2 Samuel 18: The battle in the forest, Absalom's death in the oak, and David's grief
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
David divides his people into three companies under Joab, Abishai and Ittai, and the people persuade him to stay in the city; as they go out he tells the commanders, in the hearing of all, to deal gently with the young man Absalom. Israel is beaten in the forest of Ephraim, twenty thousand die, and the forest devours more people than the sword. Absalom's head is caught in a great oak as his mule goes on, and when a man reports it, Joab thrusts three sticks (or: darts) into Absalom's heart, and ten of Joab's young men kill him; they throw him into a pit and raise a great heap of stones over him. Ahimaaz and a Cushite run with the news, and when the Cushite answers the king's question about Absalom, "May the enemies of my lord the king ... be like that young man", David goes up to the room over the gate weeping, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you."
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. David speaks to the people in verses 2 and 4, and the people answer him in verse 3. David gives his order about Absalom in verse 5, and the man who saw Absalom repeats it in verse 12. The man and Joab speak in verses 10 to 14. Verse 18 gives Absalom's own words about his pillar. Ahimaaz and Joab speak in verses 19 to 23, and Joab sends the Cushite in verse 21. The watchman and David speak in verses 25 to 27. Ahimaaz speaks to the king in verses 28 and 29, the king to him in verses 29 and 30, and the Cushite and the king in verses 31 and 32. David weeps for Absalom in verse 33. When Ahimaaz and the Cushite say what Yahweh has done for the king (verses 19, 28 and 31), those are their own words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
In plain English: David counted the people who were with him, and he set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2David sent the people out, a third part 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. The king said to the people, “I will also surely go out with you myself.”
In plain English: David sent the people out: a third under Joab, a third under Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, "I will surely go out with you myself too."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”
In plain English: But the people said, "You must not go out. If we run away, they will not care about us (literally: set their heart on us); even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us (or: But now there are ten thousand like us: see the note). So now it is better for you to be ready to help us from the city."
The Hebrew words: "You are worth ten thousand of us" is in Hebrew "for now (attah) like us ten thousand". The word for "now" sounds the same as attah, "you", and is spelled almost the same. This Bible reads it as "you". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) also has "for thou art as ten thousand of us".
What changes: Read as "you", the people say David himself is worth ten thousand of them, so he must not risk his life. Read as "now", as the Hebrew is written, they say that now there are ten thousand like them. Either way, they ask him to stay and help from the city.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4The king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
In plain English: The king said to them, "I will do whatever seems best to you." So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
In plain English: The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, "For my sake, deal gently with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the commanders this order about Absalom.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
In plain English: So the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7The people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
In plain English: The people of Israel were beaten there by David's servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day: twenty thousand men.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
In plain English: The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more of the people that day than the sword devoured.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
In plain English: Absalom happened to meet David's servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak (or: a great tree). His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging (literally: was put) between the sky and the earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
The Hebrew word: "Oak" is elah, which the dictionary gives as "an oak or other strong tree". This Bible says "oak" in 11 of the 12 verses that use it, and "oaks" in the other.
Good to know: The text says that Absalom's head caught fast in the tree. It does not mention his hair here. tells how heavy Absalom's hair was: he cut it once a year and it weighed two hundred shekels.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
In plain English: A man saw it and told Joab, "Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a sash.”
In plain English: Joab said to the man who told him, "You saw him! Then why did you not strike him down to the ground right there? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’
In plain English: The man said to Joab, "Even if a thousand pieces of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son. For in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai and Ittai, 'Take care of the young man Absalom, whoever you are (this Bible: Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom).'
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13Otherwise, if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
In plain English: Otherwise, if I had dealt falsely against his life (or: had risked my own life by a lie), and nothing is hidden from the king, you yourself would have kept your distance from me (this Bible: set yourself against me)."
The Hebrew words: As the Hebrew is written, the man says "against his life", that is, against Absalom's life, and this Bible follows that. The STEPBible meanings for this verse read it as "on my life", with one letter different. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) joins the words to the king's order in verse 12: "so as to do no harm to his life".
What changes: Read as "his life", the man says that if he had killed Absalom against the king's order, Joab would have kept his distance and not stood by him. Read as "my life", he says he would have put his own life in danger by such a lie. Either way, he says nothing is hidden from the king.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the middle of the oak.
In plain English: Then Joab said, "I will not wait like this with you." He took three sticks (or: rods; this Bible: darts) in his hand and thrust them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the middle (literally: the heart) of the oak.
The Hebrew word: "Darts" is shevet, which the dictionary gives as "a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan". This Bible says "tribe" or a longer form in 133 of the 178 verses that use it, "rod" or a longer form in 29, and "darts" only here.
What changes: Read as "darts", Joab throws or thrusts three small spears. Read as "sticks" or "rods", he strikes with three wooden staffs. Either way, the text says he thrust them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive, and verse 15 says Joab's young men then killed him.
Good to know: "Heart" is the same Hebrew word twice in this verse: Joab strikes "the heart of Absalom", who hangs in "the heart of the oak".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
In plain English: Ten young men who carried Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
In plain English: Joab blew the trumpet, and the people came back from chasing Israel, because Joab held the people back (or: spared the people).
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
In plain English: They took Absalom, threw him into a great pit in the forest, and piled a very great heap of stones over him. And all Israel ran away, each to his tent.
Good to know: "Pit" is pachat, the same word Hushai used in when he said David was "hidden in some pit". A great heap of stones was raised over Achan () and over the king of Ai (). The text here does not compare them.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.
In plain English: Now during his lifetime Absalom had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley, because he said, "I have no son to keep my name remembered." He called the pillar by his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument (literally: Absalom's hand) to this day.
The Hebrew words: "Pillar" is matstsevet, which the dictionary gives as "something stationary, i.e. a monumental stone". "Monument" is yad, "a hand", the word used for Saul's monument at Carmel (see the note on ). The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "Abessalom's hand".
Good to know: Absalom says, "I have no son." says, "Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar." The text does not say how these fit together, or when Absalom set up the pillar. also names "the King's Valley".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.”
In plain English: Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Please let me run and take the news to the king, that Yahweh has avenged him (literally: judged him) from the hand of his enemies."
The Hebrew word: "Avenged" is shaphat, which the dictionary gives as "to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish". This Bible says "judge" or a longer form in 155 of the 182 verses that use it. In 2 Samuel it says "avenged" in 2 verses: here and verse 31.
What changes: Read as "avenged", Yahweh has paid back the king's enemies. Read as "judged" or "vindicated", Yahweh has given the king justice and declared him in the right. These are Ahimaaz's words here and the Cushite's in verse 31.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
In plain English: Joab said to him, "You are not the man to take news today. You may take news another day, but today you must not take any news, because the king's son is dead."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen!” The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
In plain English: Then Joab said to the Cushite (that is, a man from Cush), "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed down to Joab and ran.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?”
In plain English: Ahimaaz the son of Zadok spoke again to Joab: "Whatever happens, please let me run after the Cushite too." Joab said, "Why do you want to run, my son, when you will get no reward for the news?"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23“But come what may,” he said, “I will run.” He said to him, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
In plain English: "Whatever happens," he said, "I will run." So Joab said to him, "Run!" Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain (that is, the Jordan valley), and he passed the Cushite.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
24Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
In plain English: David was sitting between the two gates. The watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, looked up, and saw a man running alone.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
25The watchman shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He came closer and closer.
In plain English: The watchman called out and told the king. The king said, "If he is alone, he has news in his mouth." The man came closer and closer.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
26The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.”
In plain English: The watchman saw another man running, and he called to the gatekeeper, "Look, another man running alone!" The king said, "He is bringing news too."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
27The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
In plain English: The watchman said, "I think the first one runs like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." The king said, "He is a good man, and he comes with good news."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
28Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
In plain English: Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well (literally: Peace)." He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has handed over the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
29The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.”
In plain English: The king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe (literally: Is it peace for the young man Absalom)?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, me your servant, I saw a great commotion (or: crowd), but I do not know what it was."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
30The king said, “Come and stand here.” He came and stood still.
In plain English: The king said, "Step aside and stand here." So he stepped aside and stood there.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
31Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.”
In plain English: Then the Cushite came. The Cushite said, "Good news for my lord the king! Yahweh has avenged you (literally: judged you) today from the hand of all who rose up against you."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
32The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.”
In plain English: The king said to the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to harm you, be like that young man."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
33The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
In plain English: The king was deeply shaken (literally: trembled). He went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish (literally: who will give that) I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.