2 Samuel 18:6-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-8

Which way David raised an army here, and what reinforcements were sent him, we are not told; many, it is likely, from all the coasts of Israel, at least from the neighbouring tribes, came in to his assistance, so that, by degrees, he was able to make head against Absalom, as Ahithophel foresaw. Now here we have, I. His army numbered and marshalled, 2 Sam. 18:1, 2. He had, no doubt, committed his cause to God by prayer, for that was his relief in all his afflictions; and then he took an account... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:6

So the people went out into the field against Israel ,.... Josephus F5 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 10.) sect. 2. calls it a great field, with a wood behind it: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ; or near it F6 ביער "ad sylvam", Junius & Tremellius; "prope sylvam", Piscator. rather; not in a wood in the tribe of Ephraim, which lay on this side Jordan; whereas this battle was fought on the other side Jordan, in the land of Gilead, not far from Mahanaim, where was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:7

Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David ,.... That is, the people of Israel that were under Absalom, these were beaten by David's army: and there was a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men ; including both those that fell in the field of battle, and that were slain in the pursuit; and this is to be understood only of Absalom's party. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:8

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country ,.... Or the warriors were scattered, as the Targum; Absalom's soldiers, their ranks were broken, and they were thrown into the utmost confusion, and ran about here and there all over the field or plain in which the battle was fought, and into the neighbouring wood: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured ; there were more slain in it the in the field of battle, what by one thing or another; as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:7

Twenty thousand men - Whether these were slain on the field of battle, or whether they were reckoned with those slain in the wood of Ephraim, we know not. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:8

The wood devoured more people - It is generally supposed that, when the army was broken, they betook themselves to the wood, fell into pits, swamps, etc., and, being entangled, were hewn down by David's men; but the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, state that they were devoured by wild beasts in the wood. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-8

( MAHANAIM .) David's victory over his rebellious subjects. Having found refuge in the fortified city of Mahanaim ( 2 Samuel 2:8 ), and recruited their exhausted energies, David and those who were with him prepared for the conflict which now seemed inevitable. Meanwhile (during several weeks) Absalom collected a great army ( 2 Samuel 17:11 ), appointed Amasa captain, crossed the Jordan, and encamped in the land of Gilead ( 2 Samuel 17:24-27 ). Here, "in the wood of Ephraim" ( 2... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:1-18

The facts are: 1 . David, refreshed by the aid sent him, sets himself to the work of organizing his followers, and divides them into three corps, under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai respectively. 2 . On his proposing to head the force, the people urge him to desist from doing so, pointing out that, in case of a conflict, the enemy would be sure to make an endeavour to kill him rather than to fight a regular battle. 3 . The king yields to their persuasions, and, as they suggest, abides... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:6

The wood of Ephraim. There is a diversity of opinion as to the locality thus described. It might mean the large forest tract in the highlands of Ephraim; but if so, the battle must have been fought on the west of the Jordan, whereas the general tenor of the narrative makes it plain that it took place on the eastern side, near Mahanaim. It is true that no wood of Ephraim is ever mentioned elsewhere in the Bible as situated in Gilead, and those who cannot believe in such a wood except within... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:8

The battle was there scattered. The word in the Hebrew is a noun, which the Massorites have changed into a participle. But the noun is right: "The battle became a scattering," that is, it was a series of disconnected encounters, in which David's three divisions attacked and routed Absalom's men, while still on the march, without giving them an opportunity of collecting and forming in order of battle. And the wood devoured more people that day thin the sword devoured. The woodland was... read more

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