2Samuel 17:1 ¶ Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2Samuel 17:2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
2Samuel 17:3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
The narrative continues from the previous chapter.
Ahithophel next advised Absalom to let him choose 12,000 men to lead in pursuit of David that very night. He reasoned that David and his men would be weary and weak from their escape. The sight of the enemy approaching would incite fear and cause the people with him to run away. He promised that he would only kill the king—Absalom’s father. (It’s interesting that Ahithophel still referred to David as “the king.”) He declared that he would bring all the people that were with David back (to put in prison?) and the people would be at peace.
It seems as though the roots of bitterness in Absalom ran deep to be so intent on seeing his father dead. I believe he was still seething over how his father had responded to his brother Amnon’s rape of Tamar, Absalom’s sister, and, in turn, his subsequent exile for exacting vengeance on that act by having his brother killed.
2Samuel 17:4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
2Samuel 17:5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
2Samuel 17:6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
Absalom and the elders of Israel were pleased with Ahithophel’s advice, but Absalom decided to send for Hushai the Archite and get his input as well. When Hushai came before Absalom, he told him what Ahithophel had proposed and asked if he agreed with what Ahithophel had said.
2Samuel 17:7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
2Samuel 17:8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
2Samuel 17:9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
2Samuel 17:10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
Hushai told Absalom that Ahithophel’s advice was not good at this time. He reminded Absalom that David and his men were mighty men, experienced soldiers. At this time they were feeling like a mama bear robbed of her cubs—dangerous and full of rage. David was a man of war and would not spend the night among his people. He was most likely hidden in a pit or somewhere more set apart and safe. If he hears that Absalom’s troops are slaughtering his people, he will respond as the warrior he is. All the men of Israel knew how courageous, skilled and experienced a warrior David was and how mighty were the men that followed him. The troops of Absalom would most likely end up retreating in fear in the face of their attack.
The picture Hushai painted was of a mighty warrior and his mighty men. He must have been quite a persuasive speaker since this definitely did not fit with the man seen running away, albeit surrounded by his mighty men, and basically ceding his throne to his son.
2Samuel 17:11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
2Samuel 17:12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
2Samuel 17:13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
Hushai went on to advise Absalom to gather together a multitude of men from all over Israel. He should then personally lead that army into battle. Once they find David, they will then be able to destroy David and all the men with him. If, perchance, David had taken refuge in a city, they would destroy that city so that not even a small stone was left in it.
This was a calculated appeal to the pride of Absalom and inferred that his leadership of a mighty army to such a victory would exalt him in the eyes of the people.
JFB provides some insight: “In besieging a town, hooks or cranes were often thrown upon the walls or turrets, by which, with ropes attached to them, the besiegers, uniting all their force, pulled down the fortifications in a mass of ruins.”
2Samuel 17:14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
Absalom and the men of Israel all decided that Hushai had provided better counsel than Ahithophel. This was an act of the LORD. He had determined to void Ahithophel’s counsel in order to bring grievous harm to Absalom.
2Samuel 17:15 ¶ Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.
2Samuel 17:16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
2Samuel 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.
Hushai went to see Zadok and Abiathar the priests and told them all that Ahithophel had counseled and how he had countered that counsel. It seems that Hushai was not confident that Absalom would take his advice because he urged them to quickly get a message to David to immediately get out of the plains in the wilderness to save their lives.
Jonathan and Ahimaaz, the two sons of the priests, were staying in Enrogel. A female servant was sent to give them the message that they were to deliver to David.
2Samuel 17:18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.
2Samuel 17:19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
2Samuel 17:20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
2Samuel 17:21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
In spite of all their planning, there was a boy that learned what had transpired and informed Absalom. Meantime, the two young men escaped to Bahurim— evidently to a friend’s home. They hid in a well in his court, and his wife or daughter I assume covered the well and spread corn all over it to hide its presence. (This was a common way to dry the corn out.) When Absalom’s servants came to the house, they asked the woman where Ahimaaz and Jonathan were. She told them that they had gone over the brook. Though they went to look for them, they never found them and returned to Jerusalem.
After Absalom’s men had left, the two young men came up out of the well and hurried to deliver the message to king David.
2Samuel 17:22 ¶ Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
2Samuel 17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
David and all the people with him quickly moved to get across the Jordan. By morning not one person was left on the west side.
When Ahithophel realized that his counsel had not been followed, he quickly returned home to his own city. He put his household in order then hanged himself and died. He was buried in the family tomb.
It seems that Ahithophel understood that Absalom would be defeated and David restored as king. He knew that he would be accounted a traitor and probably killed.
Guzik used an insightful quote attributed to Morgan regarding suicide: “Suicide is always the ultimate action of cowardice. In the case of Saul, and in many similar cases, it is perfectly natural; but let it never be glorified as heroic. It is the last resort of the man who dare not stand up to life."
2Samuel 17:24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
2Samuel 17:25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.
David and his people reached Mahanaim by the time that Absalom was leading his army across the Jordan. Most commentators note that this was the former place from which Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, established his rule.
Absalom made Amasa the captain of his military forces, the position Joab held under David. Amasa was Joab’s cousin; their mother’s were sisters. These were also David’s sisters, which made Amasa Absalom’s cousin as well.
2Samuel 17:26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
2Samuel 17:27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
2Samuel 17:28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
2Samuel 17:29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
Absalom and the troops of Israel made camp in the land of Gilead.
When David got to Mahanaim, three of his allies—Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim—brought supplies to provide for the needs of David and his people. They brought beds, dishes, utensils, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched corn, honey, butter, sheep and cheese. They knew that David and his people needed nourishment to sustain them in the wilderness.
2Samuel 18:1 ¶ And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
As he made preparations to engage the forces of Israel led by Absalom, David numbered and organized the men that had remained loyal to him. It wasn’t a small number. He was able to appoint captains over thousands and captains over hundreds.
2Samuel 18:2 And David sent forth a third part of the people 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. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
2Samuel 18:3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
2Samuel 18:4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
David put a third of his troops under the command of Joab, a third under the command of Abishai and a third under the command of Ittai the Gittite.
Reminder: Both Joab and Abishai were brothers, sons of David’s sister Zeruiah.
The king declared that he would be going to fight with his men, but they urged him not to do so. They reasoned that it would be better for him to stay out of the fight because he was the only target the enemy cared about killing. They wouldn’t care if the rest of David’s men ran away, but they would not stop until they eliminated David. They convinced him that it would be better for him to stay in the city and send them help if needed.
King David stood at the gate of the city while his troops passed by him as they went forth to battle.
2Samuel 18:5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
2Samuel 18:6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
2Samuel 18:7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
2Samuel 18:8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
In the hearing of all his troops, the king commanded his generals—Joab, Abishai and Ittai—to deal gently with Absalom. In other words, he wanted him to be taken prisoner and not mistreated.
David’s troops headed out to battle in the woods of Ephraim. His men slaughtered 20,000 of the men under Absalom’s command. The battle encompassed the countryside, and the forest was responsible for the deaths of more men than were killed in the actual fighting.
The IVP Commentary offers this explanation: “When the Old Testament speaks of land devouring people (as the forest does here), it is indicating a hostile, inhospitable environment that threatens survival. Since this was a battlefield chosen by David and not Absalom, it may be expected that the king’s forces utilized the rough terrain and forested areas to their advantage. Ambushes, feints drawing troops into ravines or wadis, and other guerilla tactics may have been employed. Divisions can get disoriented, lost or isolated and become easy targets.”
2Samuel 18:9 ¶ And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
2Samuel 18:10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
2Samuel 18:11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
2Samuel 18:12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
2Samuel 18:13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
At some point, Absalom encountered David’s men. He was riding on a mule; and when the mule went under a big oak tree, his hair (I assume) got caught in its branches. His mule left him dangling by his hair, and some of Joab’s men told him what had happened. Joab asked the man why he had not killed Absalom. He declared that he would have rewarded the man with ten shekels of silver and a girdle. JFB notes that such a reward represented being raised from the general rank of soldier to that of a commissioned officer. The IVP Commentary notes that the ten shekels of silver represented a bonus of one year’s pay.
The man told Joab that even if he had offered him 1,000 shekels of silver, he would not harm the king’s son. He reminded Joab that he had heard David give the command not to harm Absalom. To harm Absalom was to incur the king’s wrath and endanger his life; he was sure to find out. He declared that he knew that Joab himself would have turned on him at the king’s command.
2Samuel 18:14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
2Samuel 18:15 And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
2Samuel 18:16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
Joab basically said that he didn’t have time to argue with him. He took three weapons (some type of fighting stick) and thrust them through Absalom’s heart as he hung from the tree. Ten of the young men that were Joab’s armor bearers surrounded Absalom and struck him as well to ensure his death.
The Hebrew for the word “heart” can reference the center of the body. If Joab had struck him in the heart, he would have died immediately. It is clear that such did not occur.
Joab then blew the trumpet signaling that his troops should stop fighting and return to camp. The threat to the throne had been eliminated.
David Guzik made a good comment regarding Joab’s actions: “We might say that Joab was correct but not right. He was correct in understanding that it was better for David and for Israel that Absalom was dead. He was not right in disobeying King David, the God-appointed authority over him. By David's dealings with King Saul, we see that God can deal with those in authority, and we don't need to disobey them unless commanded to by Scripture or a clear conscience.”
The NIV Commentary notes: “Absalom’s death brings to three the number of sons that David has lost as a result of his sins against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah.”
2Samuel 18:17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
2Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.
Joab’s men (I assume) took Absalom’s body down and put him in a great pit in the woods and covered the pit with a large heap of stones
The men of Israel all ran away to their own homes. Before his coup attempt, Absalom had erected a pillar to himself in the king’s dale because he had no son to carry on his name. He named the pillar after himself, and it was still recognized in the day that these events were written down for posterity.
JFB offers this historical note: “In the valley of Jehoshaphat, on the east of Jerusalem, is a tomb or cenotaph, said to be this “pillar” or monument: it is twenty-four feet square, dome-topped, and reaches forty feet in height. This may occupy the spot, but cannot itself be the work of Absalom, as it evidently bears the style of a later architecture.”
Guzik adds this note: “Absalom did have three sons (2 Samuel 14:27). From this statement we surmise that they died before their father did.”
2Samuel 18:19 ¶ 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.
2Samuel 18:20 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.
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok wanted to be the one to take the king the news of their victory and how the LORD had avenged him of his enemies. Joab refused to let him go because Absalom was dead. Some commentaries posit that Joab did not want to risk Ahimaaz’s life as the messenger bringing to David the news of the death of his son.
2Samuel 18:21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
2Samuel 18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
2Samuel 18:23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
Confusing in light of his refusal to let Ahimaaz go, Joab sent Cushi to tell the king what he had seen. Cushi acknowledged the command and ran off. Ahimaaz pleaded once again to be allowed to follow Cushi. Joab asked him why he wanted to go since there was no other news to deliver. Ahimaaz continued to plead to be allowed to go, and Joab finally relented. Ahimaaz took off by way of the plain and overran Cushi.
2Samuel 18:24 And David sat between the two 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.
2Samuel 18:25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
2Samuel 18:26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
David was sitting at the gates of the city apparently awaiting news from the battlefront. The watchman climbed up to the roof over the gates and spotted a man running towards them. When he told the king, David reasoned that if he were alone, he had news; and he got up to wait for the news. Suddenly the watchman saw another man headed their way and informed the keeper of the gate who apparently informed the king. Again David reasoned that it must be another messenger carrying more news.
2Samuel 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 good man, and cometh with good tidings.
2Samuel 18:28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
2Samuel 18:29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
2Samuel 18:30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
The watchman told David that the first man ran like Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, who must have been well known for his speed and form as a runner. David reasoned that he was a good man and must be bringing good news. As Ahimaaz approached the king, he yelled out that all was well. He fell on his face before the king and reported the victory of David’s troops over the enemy. The king immediately questioned him concerning Absalom’s safety. Ahimaaz reported that he saw a commotion around him, but he did not know what had happened. David then ordered Ahimaaz to stand aside as he waited for the next messenger.
2Samuel 18:31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
2Samuel 18:32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
2Samuel 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
When Cushi arrived, he too announced that David’s troops had gained the victory and the LORD had avenged him of all those that had turned against him. David’s first question again regarded Absalom’s safety. Cushi’s answer made it clear that Absalom was dead. He basically said that he hoped all the enemies of King David were “as that young man is.”
David was overcome with grief over his son’s death and went up to his chamber over the gate and wept. As he went, he expressed his heart that he would have died in his stead.
Spurgeon made an insightful comment: “Our children may plunge into the worst of sins, but they are our children still. They may scoff at our God; they may tear our heart to pieces with their wickedness; we cannot take complacency in them, but at the same time we cannot unchild them, nor erase their image from our hearts."
Another insightful comment from Guzik: “David mourned so much for Absalom because he really was his son. David saw his sins, his weaknesses, his rebellion exaggerated in Absalom.”