II Samuel 18

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II Samuel 18The No win war!

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Calculating for War• (2 Sam 18:1 NKJV) And David numbered the

people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

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Divided three ways• (2 Sam 18:2 NKJV) Then David sent out one

third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I also will surely go out with you myself."

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David will not Go!• (2 Sam 18:3 NKJV) But the people answered,

"You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city."

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David lets the people say.• (2 Sam 18:4 NKJV) Then the king said to

them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

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Please spare Absalom!• (2 Sam 18:5 KJV) 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.

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Please spare Absalom!• This is a difficult “No win situation.”

Absalom certainly had no similar policy of “Do not kill my father”

• Absalom is basically what the war is all about.

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Civil War: Israel vs. Israel• (2 Sam 18:6 KJV) So the people went out into

the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

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20,000 lost!• (2 Sam 18:7 NKJV) The people of Israel were

overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day.

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How did “the wood” kill?• (2 Sam 18:8 KJV) 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.

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Adam Clarke:• 2Sa 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.

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Absalom is caught--literally!• (2 Sam 18:9 NKJV) Then Absalom met the

servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.

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Joab finds out!• (2 Sam 18:10 NKJV) Now a certain man saw

it and told Joab, and said, "I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!"

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Why didn’t you kill him?• (2 Sam 18:11 NKJV) So Joab said to the man

who told him, "You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt."

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Adam Clarke• And a girdle [belt]- The military belt was the

chief ornament of a soldier, and was highly prized in all ancient nations; it was also a rich present from one chieftain to another. Jonathan gave his to David, as the highest pledge of his esteem and perpetual friendship, 1Sa_18:4.

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I heard the king’s command!

• (2 Sam 18:12 NKJV) But the man said to Joab, "Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!'

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I heard the king’s command!

• (2 Sam 18:13 NKJV) "Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me."

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Adam Clarke:• 2Sa 18:13 • Thou thyself wouldest have set thyself

against me - This is a strong appeal to Joab’s loyalty, and respect for the orders of David; but he was proof against every fine feeling, and against every generous sentiment.

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Joab will Act Now!• (2 Sam 18:14 NKJV) Then Joab said, "I cannot

linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.

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NIV says into Absalom's heart

• (2 Sam 18:14 NIV) Joab said, "I'm not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.

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Adam Clarke’s Comments:• Thrust them through the heart of Absalom -

He was determined to make sure work, and therefore he pierced his heart.

• Joab should have obeyed the king’s commandment: and yet the safety of the state required the sacrifice of Absalom. But independently of this, his life was quadruply forfeited to the law: -

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“his life was quadruply forfeited”

• 1. In having murdered his brother Amnon.• 2. In having excited an insurrection in the

state.• 3. In having taken up arms against his own

father, Deu_21:18, Deu_21:21.• 4. In having lain with his father’s

concubines, Lev_18:29.

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Justice had not been done!• Long ago he should have died by the hand of

justice; and now all his crimes are visited on him in his last act of rebellion. Yet, in the present circumstances, Joab’s act was base and disloyal, and a cowardly murder. -- Adam Clarke

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Who Killed Absalom?• (2 Sam 18:15 NKJV) And ten young men who

bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.

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Who Killed Absalom?Adam Clarke

• Ten young men - smote Absalom and slew him - That is, they all pierced the body; but there could be no life in it after three darts had been thrust through the heart: but they added as much as would have killed him had he been alive.

Keil-Delitzsch• The last clause of the

verse belongs to what follows: “Still living (i.e., as he was still alive) in the midst of the terebinth, ten young men, Joab's armour-bearers, surrounded him, and smote him to death.”

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The Trumpet of Victory!• (2 Sam 18:16 NKJV) So Joab blew the

trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.

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The War is Over!• 2Sa 18:16 • Immediately afterwards Joab stopped any

further pursuit, “for Joab spared the people,” i.e., he wanted to spare them. -- Keil-Delitzsch

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Absalom cast in a pit• (2 Sam 18:17 NKJV) And they took Absalom

and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.

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Two versions of the heap of stones

Adam Clarke• 2Sa 18:17 • And laid a very great heap of

stones - This was the method of burying heroes, and even traitors, the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The ancient cairns or heaps of stones, in different parts of the world, are of this kind.

Keil-Delitzsch• 2Sa 18:17 • But Absalom they cast into a

great pit in the wood, and threw up over him a very large heap of stones, as an ignominious monument, like those thrown up over Achan (Jos_7:26) and the king of Air (Jos_8:29). This was the end of Absalom and his rebellion.

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Erected His Own Monument

• (2 Sam 18:18 NKJV) Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument.

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Let’s tell what happened• (2 Sam 18:19 NKJV) Then Ahimaaz the son of

Zadok said, "Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.“ (His own son)

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It’s not good news for David• (2 Sam 18:20 NKJV) And Joab said to him,

"You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead."

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The Cushite may go.• (2 Sam 18:21 NKJV) Then Joab said to the

Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.

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I want to go regardless• (2 Sam 18:22 NKJV) And Ahimaaz the son of

Zadok said again to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." So Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?"

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I’ll accept the consequences.• (2 Sam 18:23 NKJV) "But whatever

happens," he said, "let me run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

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David was waiting• (2 Sam 18:24 NKJV) Now David was sitting

between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.

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News is coming• (2 Sam 18:25 NKJV) Then the watchman

cried out and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." And he came rapidly and drew near.

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There’s a second runner.• (2 Sam 18:26 NKJV) Then the watchman saw

another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, "There is another man, running alone!" And the king said, "He also brings news."

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Keil-Delitzsch• 2Sa 18:25-26 • When he announced this to the king, he said, “If

he (is or comes) alone, there is good news in his mouth,” namely, because several runners would have shown themselves if it had been a flight. As the first messenger came nearer and nearer, the watchman saw another man running, and shouted this into the gate . . . whereupon the king replied, “This is also a good messenger.”

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Known by our walk or run• (2 Sam 18:27 NKJV) So the watchman said, "I

think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and comes with good news."

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• (2 Sam 18:28 NKJV) And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well!" Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!"

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Ahimaaz avoids the question

• (2 Sam 18:29 NKJV) The king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about."

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Two Accounts• (2 Sam 18:30 NKJV)

And the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still.

• 2Sa 18:30 • Stand here - He

intended to confront two messengers, and compare their accounts. -- Adam Clarke

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The Cushite’s News:• (2 Sam 18:31 NKJV) Just then the Cushite

came, and the Cushite said, "There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you."

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Absalom seems his only concern

• (2 Sam 18:32 NKJV) And the king said to the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" So the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!"

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David’s Despair• (2 Sam 18:33 NKJV) Then the king was

deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: "O my son Absalom; my son, my son Absalom; if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!"

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•So ends chapter 18, but, of course,

the story continues.

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Joab steps in• (2 Sam 19:1 NKJV) And Joab was told,

"Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

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Victory turned into mourning

• (2 Sam 19:2 NKJV) So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, "The king is grieved for his son."

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Victors sneak away• (2 Sam 19:3 NKJV) And the people stole back

into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

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David Weeps• (2 Sam 19:4 NKJV) But the king covered his

face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"

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David’s bitter pill• (Prov 13:15 KJV) Good understanding giveth

favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

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David continues to pay• (2 Sam 12:11 NKJV) "Thus says the LORD:

'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

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The No win war!• David continued to pay for his sins.

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The No win war!• David continued to pay for his sins.• He did not correct Absalom.

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The No win war!• David continued to pay for his sins.• He did not correct Absalom.• He did not right other wrongs

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The No win war!• David continued to pay for his sins.• He did not correct Absalom.• He did not right other wrongs.• He was weakened as a man by his own

faults.

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The No win war!• David continued to pay for his sins.• He did not correct Absalom.• He did not right other wrongs.• He was weakened as a man by his own

faults.• He almost turned victory into defeat.

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The No win war!• David continued to pay for his sins.• He did not correct Absalom.• He did not right other wrongs.• He was weakened as a man by his own

faults.• He almost turned victory into defeat.• As Joab tells him in the next chapter, He had

turned against his own supporters.

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II Samuel 18

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