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Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 18:23

(23) By the way of the plain.—The word used here is generally applied to the valley of the Jordan and hence it has been argued that the battle could not have been fought on the eastern side of the river, since, in that case, Ahimaaz could not have reached Mahanaim by the Jordan valley except by a long and tedious detour. But the word simply means circuit, or surrounding country, and is used in Nehemiah 12:28 for the country about Jerusalem. Here it means that Ahimaaz ran “by the way of the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

The Might-have-been 2 Samuel 18:33 I. Besides the Absalom who was, there is the Absalom who might have been: this is the dead son whom David is lamenting, this is the son he knew, the son he cannot forget, whose image is not blotted out by the shamed figure of the murderer, rebel, traitor, which is the only Absalom visible to all the rest. II. King David has been for Jew and for Christian a type of the Christ. For this once we will make him a type of something else: he shall be an image not... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:19-33

CHAPTER XXIV.DAVID’S GRIEF FOR ABSALOM.2 Samuel 18:19-33; 2 Samuel 19:1-4.’’NEXT to the calamity of losing a battle," a great general used to say, "is that of gaining a victory." The battle in the wood of Ephraim left twenty thousand of King David’s subjects dead or dying on the field. It is remarkable how little is made of this dismal fact. Men’s lives count for little in time of war, and death, even with its worst horrors, is just the common fate of warriors. Yet surely David and his friends... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

8. The Civil War and Absalom’s Death CHAPTER 18 1. The battle in the forest of Ephraim (2 Samuel 18:1-8 ) 2. The death of Absalom (2 Samuel 18:9-18 ) 3. The tidings of his death and David’s grief (2 Samuel 18:19-33 ) And now everything is ready for the battle and the victory. The army of David consisted of three divisions, Joab, Abishai and the faithful Ittai had the command. David was ready to go forth with his warriors, but the people refused to let him go. What a testimony they gave... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 18:24

18:24 And David sat between the two {h} gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.(h) He sat in the gate of the city of Mahanaim. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 18:27

18:27 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 {i} good man, and cometh with good tidings.(i) He had experienced his fidelity, 2 Samuel 17:21. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

David had taken full advantage of the delay that Hushai had counselled to Absalom, with large numbers of the people being gathered to David. Now the time comes for war with Absalom, who has considered himself strong with support of many of Israel also. David divides his men into three bands, well organized and ready for battle. Joab is in charge of one band, Abishai his brother in charge of a second, and Ittai over the third. David's purpose to go out to battle also was however strongly... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

O, ABSALOM , MY SON , MY SON ! LUST, MURDER AND DECEIT (2 Samuel 13:0 ) In the preceding lesson judgments were foretold as coming on David, and we are entering on that part of his career when the prediction is fulfilled in earnest. The foulness of this chapter we would not dwell upon more than we can help. Tamar of course, while sister to Absalom, was half-sister to Amnon, the two young men being sons of David by different wives. “A garment of divers colours” (2 Samuel 13:18 ) might be... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

Pine Traits In the Character of David 2 Samuel 17-19 IT will have been observed that we have not spared king David in our judgment of the evil which he wrought in Israel. We have been careful to mete out to him the full penalty, so that the scoffer should have no advantage over the Christian in condemning the iniquity of the king. We ourselves have trembled under the thunders of the judgment which has been pronounced upon him. Sometimes as the hot sentences fell we almost cried out, Spare the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:19-23

(19) ¶ Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. (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 king's son is dead. (21) Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. (22) Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But... read more

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