Bible Commentary

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 8. the wood devoured more, &c.] The explanation generally given is that they perished in the pits and precipices and morasses of the forest: but this seems unlikely. More probably … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:8”

Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men]. Verse 7. Twenty thousand men.] Whether these were slain on the field of battle, or whether they were reckoned with those slain in the wood of Ephraim, we know not. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:7”

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; 6. in the wood of Ephraim ] “The forest of Ephraim” might naturally be expected to mean the great forest covering the high lands of central Palestine in which the tribe of Ephraim settled (Jos 17:15-18). … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:6”

And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. 5. all the people heard ] Cp. “in our hearing” in 2Sa 18:12. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:5”

And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. By the gate side, i.e. between the two gates of the city, as it is expressed below, 2Sa 18:24. Fuente: English Annotations on … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:4”

But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succor us out of the city. 3. Thou … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:3”

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:2”

And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. Ch. 2Sa 18:1-8. The battle in the forest of Ephraim 1. And David, &c.] The events here recorded cannot have followed immediately on David’s arrival at Mahanaim. An interval of a few weeks must be … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 18:1”

And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that [were] with him, to eat: for they said, The people [is] hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. 29. butter ] Curdled milk is probably meant, called leben by the modern Arabs, and greatly esteemed as a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 17:29”

Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched [corn], and beans, and lentils, and parched [pulse], 28. beds, and basons ] The Sept. reads “ten beds with coverlets and ten bowls.” parched corn parched pulse] If the text is sound, this is the right explanation: but it is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 17:28”