2 Samuel 18:1, 2 Samuel 18:2

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:1-3

The Two Opposing Armies Prepare For Battle (17:24-18:4a). Just as Absalom had come to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:15), so David came to Mahanaim. Mahanaim had been the royal city of Ish-bosheth. Now it would welcome David. It would seem clear that Transjordan had not sided with Absalom. Absalom consequently crossed the Jordan at the head of his army (just as Hushai had advised) ready to meet David whose men, however, would not allow him to expose himself at the head of his army. So the battle was... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

1 Samuel 18:1 to 1 Samuel 19:8 . Defeat and Death of Absalom. David’ s Grief (J). 2 Samuel 18:1-Ruth : . Absalom’ s followers are defeated with great slaughter. Nothing is known as to the battle-field, “ the Forest of Ephraim,” beyond what may be gathered from this story. Many fugitives lost their lives by falling headlong in the broken, rocky country; some perhaps, especially the wounded died of hunger and exhaustion in these inhospitable tracts, with which they were not familiar. “ Forest”... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 18:1

The people that were with him; which flocked to him thither, so as to make up a small army. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES.—2 Samuel 18:1. “David numbered,” etc. “The hardy mountaineers of Gilead came in great numbers at the call of their chieftains.”—(Jamieson.) Josephus says the army numbered about 4000.2 Samuel 18:6. The situation of this battle-ground is much disputed. Erdmann thinks the name can be understood only of the forest covering the mountains of Ephraim mentioned in Joshua 17:15-18, and Keil agrees with him; but against this view the majority of writers on the subject urge... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

Chapter 18So David numbered the people that were with him, and he set the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds. And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, a third part under the hand of Abishai who was the brother of Joab, and a third part under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also ( 2 Samuel 18:1-2 ).So now David is preparing to defend himself, and he divides the people that were... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 18:1-33

2 Samuel 18:2 . A third part under Ittai, the Philistine general who had faithfully followed the fortunes of the king. 2 Samuel 18:6 . The wood of Ephraim lay beyond Jordan, and was not in the lot of Ephraim; but was called so, either because Jephthah defeated the Ephraimites there, Judges 12:0., or on some other account. Rabbi Abulensis says, there was a precipice in this wood over which the routed mass of the rebels were driven. 2 Samuel 18:11 . And a girdle. This would have been... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - 2 Samuel 18:1-17

2 Samuel 18:1-17And David numbered the people that were with him.The fatal fightThis chapter is a narrative of that fatal fight wherein Absalom the son, fought with David his father for the kingdom of Israel.I. The antecedents of the battle.1. David mustered all his forces, which Josephus reckons but four thousand, yet Comestor computes them to be seven thousand (2 Samuel 18:1), but ‘tis probable they were many more from these cogent reasons.(1) David’s army must needs be greatly augmented by... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1

2Sa 18:1 And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. Ver. 1. And David numbered the people. ] Which seem to be by this time not so few as four thousand, as Josephus reporteth them, or seven thousand, as Comestor, but many more; so that he was confident of the victory, and gave charge concerning Absalom, that his life should be spared. read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - 2 Samuel 18:1

numbered: Exodus 17:9, Joshua 8:10 captains of thousands: 1 Samuel 8:12 Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:4 - by hundreds read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:1

THE BATTLE IN THE WOOD OF EPHRAIM, AND DEATH OF ABSALOM, 2 Samuel 18:1-33. 1. Numbered the people Josephus says he found them to be about four thousand. Others have inferred, from 2 Samuel 18:3, that they were ten thousand. Many had probably rallied to his standard at Mahanaim. read more

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