Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 17:12
So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that [are] with him there shall not be left so much as one.
12. as the dew ] As the innumerable drops of dew settle on the ground unseen and unheard, so will our vast army completely overwhelm him without perceptible effort.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As the dew – Like the drops of dew, in the vast number of our host, and in our irresistible and unavoidable descent upon our enemies.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
As the dew falleth on the ground, i. e. plenteously, suddenly, irresistibly, and on all sides; for so the dew falls.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. we will light upon him as thedew falleth on the groundNo image could have symbolized thesudden onset of an enemy so graphically to an Oriental mind as thesilent, irresistible, and rapid descent of this natural moisture onevery field and blade of grass.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found,…. For such a numerous army, which would be spread abroad, could not well fail of finding him out, let him be in what lurking place he would; whereas he might lie concealed, and escape so small a number as twelve thousand men:
and we will light upon him as the dew falleth upon the ground; whose drops are innumerable, and cover all the ground where they fall; and the phrase not only expresses their numbers, but the irresistible force they should come with, and the manner, secretly, unawares, opportunely; the Romans had a sort of soldiers, called from the dew “rorarii”, who carried light armour, and fought first in the battle, from whence they had their name, because dew falls before it rains n:
and of him, and of all the men that [are] with him, there shall not be left so much as one; so that for the future Absalom would sit easy upon the throne, there being none left to molest him.
n Valtrinus de Milit. Roman. l. 3. c. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“And come we to him (if we come upon him) in one of the places where he is found, we let ourselves down upon him, as the dew falls upon the earth; and of him and all the men with him there will not be one left.” might be a contraction of , as in Gen 42:11; Exo 16:7-8, etc.: “so we upon him,” equivalent to “so shall we come upon him.” But if this were the meaning, we should expect . It is more correct, therefore, to take ekat ot as the first pers. perf. of , as the early translators have done: so do we let ourselves down upon him. (For as applied to an army encamping, see Isa 7:2, Isa 7:19; and as denoting the swarming of flies and grasshoppers, Isa 7:19 and Exo 10:14.) In Ahithophel’s opinion, it would be possible with a very small army to crush David and his little band, however brave his followers might be, and in fact to annihilate them altogether.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2Sa 17:12. We will light upon him, as the dew falleth on the ground This is very beautiful and expressive. The dew in Palestine, as in several other climates, falls fast and sudden, and is therefore no unapt emblem of an active expeditious soldiery. It was, perhaps, for this reason, that the Romans called their light-armed forces rorarii. The dew falls upon every spot of the earth; not a blade of grass escapes it. A numerous army resembles it in this respect; it is able to search every where.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Sa 17:12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that [are] with him there shall not be left so much as one.
Ver. 12. So shall we come upon him. ] We: q.d., I also will be one of the first and forwardest: that he might not seem to come short of Ahithophel, who had offered Absalom his service, both as a counsellor and as a commander.
There shall not be left so much as one.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as = according as.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
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, 2Ki 19:24, Isa 10:13, Isa 10:14, Oba 1:3
Reciprocal: Psa 71:4 – out of the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 17:12. We will light upon him as the dew falleth upon the ground Plenteously, suddenly, irresistibly, and on all sides; for so the dew falls. This is very beautiful and expressive. The dew in Palestine, as in several other climates, falls fast and sudden; and is therefore an apt emblem of an active and expeditious soldiery. And it was, perhaps, for this reason that the Romans called their light armed forces, rorarii. The dew falls upon every spot of the earth; not a blade of grass escapes it. A numerous army resembles it in this respect; it is able to search everywhere. Delaney.