2Sa 15-18 | TSK | STEP | Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel. Under pretence of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron. He makes there a great conspiracy. David upon the news flees from Jerusalem. Ittai will not leave him. Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark. David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping. He curses Ahithophel's counsel. Hushai is sent back with instructions. A.M. 2980. B.C. 1024. Absalom.

A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021. An. Ex. Is. 470. forty years.As David reigned in the whole only forty years, this reading is evidently corrupt, though supported by the commonly printed Vulgate, LXX., and Chaldee. But the Syriac, Arabic, Josephus, Theodoret, the Sixtine edition of the Vulgate, and several MSS. of the same version, read four years; and it is highly probable that {arbâim,} forty, is an error for {arbâ,} four, though not supported by any Hebrew MS. yet discovered. Two of those collated by Dr. Kennicott, however, have {yom,} "day," instead of {shanah,} "year," i.e., forty days instead of forty years; but this is not sufficient to outweigh the other authorities.

13:38; 1Sa 16:1,13

let me go.

13:24-27

pay.

1Sa 16:2; Pr 21:27; Isa 58:4; Mt 2:8; 23:14

thy servant.

Ge 28:20,21; 1Sa 1:11; 16:2; Ps 56:12; Ec 5:4

Geshur.

13:37,38; 14:23,32

I will serve.

Jos 24:15; Isa 28:15; Jer 9:3-5; 42:20

spies.

13:28; 14:30

reigneth.

19:10; Job 20:5-29; Ps 73:18,19

Hebron.

2:1,11; 3:2,3; 5:5; 1Ch 11:3; 12:23,38

called.

1Sa 9:13; 16:3-5

their simplicity.

Ge 20:5; 1Sa 22:15; Pr 14:15; 22:3; Mt 10:16; Ro 16:18,19

Ahithophel.

31; 16:20-23; 17:14,23

David's.

Ps 41:9; 55:12-14; Mic 7:5,6; Joh 13:18

Giloh.

Jos 15:51

while he offered.

Nu 23:1,14,30; 1Ki 21:9,12; Ps 50:16-21; Pr 21:27; Isa 1:10-16

Tit 1:16

the people.

Ps 3:1,2; 43:1,2

The hearts.

6; 3:36; Jud 9:3; Ps 62:9; Mt 21:9; 27:22

Arise.

19:9; Ps 3:1; *title

bring. Heb. thrust.

Eze 46:18; Mt 11:12; *marg:

Lu 10:15

and smite.

23:16,17; Ps 51:18; 55:3-11; 137:5,6

Behold.

Pr 18:24; Lu 22:28,29; Joh 6:66-69; 15:14

appoint. Heb. choose.

the king.

Ps 3:1; *title

after him. Heb. at his feet.

Jud 4:10; 1Sa 25:27,42; *marg:

ten women.

12:11; 16:21,22; 20:3; Ro 12:2

went forth.

Ps 3:1; *title

Ps 3:2; 66:12; Ec 10:7

Cherethites.

8:18; 20:7,23; 1Sa 30:14; 1Ki 1:38; 1Ch 18:17

Gittites.

19-22; 6:10; 18:2; 1Sa 27:3

Ittai.

18:2; Ru 1:11-13

go up and down. Heb. wander in going.

Ps 56:8; 59:15; Am 8:12; Heb 11:37,38

seeing.

1Sa 23:13

mercy.

2:6; Ps 25:10; 57:3; 61:7; 85:10; 89:14; Pr 14:22; Joh 1:17

2Ti 1:16-18

As the Lord.

1Sa 20:3; 25:26; 2Ki 2:2,4,6; 4:30

surely.

Ru 1:16,17; Pr 17:17; 18:24; Mt 8:19,20; Joh 6:66-69; Ac 11:23

Ac 21:13; 2Co 7:3

and all the little.Sir John Chardin informs us,in a MS. note on this place, that it is usual with the greatest part of the eastern people, especially the Arabs, to carry their whole family with them when they go to war.

all the country.

Ro 12:15

the brook.The brook Kidron, which is but a few paces broad, runs along the valley of Jehoshaphat, east of Jerusalem, to the south-west corner of the city, and then, turning to the south-east, empties itself into the Dead Sea. Like the Ilissus, it is dry at least nine months in the year, being only furnished with water in the winter, and after heavy rains: its bed is narrow and deep, which indicates that it must formerly have been the channel for waters which have found some other, and probably subterraneous course.

Kidron.

1Ki 2:37; Joh 18:1

Cedron. the wilderness.

16:2; Mt 3:1,3; Lu 1:80

Zadok.

27,35; 8:17; 20:25; 1Ki 1:8; 2:35; 4:2-4; 1Ch 6:8-12; Eze 48:11

bearing.

6:13; Nu 4:15; 7:9; Jos 3:3,6,15-17; 4:16-18; 6:4,6; 1Sa 4:3-5,11

1Ch 15:2

Carry back.

12:10,11; 1Sa 4:3-11; Jer 7:4

he will bring.

Ps 26:8; 27:4,5; 42:1,2; 43:3,4; 63:1,2; 84:1-3,10; 122:1,9

Isa 38:22

habitation.

6:17; 7:2

I have not.

22:20; Nu 14:8; 1Ki 10:9; 2Ch 9:8; Isa 42:1; 62:4; Jer 22:28; 32:41

Mt 1:10

let.

Jud 10:15; 1Sa 3:18; Job 1:20,21; Ps 39:9

a seer.

24:11; 1Sa 9:9; 1Ch 25:5

return.

34,36; 17:17

23; 16:2; 17:1,16

the ascent.

Zec 14:4; Lu 19:29,37; 21:37; 22:39; Ac 1:12

mount Olivet.Mount Olivet, so called from its abounding with olive trees, is situated east of Jerusalem, being separated from it only by the valley of Jehoshaphat and the brook Kidron. Josephus says it is five stadia, i.e., 625 geometrical paces from Jerusalem; and St. Luke (Ac 1:12) says it is a Sabbath day's journey, or about eight stadia distant, i.e., to the summit. It forms part of a ridge of limestone hills, extending from north to south for about a mile; and it is described as having three, or, according to others, four summits; the central and highest of which overlooks the whole of the city, over whose streets and walls the eye roves as if in the survey of a model.

and wept as he went up. Heb. going up and weeping.

Ps 42:3-11; 43:1,2,5; Lu 19:41

his head covered.This custom was only practised by persons in great distress, or when convicted of great crimes. Thus Darius, when informed by Tyriotes, the eunuch, that his queen was dead, and that she had suffered no violence from Alexander, covered his head, and wept a long time; then throwing off the garment that covered him, he thanked the gods for Alexander's moderation and justice.

19:4; Es 6:12; Jer 14:3,4

barefoot.

Isa 20:2,4; Eze 24:17,23

weeping.

Ps 126:5,6; Mt 5:4; Ro 12:15; 1Co 12:26

Ahithophel.

12; Ps 3:1; 41:9; 55:12,14; Mt 26:14,15; Joh 13:18

O Lord.

Ps 55:15; 109:3

turn the counsel.

16:23; 17:14,23; Job 5:12; 12:16-20; Isa 19:3,11-25; Jer 8:8,9

1Co 1:20; 3:18-20; Jas 3:15

the top.

30; 1Ki 11:7; Lu 19:29

he worshipped.

1Ki 8:44,45; Job 1:20,21; Ps 3:3-5,7; 4:1-3; 50:15; 91:15

Hushai.

16:16-19

Archite.

Jos 16:2

coat rent.

1:2; 13:19

then thou.

19:35

return.

20; Jos 8:2; Mt 10:16

as I have been.

16:16-19

then mayest.

17:5-14

thou shalt tell.

17:15,16

their two sons.

27; 17:17; 18:19-33

friend.

16:16; 1Ch 27:33

Absalom.

16:15

2 Samuel 16

1 Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master's inheritance.

5 At Bahurim Shimei curse David.

9 David with patience abstains, and restrains others, from revenge.

15 Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom's counsel.

20 Ahithophel's counsel.

little past.

15:30,32

Ziba.

9:2,9-12

with a couple.

17:27-29; 19:32; 1Sa 17:17,18; 25:18; 1Ch 12:40; Pr 18:16; 29:4,5

summer.These were probably pumpkins, cucumbers, or water-melons; the two latter being extensively used in the East to refresh travellers in the burning heat of the summer; and probably, as Mr. Harmer supposes, called summer fruits on this very account.

Jer 40:10,12; Am 8:1; Mic 7:1

a bottle.

1Sa 10:3; 16:20

What meanest.

Ge 21:29; 33:8; Eze 37:18The asses. This is the eastern mode of speaking when presenting any thing to a great man: "This is for the slaves of the servants of your majesty;" when at the same time the presents are intended for the sovereign himself, and it is so understood.

15:1; 19:26; Jud 5:10; 10:4

for the young.

1Sa 25:27

that such.

15:23; 17:29; Jud 8:4,5; 1Sa 14:28; Pr 31:6,7

where is.

9:9,10; Ps 88:18; Mic 7:5

Today.

19:24-30; Ex 20:16; De 19:18,19; Ps 15:3; 101:5; Pr 1:19; 21:28

1Ti 6:9,10; Jude 1:11

Behold.

14:10,11; Ex 23:8; De 19:15; Pr 18:13,17; 19:2

I humbly beseech thee. Heb. I do obeisance.

14:4,22

Bahurim.This place is supposed to be the same as Almon, (Jos 21:18,) and Almeth, (1 Ch 6:60,) a city of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem, and apparently not far from Olivet.

14; 3:16; 17:18

whose name.

19:16-18; 1Ki 2:8,9,36-44,45,46

he came, etc. or, he still came forth and cursed. cursed.

Ex 22:28; 1Sa 17:43; Ps 69:26; 109:16-19,28; Pr 26:2; Ec 10:20

Isa 8:21; Mt 5:11,12

bloody man. Heb. man of blood.

3:37; 11:15-17; 12:9; Ps 5:6; 51:14

man of Belial.

De 13:13; 1Sa 2:12; 25:17; 1Ki 21:10,13

returned.

Jud 9:24,56,57; 1Ki 2:32,33; Ac 28:4,5; Re 16:6

the blood.

1:16; 3:28,29; 4:8-12; Ps 3:2; 4:2

thou, etc. or, thee in thy evil.

Abishai.

3:30; 1Sa 26:6-8

dead dog.

3:8; 9:8; 1Sa 24:14

curse.

Ex 22:28; Ac 23:5; 1Pe 2:17

let me go.

1Sa 26:6-11; Job 31:30,31; Jer 40:13-16

What have.

3:39; 19:22; 1Ki 2:5; Mt 16:23; Lu 9:54-56; 1Pe 2:23

so let him.

Ge 50:20; 1Ki 22:21-23; 2Ki 18:25; La 3:38,39; Joh 18:11

Who shall.

Job 9:12; Ec 8:4; Da 4:35; Ro 9:20

Behold.

12:11,12

came forth.

7:2; Ge 15:4

seeketh.

17:1-4; 2Ki 19:37; 2Ch 32:21; Mt 10:21

the Lord.

Isa 10:5-7; Eze 14:9; 20:25

the Lord.

Ge 29:32,33; Ex 2:24,25; 3:7,8; 1Sa 1:11; Ps 25:18

affliction. or, tears. Heb. eye. requite.

De 23:5; Isa 27:7; Mt 5:11,12; Ro 8:28; 2Co 4:17; 2Th 1:7

Heb 12:10; 1Pe 4:12-19

cursed.

5,6

cast dust. Heb. dusted him with dust.

Ac 23:23It was an ancient custom, in those warm and arid countries, to lay the dust before a person of distinction, by sprinkling the ground with water. Dr. Pococke and the consul were treated with this respect when they entered Cairo. The same custom is alluded to in the well-known fable of Phædrus, in which a slave is represented going before Augustus and officiously laying the dust. To throw dust in the air while a person was passing was therefore an act of great disrespect; to do so before a sovereign prince, an indecent outrage. But it is probable that Shimei meant more than disrespect and outrage to this afflicted king. Sir John Chardin informs us, that in the East, in general, those who demand justice against a criminal throw dust upon him, signifying that he ought to be put in the grave: and hence the common imprecation among the Turks and Persians, "Be covered with earth," or, "Earth be upon thy head."

there.

Absalom.

15:37

God save the king. Heb. let the king live.

1Sa 10:24; 1Ki 1:25,34; 2Ki 11:12; Da 2:4; 5:10; 6:6,21; Mt 21:9

Is this thy.

De 32:6

why wentest.

15:32-37; 19:25; Pr 17:17; 18:24

5:1-3; 1Sa 16:13

should I not serve.

15:34; 1Sa 28:2; 29:8; Ps 55:21; Ga 2:13

Give counsel.

Ex 1:10; Ps 2:2; 37:12,13; Pr 21:30; Isa 8:10; 29:15; Mt 27:1

Ac 4:23-28

Go in.

Ge 6:4; 38:16

unto thy.

12:11; 15:16; 20:3; Ge 35:22; Le 18:8; 20:11; 1Ki 2:17,22; 1Co 5:1

abhorred.

thy father.

then shall.

the hands.

the top.

went in.

12:11,12; 15:16; 20:3; Nu 25:6; Isa 3:9; Jer 3:3; 8:12; Eze 24:7

Php 3:19

as if.

Nu 27:21; 1Sa 30:8; Ps 28:2; 1Pe 4:11

oracle of God. Heb. word of God.

Ps 19:7

so was.The first counsel of this sagacious but wicked man to Absalom was more like an oracle of Satan, both for subtlety and atrocity. He advised the shameless measure just detailed, in order to establish Absalom, and to preclude the possibility of a reconciliation with David. The wives of a conquered king were always the property of the conqueror; and in possessing these he appeared to possess the right to the kingdom.

all the counsel.

17:14,23; Job 5:12; 28:28; Jer 4:22; 8:9; Mt 11:25; Lu 16:8; Ro 1:22

1Co 3:19,20; Jas 3:13-18

both.

15:12; Ec 10:1

2 Samuel 17

1 Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's, according to God's appointment.

15 Secret intelligence is sent unto David.

23 Ahithophel hangs himself.

25 Amasa is made captain.

27 David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions.

I will arise.

Pr 1:16; 4:16; Isa 59:7,8

this night.

Ps 3:3-5; 4:8; 109:2-4

weary.

16:14; De 25:18

I will smite.

1Ki 22:31; Zec 13:7; Mt 21:38; 26:31; Joh 11:50; 18:4-8

I will bring.

3:21

shall be.

Isa 48:22; 57:21; 1Th 5:3

the saying.

1Sa 18:20,21; 23:21; Es 5:14; Ro 1:32

pleased Absalom well. Heb. was right in the eyes of Absalom.

2Ch 30:4; Es 1:21

Hushai.

15:32-37; 16:16-19

he saith. Heb. is in his mouth.

saying. Heb. word.

given. Heb. counselled. not good.

Pr 31:8

mighty men.

15:18; 21:18-22; 23:8,9,16,18,20-22; 1Sa 16:18; 17:34-36,50

1Ch 11:25-47; Heb 11:32-34

chafed in their minds. Heb. bitter of soul.

Jud 18:25

as a bear.

2Ki 2:24; Pr 17:12; 28:15; Da 7:5; Ho 13:8

thy father is.

1Sa 23:23

he is hid.

Jud 20:33; 1Sa 22:1; 24:3

some.

Jos 7:5; 8:6; Jud 20:32; 1Sa 14:14,15

over thrown. Heb. fallen.

heart.

1:23; 23:20; Ge 49:9; Nu 24:8,9; Pr 28:1

utterly melt.

Ex 15:15; De 1:28; Jos 2:9-11; Isa 13:7; 19:1

thy father.

1Sa 18:17; Heb 11:34

and they which.

So 3:7

all Israel.

24:2; Jud 20:1

as the sand.

Ge 13:16; 22:17; Jos 11:4; 1Ki 4:20; 20:10

thou go. Heb. they face, or presence, go, etc. in thine.

12:28; Ps 7:15,16; 9:16

in some place.

1Sa 23:23

we will light.This is a very beautiful and expressive figure. The dew in Palestine, and other warm climates, falls fast, sudden, and heavy; and it falls upon every spot of earth, so that not a blade of grass escapes it. It is therefore no inapt emblem of a numerous and active army; and it was, perhaps, for this reason that the Romans called their light armed forces {rorarii.}

1Ki 20:10; 2Ki 18:23; 19:24; Isa 10:13,14; Ob 1:3

bring ropes.In the same manner the king of Maturan, in Java, proposed pulling down a tower which the Dutch had built, by making his people and elephants pull at a number of chains, and ropes of cocoa-nut bark, thrown around it.

one small.

Mt 24:2

the Lord.

15:31; Ge 32:28; Ex 9:16; De 2:30; 2Ch 25:16,20

appointed. Heb. commanded.

Ps 33:9,10; La 3:37; Am 9:3

to defeat.

15:34; 16:23; Job 5:12-14; Pr 19:21; 21:30; Isa 8:10; 1Co 1:19,20

1Co 3:19

good counsel.

Lu 16:8

Zadok.

15:35

Lodge.

15:28

but speedily.

21,22; 15:14,28; 1Sa 20:38; Ps 55:8; Pr 6:4,5; Mt 24:16-18

be swallowed.

20:19,20; Ps 35:25; 56:2; 57:3; 1Co 15:54; 2Co 5:4

Jonathan.

15:27,36

stayed.

Jos 2:4-24

En-rogel.

Jos 15:7; 18:16; 1Ki 1:9

Bahurim.

3:16; 16:5; 19:16

spread a covering.

Jos 2:4-6,5-24

the thing.

Ex 1:19

They be gone.

15:34; Ex 1:19; Jos 2:4,5; 1Sa 19:14-17; 21:2; 27:11,12

when they had sought.

Jos 2:22,23

Arise.

15,16

thus hath Ahithophel.

1-3

and they passed.

24; Pr 27:12; Mt 10:16

there lacked.

Nu 31:49; Joh 18:9

saw.

Pr 16:18; 19:3

followed. Heb. done. his city.

15:12

put his household in order. Heb. gave charge concerning hishouse.

2Ki 20:1

and hanged.

15:31; 1Sa 31:4,5; 1Ki 16:18; Job 31:3; Ps 5:10; 55:23; Mt 27:5

Mahanaim.

2:8; Ge 32:2; Jos 13:26

Amasa.

19:13; 20:4,9-12

Ithra.

1Ch 2:16,17

Jether the Ishmaelite. Abigail. Heb. Abigal. Nahash. or,Jesse.

1Ch 2:13,16

land of the Gilead.

Nu 32:1-42; De 3:15; Jos 17:1

the son of Nahash.

10:1,2; 12:29,30; 1Sa 11:1

Machir.

9:4

Barzillai.

19:31,32; 1Ki 2:7; Ezr 2:61

beds.These no doubt consisted of skins of beasts, mats, carpets, and such like.

16:1,2; 1Sa 25:18; Isa 32:8

basons. or, cups.{Sappoth,} probably wooden bowls, such as the Arabs still eat out of, and knead their bread in.

earthen vessels.{Keley yotzair}, literally, "vessels of the potter." So when Dr. Perry visited the temple of Luxor in Egypt, he says, "We were entertained by the Caliph here with great civility and favour; he sent us, in return of our presents, several sheep, a good quantity of eggs, {bardacks,}" etc. The {bardacks,} he informs us, were earthen vessels, used "to cool and refresh their water in, by means of which it drinks very cool and pleasant in the hottest seasons of the year." See Harmer, ch. vi.

Ob 1:3

wheat.Mr. Jones says, "Travellers use {zumeet, tumeet,} and {limereece.} {Zumeet} is flour mixed with honey, butter, and spice; {tumeet} is flour done up with organ oil: and {limereece} is flour mixed with water, for drink. This quenches thirst much better than water alone, satisfies a hungry appetite; cools and refreshes tired and weary spirits," etc.

cheese of kine.

1Sa 17:18

for David.

Lu 8:3; Php 4:15-19

to eat.

2; Ps 34:8-10; 84:11

The people.

Jud 8:4-6; Ec 11:1,2; Isa 21:14; 58:7

in the wilderness.

16:2,14

2 Samuel 18

1 David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom.

6 The Israelites are sorely smitten in the wood of Ephraim.

9 Absalom, hanging in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit.

18 Absalom's place.

19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David.

33 David mourns for Absalom.

numbered.

Ex 17:9; Jos 8:10

captains of thousands.

a third part.

the hand of Joab.

Ittai.

I will surely.

17:11; Ps 3:6; 27:1-3; 118:6-8

Thou shalt.

21:17

if we flee.

17:2; 1Ki 22:31; Zec 13:7

care for us. Heb. set their heart on us. but now.The particle {âttah,} Now, is doubtless a mistake for the pronoun {attah,} Thou: and so it appears to have been read by the LXX., Vulgate, and Chaldee, and by two of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS.

worth, etc. Heb. as ten thousand of us.

La 4:20

succour. Heb. be to succour.

10:11; Ex 17:10-12

by the gate.

24; Isa 28:6

by hundreds.David's small company, by this time, was greatly recruited; but what its number was we cannot tell. Josephus says it amounted only to 4,000 men.

1; 1Sa 29:2

Deal gently.

16:11; 17:1-4,14; De 21:18-21; Ps 103:13; Lu 23:34

all the people.

wood of Ephraim.The wood of Ephraim was evidently beyond Jordan, and apparently not far from Mahanaim; and it is supposed to be the place where the Ephraimites were slain by Jephthah.

Jos 17:15,18; Jud 12:4-6

the people.

2:17; 15:6; 19:41-43

a great.

Pr 11:21; 24:21

twenty thousand men.

2:26,31; 2Ch 13:16,17; 28:6

in the wood.That is, probably, many more were slain in pursuit through the wood than in the battle, by falling into swamps, pits, etc., and being entangled and cut down by David's men. Such is the relation of Josephus; but the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic state, that they were devoured by wild beasts in the wood.

Ex 15:10; Jos 10:11; Jud 5:20,21; 1Ki 20:30; Ps 3:7; 43:1

devoured more. Heb. multiplied to devour.

his head.Riding furiously under the thick boughs of a great oak, which hung low and had never been cropped, either the twisted branches, or some low forked bough of the tree, caught him by the neck, or, as some think, by the loops into which his long hair had been pinned, which had been so much his pride, and was now justly made a halter for him. He may have hung so low from the bough, in consequence of the length of his hair, that he could not use his hands to help himself, or so entangled that his hands were bound, so that the more he struggled the more he was embarrassed. This set him up as a fair mark to the servants of David; and although David would have spared his rebellious son, if his orders had been executed, yet he could not turn the sword of Divine justice, in executing the just, righteous sentence of death on this traitorous son.

14; 14:26; 17:23; Mt 27:5

taken up.

De 21:23; 27:16,20; Job 18:8-10; 31:3; Ps 63:9,10; Pr 20:20; 30:17

Jer 48:44; Mr 7:10; Ga 3:13

receive, etc. Heb. weigh upon mine hand. in our hearing.

Beware, etc. Heb. Beware, whosoever ye be, of the, etc.

wrought.

1:15,16; 4:10-12

for there is no.

14:19,20; Heb 4:13

with thee. Heb. before thee. thrust them.

5; Jud 4:21; 5:26,31; Ps 45:5; 1Th 5:3

midst. Heb. heart.

Mt 12:40

blew the trumpet.

2:28; 20:22; Nu 10:2-10; 1Co 14:8

laid.This was the ancient method of burying, whether heroes or traitors; the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The Arabs in general make use of no other monument than a heap of stones over a grave. Thus, in an Arabic poem, it is related, that Hatim the father, and Adi the grandfather of Kais, having been murdered, at a time before Kais was capable of reflection, his mother kept it a profound secret; and in order to guard him against having any suspicion, she collected a parcel of stone on two hillocks in the neighbourhood, and told her son that the one was the grave of his father, and the other of his grandfather. The ancient cairns in Ireland and Scotland, and the tumuli in England, are of this kind.

Jos 7:26; 8:29; 10:27; Pr 10:7; Jer 22:18,19

reared up.

1Sa 15:12

the king's.

Ge 14:17

I have no son.

14:27; Job 18:16,17; Ps 109:13; Jer 22:30

he called.

Ge 11:4; 1Sa 15:12; Ps 49:11; Da 4:30

Absalom's place.Josephus says there was in his time, about two furlongs from Jerusalem, a marble pillar called Absalom's hand, as it is in the Hebrew, (See note on 1 Sa 15:12;) and there is one shown to the present day, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which, though comparatively a modern structure, probably occupies the site of the original one set up by Absalom.

Ge 11:9; Ac 1:18,19

Ahimaaz.

23,27-29; 15:36; 17:17

avenged him. Heb. judged him from the hand, etc.

Ps 7:6,8,9; 9:4,16; 10:14,18; Ro 12:19

bear tidings. Heb. be a man of tidings.

17:16-21

because.

5,27,29,33

howsoever. Heb. be what may. ready. or, convenient.

Ro 1:28; Eph 5:4

overran Cushi.

Joh 20:4

between.

4; 1Sa 4:13

the watchman.

2Ki 9:17-20; Isa 21:6-9,11,12; Eze 33:2-7

Methinketh. Heb. I see.

2Ki 9:20

He is a good.

1Ki 1:42; Pr 25:13,25; Isa 52:7; Ro 10:15

All is well. or, Peace be to thee. Heb. Peace. he felldown upon his face. This act was not only in reverence to the king, but in humble adoration of God, whose name he praises for this victory. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them.

1:2; 14:4

Blessed.

22:27; Ge 14:20; 24:27; 2Ch 20:26; Ps 115:1; 124:6; 144:1,2

Re 19:1-3

delivered up. Heb. shut up.

1Sa 24:18; 26:8; Ps 31:8

Is the young man Absalom safe? Heb. is there peace to, etc.I saw a great.

19,20,22

Tidings. Heb. Tidings is brought. the Lord.

19,28; 22:48,49; De 32:35,36; Ps 58:10; 94:1-4; 124:2,3; Lu 18:7,8Cushi was the man Joab ordered to carry the tidings to David. He was an Ethiopian, as his name signifies, and some think he was so by birth--a black, who waited on Joab, probably one of the ten who had helped to dispatch Absalom; though it was dangerous for one of those to bring the news to David, lest his fate should be the same with theirs that reported the death of Saul and Ishbosheth to him.

The enemies.Thus Cushi obliquely and slowly informs David of the death of his son Absalom.

Jud 5:31; Ps 68:1,2; Da 4:19

O my son.

19:4

would God.

12:10-23; Ps 103:13; Pr 10:1; 17:25; Jas 5:17