2Sa 18 | TNotes

18:3 ^a You are worth 10,000 of us: Although David’s men flattered him, their insistence that he stay behind might actually suggest David’s advancing frailty (see 21:15-17 ^b).
18:5 ^c Joab violated David’s order to deal gently with young Absalom (18:11-15 ^d). This was the second time Joab killed someone against David’s wishes (see 3:22-37 ^e).
18:6 ^f The forest of Ephraim was an area east of the Jordan settled by the tribe of Ephraim.
18:8 ^g more men died because of the forest: The topographical conditions of the forest apparently took away the numerical advantage of Absalom’s forces.
18:9 ^h Absalom, who took such pride in his hair, died because of it. He who had built “a monument to himself” (18:18 ⁱ) was then thrown into a pit after his death (18:17 ^j) and denied the dignity of a proper burial. These ironies highlight the difference between Absalom’s aspirations and his destiny.
18:11 ^k Perhaps a hero’s belt was a sword belt that decorated a soldier for bravery and courage in battle (cp. 1 Sam 18:4 ^l).
18:14 ^m plunged them into Absalom’s heart: Earlier, Joab had played the role of reconciler between David and Absalom (ch 14 ⁿ). It is possible Joab believed that allowing Absalom to live would only invite ongoing trouble for David and for himself. (Absalom had appointed Amasa, Joab’s first cousin, to fill Joab’s position as commander of Israel’s army; see 17:25 ^o.)
18:15 ^p surrounded ... and killed him: Perhaps Joab had his armor bearers finish the job so that he could make the case to David that he himself had not killed Absalom.
18:17 ^q all Israel fled to their homes: Absalom’s supporters (17:11 ^r) knew their lives were in danger (cp. 19:8 ^s). They had backed a usurper whose coup d’etat had been thwarted.
18:18 ^t I have no son: See study note on 14:27. In the absence of a lineage, Absalom hoped a monument would preserve his name and memory.

• to this day: The narrator was probably writing during Solomon’s reign; the monument’s location is now unknown.
18:19 ^u Zadok: See study note on 15:24.
18:21 ^v a man from Ethiopia: Joab thought it would be better to send a foreigner to tell the king of Absalom’s death. If David overreacted, the loss of a foreigner was not as critical as the loss of a priest’s son.
18:25 ^w If he is alone, he has news: A solitary runner was usually a courier.
Summary for 2Sam 18:28-29: 18:28-29 ^x Everything is all right! (Hebrew shalom): David then asked, “Is it shalom with the young Ab-shalom?” (What about young Absalom? ... Is he all right?). Even though Absalom was David’s rival, he was also David’s son. David was more concerned about his son’s fate than the well-being of his fighting servants (19:5-6 ^y).
18:33 ^z David was not afraid to show his emotions openly, whether engulfed by rapturous joy (6:14-19 ^aa) or crushed by sadness. His feelings for Absalom were real, not theatrical.