*2 Samuel 18:1-18
David prepares his army for battle against Absalom, instructing his commanders to spare Absalom’s life.
- David Prepares for Battle
- King David organizes his army to fight against his rebellious son Absalom.
- He divides the troops into three groups under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai.
- David wants to go into battle himself, but his men insist he stays behind for safety.
- David’s Special Request
- Before the battle, David tells his commanders to deal gently with Absalom.
- All the soldiers hear his request, showing his love for his son despite the rebellion.
- The Battle in the Forest
- The battle takes place in the forest of Ephraim.
- David’s forces defeat Absalom’s army, and 20,000 men die.
- The forest itself causes many deaths, possibly due to rough terrain and natural hazards.
- Absalom’s Tragic End
- As Absalom tries to escape on his mule, his hair gets caught in a tree.
- He is left hanging as his mule keeps running.
- One of David’s soldiers sees Absalom but refuses to harm him because of David’s order.
- Joab Ignores David’s Orders
- Joab, David’s general, is furious and takes action.
- He and his men kill Absalom while he hangs helplessly in the tree.
- Afterward, they bury Absalom in a pit and cover him with stones.
- Absalom’s Memorial
- Before his death, Absalom had built a monument for himself, thinking he would be remembered.
- Instead, his rebellion ends in disgrace, and his name becomes associated with failure.
2 Samuel 18:1-18 teaches us that our choices have consequences. Absalom’s rebellion against his father, David, led to his downfall, showing that pride and disobedience can lead to destruction. On the other hand, David’s sorrow over his son’s fate reminds us of the deep love parents have for their children, even when they go astray. This passage encourages us to think carefully about our actions, seek wisdom, and choose the right path rather than one driven by selfish ambition. It also reminds us to value and nurture our relationships, especially with family.
2 Samuel 18:1-18 (WEB)
18:1 David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 David sent the people out, a third part 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. The king said to the people, “I will also surely go out with you myself.”3 But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”4 The king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.”The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.6 So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.9 Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on. 10 A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”11 Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a sash.”12 The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.”14 Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the middle of the oak. 15 Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him. 16 Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back. 17 They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.