Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 18:8

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.