Westminster Annotations, 2 Samuel (2 Kings) · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Vers. 2. IT…ai] See Chap. 15. 19.
V. 3. care for us] Heb. set their hearts on us.
worth ten thousand of us] Heb. as ten thousand of us; As being our king and chief Generall, protectour and directour of the whole army and kingdom, at whose ruine the enemies principally aim. See Chap. 17. 2, 3.
succour us] Heb. be to succour; By commanding men, munition and victualls to be sent to the army as their occasion shall require.
city] To wit, Mahanaim.
V. 6. against Israel] That is, Absalom and his army.
wood of Rephaim] Lying on the east side of Jordan in Gilead, in the tribe of Gad, not far from Mahanaim; but called Ephraims wood from that great defeat given to this tribe there, by Jephthah, Judg. 12. 5, 6. though it was no part of the land belonging to Ephraim. Some think that it was so called, because there the Ephraimites fed their cattell which they did drive over Jordan.
V. 8. wood devoured more] Hebr. multiplied to devour. Being disordered and routed with the bushes and trees, they were easily slain by their enemies pursuing them; and also falling in their hastie flight into marishes, pits and ditches, they perished in them, v. 17.
V. 9. his head] That is, the long hair of his head parted and plaited (it may be) into locks (like Samsons, Judg. 16. 13.) and winding about the thick boughs, God making his pride the means of his ruine: or his head striking into, and so held in the boughs of an oak.
V. 10. told Joab] Not daring to hurt him himself, because of the kings command; v. 12.
V. 11. ten shekels] See Chap. 14. 26.
a girdle] That is, a military belt to be worn by him as an honourable ensigne and reward of his valour.
V. 12. receive] Hebr. weigh upon mine hand.
Beware that none touch the young man Absalom] Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, &c.
touch] Namely, to do him any harm.
V. 13. falshood] That is, I should have betrayed my life to the kings revenge, or if I had made a lie to save my life.
thou thy self] That is, thou wouldest have been so far from standing for me, that thou wouldest have been one of the first to hasten my ruine.
V. 14. not tarry] That is, not spend in idle talk, and so lose this opportunity of ending the war by Absaloms death.
with thee] Heb. before thee.
the heart] That is, the middle of the body neer the heart, for there was some life still in him after these wounds received, v. 15.
midst] Hebr. heart.
V. 16. the trumpet] As pitying the people seduced by Absaloms flattery.
V. 17. heap of stones] As they used to burie those that died ignominiously. See Josh. 7. 26.
V. 18. a pillar] A pyramis, for a monument and remembrance of him after his death; the which is here inserted, to shew how God crossed his ambition, by causing him, dying in his treason and rebellion, to be ignominiously buried.
the kings dale] A place neer Jerusalem, Gen. 14. 17. called also the valley Cedron, or of Jehosaphat, lying between Jerusalem and the mount of Olives.
no son] Whereby it appeareth, that his children mentioned Chap. 14. 27. were now all dead.
V. 19. avenged him of his enemies] Hebr. judged him from the hand, &c.
V. 20. bear tidings] Hebr. be a man of tidings.
is dead] And therefore the tidings will not be well accepted.
V. 22. howsoever] Hebr. be what may; that is, come on it what will.
no tidings] To wit, that will be pleasing to the king; and besides all that, Cushi that is gone before thee, will relate it before thy coming.
reach] Or, convenient.
V. 23. plain] That is, the champion countrey, which was more easie and compendious.
V. 24. two gates] To wit, of the city Mahanaim, which, for more strength, used to be double, and an entry between them, where he sate waiting for the news. So 1 Sam. 4. 13.
roof] That is, the turret appointed for the watch-man.
V. 26. be alone] For they that are beaten in battell flee by troups, whereas the victors dispatch some one or two to carry newes, being otherwise busied in taking the spoil and pursuing their victory.
V. 27. Methinketh the running] Hebr. I see the running.
a good man] That is, who useth to bring me good news.
V. 28. All is well] Or, Peace be to thee. Hebr. Peace.
delivered up] Hebr. shut up; To wit, to be slain by the kings servants. So 1 Sam. 24. 19. 26. 8.
V. 29. Is the young man Absalom safe?] Hebr. Is there peace?
the kings servant] That is, Cushi.
I knew not] He conceals Absaloms death, because he thought that it would be unwelcome news to David, and much grieve him, and therefore leaves it to be told by Cushi.
V. 31. Tidings] Hebr. Tidings is brought.
V. 32. young man is] That is, overthrown and dead.
V. 33. much moved] Considering both Gods judgement against himself for his sinne, the death of his dear Absalom, and also having just cause to fear his everlasting perdition, dying in his sinne, which he would willingly have prevented and redeemed, by dying for him a temporall death.