I let the occasion slip.

Not properly so called, for he was yet alive after these wounds, and was slain, ver. 15. but through his middle, as the word heart is oft used, as Psal. 46. 2. and that too, not exactly, but more largely understood, as Deut. 4. 11. Ezek. 27. 4. Matth. 12. 40. or through his Body: which might be, and yet the wounds not mortal.

Or, yet he continued alive, i. e. the Darts did not dispatch [illegible: 1+ letters]im, and therefore they smi[illegible: 1+ letters]e him again, and kill him, v. 15.

Marginal references: Heb. before thee.; Heb. heart.

15 And ten young men that bare Joabs armour, compassed about, and smote Absalom, and slew him .

Judging that there could be no safety to the King, no[illegible: 1+ letters] peace to the Kingdom, nor security to himself, and all David's Friends, and Loyal Subjects, and good men, if Absalom had lived, as may seem probable from chap. 19. 10. and yet perceiving that the Kings heart was reconcilable to Absalom, notwithstanding his abominable Crimes of lying with his Fathers Concubines, and of horrid and unnatural Rebellion▪ both which were capital Crimes by the Law of God; he adventured to save David's life against his will. But whether Ioab did well in this, all things considered, I shall not here determine.

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

Who otherwise were highly incensed against the Rebels, and hotly pursued them. But, the head of the Rebellion being cut off, and the danger thereby past, he puts a stop to the effusion of Israelitish blood.

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 .

As a lasting monument of Absalom's sin and shame, and of the Righteous Judgment of God upon him. Compare Ios. 7. 26. and 8. 29. and 10. 27. He was first hanged, after a sort, which was an accursed death, Deut. 21. 23. and then thrust through with Darts and Swords; and, after all, in a manner stoned, which was the proper punishment of a Rebellio[illegible: 1+ letters]s Son, Deut. 21. 21.

To their houses and dwellings, to avoid the shame and punishment of their Rebellion.

18 ¶ Now Absalom in his life time had taken and reared up for himself a pillar , which is in the kings dale : for he said, [illegible: 1+ letters] 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, Absaloms place .

To preserve his name in memory; whereas it had been [illegible: 1 word] for his honour if his name had been buried in perpetual oblivion. But this was the effect of his pride and vainglory.

A place near Ier[illegible: 1+ letters]salem so called, Genesis 14. 17.

Object. He had three sons, chap. 14. 27. Ans. Either they were all now dead; or, if one of them was left alive, he thought him unfit and unworthy to keep up his name and honour; or, he erected this Pillar before his Sons were born. But the first opinion seems most probable; and it was a remarkable Judgment of God, that he who struck at his Fathers life, should be punished with the death of all his Sons.

Heb. Absalom's hand, i. e. his work, made, though not by his hand, yet for him and his glory, and by his procurement.

Marginal references: Gen. 14▪ [illegible: 1+ letters] ▪

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 kings son is dead .

And thou shalt not be a Messenger of Evil tidings, which will be unwelcome to him, and prejudicial to thee.

Marginal references: Heb. be [illegible: 1+ letters] man of [illegible: 1+ letters] dings.

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

Or, to an Ethiopian; so he might be by birth, and yet by profession an Israelite.

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?

So he calls him with respect both to his younger years, and to that true and tender affection which he had for him.

Marginal references: Heb. be what may.; Or, [illegible: 1+ letters] ent, or, [illegible: 1+ letters] ent, Numb. 11. 22.

23 But howsoever (said he) let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain , and over-ran Cushi.

Which was the smoother and easier, though the longer way.

24 And David sate between the two gates : and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall , and lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, a man running alone.

For the Gates of the Cities then were, as now they are, large and thick; and for the greater security, had two Gates, one more outward, the other inward. Here he sate, that he might hear tidings when any came into the City.

Unto the top of the Wall or Tower upon the Gate, where watchmen used to watch. Compare 2 King. 9. 17. Ezek. 33. 2.

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.

He is sent with some special Message: which was a very probable conjecture: for if he had run or fled from the Enemy, many others would have followed him.

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 .

He loves me well, and therefore would not afflict me with Evil tidings.

Marginal references: Heb. I see thee running.

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 lift up their hand against my lord the king.

Into thy hand and power; or, to destruction. Compare 1 Sam. 24. 19. and 26. 8.

Marginal references: Or, Peace be to thee.; Heb. Peace.; Heb. shut up.

29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the kings servant , and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was .

Cushi.

He seems to tell an untruth, as is evident from v. 20. because he now plainly perceived what Ioab foretold him, that such tidings would be very unwelcome to David. But he made a bad choice, to offend God with a lye, rather than to displease the King with a truth. Yet thus far it might be true; that though he had reason to think Absalom was dead, yet was not able to give account of the particulars which concerned it, wherewith Cushi was intrusted.

Marginal references: Heb. Is there peace?

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 up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is .

May they perish and be cut off, as he is.

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 .

Retiring himself from all men and business, that he might wholly give up himself to lamentation.

This he might speak from a deep sense of his Eternal state, because he died in his sins, without the least testimony of repentance, and because David himself had by his own si[illegible: 1+ letters]s been the unhappy instrument and occasion of his Sons death.