Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024
the Fourth Week after Easter
the Fourth Week after Easter
Attention!
We are taking food to Ukrainians still living near the front lines. You can help by getting your church involved.
Click to donate today!
Click to donate today!
Bible Commentaries
Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible Dummelow on the Bible
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Dummelow, John. "Commentary on 2 Samuel 18". "Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dcb/2-samuel-18.html. 1909.
Dummelow, John. "Commentary on 2 Samuel 18". "Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible". https://studylight.org/
Whole Bible (46)Old Testament (1)Individual Books (2)
Verses 1-33
The Defeat and Death of Absalom
1. Numbered] rather, ’mustered.’
3. Succour us out of the city] David, holding Mahanaim with a sufficient force, would be of the greatest assistance to the fugitives, if his army were defeated.
5. The people heard] This statement explains 2 Samuel 18:12.
6. The wood of Ephraim] LXX reads ’Mahanaim’ here.
8. The battle was there scattered] So Joab was able to destroy Absalom’s forces in detail. The wood devoured, etc.] The thickness of the wood, its swamps, precipices, etc., militated against the fugitives, and increased the slaughter: cp. the manner of Absalom’s death.
9. Met] RV ’chanced to meet.’ By misfortune, in his flight Absalom encountered some of the pursuers. His head] The tradition that Absalom was caught by his hair comes from Josephus.
13. Against me] RV ’aloof.’ Joab would have stood on one side and let his accomplice bear the brunt of the king’s anger.
16. Joab held back the people] Absalom was dead and the war ended.
17. A very great heap of stones] This might be simply to mark his burying-place.
18. This v. is evidently parenthetical, and informs us that Absalom had a suitable permanent memorial, though the building now known as Absalom’s tomb in the vicinity of Jerusalem is of much later date. Evidently Absalom’s three sons (2 Samuel 14:27) had died before him. Place] RV ’monument.’
21. Cushi] RV ’the Cushite.’ He was probably a slave of Joab, who could be trusted to say exactly what he was told.
22. Thou hast no tidings ready] RV ’thou wilt have no reward for the tidings.’ His message would be a sad one.
23. By the way of the plain] The direct way lay across the hills, but Ahimaaz, by choosing the level road along the Jordan valley, reached his goal first.
24. Between the two gates] i.e. between the outer and the inner gate in the city wall.
25. If he be alone, there is tidings] Had he been a fugitive, he would have been followed by others.
29. And me] RV ’even me.’ I knew not what it was] This statement was untrue (2 Samuel 18:20). Probably Joab had commanded him to leave the announcement to the Cushite