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2 Samuel 18 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
This is a difficult chapter to absorb. On one hand, justice was served and the rightful king of Israel was restored. On the other hand, a loving father grieves the loss of his rebellious son.
The Battle
This civil war would take place in the woods of Ephraim. Some scholars have debated whether David intentionally set up this location for the battle. An unpredictable, woodsy environment would give an advantage to the gritty, persistent warrior. In other words, sheer numbers would not matter if the men fighting couldn’t navigate the tricky terrain. Scripture tells us the forest claimed many that day.
“Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day—20,000 casualties. 8 The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.”
2 Samuel 18:6-8 HCSB
It is difficult to know if this meant that the conditions were overwhelming to the soldiers or if there was divine intervention from God. It is certainly possible that God allowed for the forest to supernaturally swallow up David’s enemies. Either way, the lesson to be learned is that God had a plan and He was in control. Even when it seemed that Absalom had the kingdom locked down, God was unraveling his life one thread at a time.
Absalom’s Death
There’s a reason why Scripture tells us that David offered his instructions regarding Absalom in front of all the people. He wanted his commanders to feel the accountability of the entire nation if they chose to go against his orders. It would be Joab, known for his impulsive decisions, who would intentionally go against David’s orders and thrust three spears through the heart of Absalom.
It is ironic that the symbol of Absalom’s vanity (his incredible hair) was the very stumbling block leading to his death. Many assume his hair got stuck in the trees (though Scripture doesn’t actually say that). We do know that he was tangled and suspended in mid-air when Joab found him and this leads to the second irony.
Absalom became a casualty of his own mantra. He lived like a rebel and it would be a rebellious act (from Joab) which claimed his life. In short, Absalom lived by the sword and died by the sword. David was devastated. Even with being such a rebel, to David, he was still his son. The incredible grace and love that David offered to Absalom is a testament to the radical love of our Father. He grieves and mourns over His children.