Thematic Bible
2 Samuel 18:1 (show verse)
David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies.
2 Samuel 18:2 (show verse)
Dividing his forces into three groups, he set Joab as commander of one third of his army, Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother, as commander of another third, and Ittai from Gath as commander of another third. The king informed the army, "I'm going out to battle with you, too."
Abishai » Leads a division of david's army against absalom
Armies » Enumeration of israel's military forces
Armies » March in ranks » Move, in attack, in three divisions
the Armies of israel » Before going to war » Were numbered and reviewed
Ittai » Supports david against absalom
Ittai » Chief » Of david
Armies » Enumeration of israel's military forces
Armies » March in ranks » Move, in attack, in three divisions
the Armies of israel » Before going to war » Were numbered and reviewed
Ittai » Supports david against absalom
Ittai » Chief » Of david
2 Samuel 18:3 (show verse)
"No way!" his army responded. "If we have to retreat from the battle, Absalom's men won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. The best thing you can do for us is to remain in the city."
2 Samuel 18:4 (show verse)
So David responded, "I'll do what you think best." Then he stood alongside the city gate as the army went out in battle array by hundreds and thousands.
2 Samuel 18:5 (show verse)
As they were going out, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat young Absalom gently for my sake." Everyone heard what the king had ordered his commanders about Absalom.
Abishai » Leads a division of david's army against absalom
Family » Examples of fathers' love » David
Fathers » Examples of fathers' love » David
Forgiveness of injuries » Exemplified
Home » Examples of fathers' love » David
Ittai » Supports david against absalom
Love » Examples of fathers' love » David
Love » Paternal » David
Love » Fathers » David
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » David
Parents » Examples of fathers' love » David
Parents » Good--exemplified » David
Paternal love » Examples of fathers' love » David
Family » Examples of fathers' love » David
Fathers » Examples of fathers' love » David
Forgiveness of injuries » Exemplified
Home » Examples of fathers' love » David
Ittai » Supports david against absalom
Love » Examples of fathers' love » David
Love » Paternal » David
Love » Fathers » David
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » David
Parents » Examples of fathers' love » David
Parents » Good--exemplified » David
Paternal love » Examples of fathers' love » David
2 Samuel 18:6 (show verse)
David's army left for the battlefield to fight Absalom and his Israeli followers, and they also fought in the Ephraim forest,
2 Samuel 18:7 (show verse)
where David's army of servants defeated the Israelis. Many died that day 20,000 men.
2 Samuel 18:8 (show verse)
The battle spread throughout the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more casualties that day than did the sword fighting.
2 Samuel 18:9 (show verse)
Absalom happened to run into David's soldiers. While Absalom was trying to get away on his mule, it ran under the thick branches of a giant oak tree, and Absalom's head got caught in the tree! As his mule ran out from under him, Absalom was left hanging above the ground.
Absalom » Facts concerning » Comes to an untimely end
Absalom » Death and burial
Animals » Lions » Mules
Bible stories for children » David the giant killer 1sa 17 » The handsome prince caught in a tree
Ephraim » Forest » East » Jordon river » Absalom » Killed
Gilead » Absalom » defeated
Mule » Uses of » For royal riders
Mules » Used for » Riding, by persons of distinction
Oak » Absalom hung in the boughs of
Oak Trees » Absalom in his flight intercepted by, and suspended from
Oak Trees » Described as » Thick spreading
Trees » Varieties » Oaks
Absalom » Death and burial
Animals » Lions » Mules
Bible stories for children » David the giant killer 1sa 17 » The handsome prince caught in a tree
Ephraim » Forest » East » Jordon river » Absalom » Killed
Gilead » Absalom » defeated
Mule » Uses of » For royal riders
Mules » Used for » Riding, by persons of distinction
Oak » Absalom hung in the boughs of
Oak Trees » Absalom in his flight intercepted by, and suspended from
Oak Trees » Described as » Thick spreading
Trees » Varieties » Oaks
2 Samuel 18:10 (show verse)
When one of the soldiers saw what had happened, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom stuck in an oak tree!"
2 Samuel 18:11 (show verse)
Joab asked the man who was reporting to him, "What! You saw him? Why didn't you kill him right then and there? I would've given you ten pieces of silver and a warrior's sash!"
Absalom » Death and burial
the Armies of israel » Bravery and fidelity in, rewarded
the Armies of israel » Inferior officers of, appointed by » The captain of the host
military Arms » Defensive: » Girdle
Ephraim » Forest » East » Jordon river » Absalom » Killed
Girdles » Given as » A reward of military service
the Armies of israel » Bravery and fidelity in, rewarded
the Armies of israel » Inferior officers of, appointed by » The captain of the host
military Arms » Defensive: » Girdle
Ephraim » Forest » East » Jordon river » Absalom » Killed
Girdles » Given as » A reward of military service
2 Samuel 18:12 (show verse)
But the soldier replied to Joab, "I wouldn't have touched the king's son even if you dropped 1,000 pieces of silver right into my hands, because we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, "Watch how you treat the young man Absalom!'
Absalom » Death and burial
Business life » Integrity » Examples of
Citizens » Loyal » David's soldiers
Ephraim » Forest » East » Jordon river » Absalom » Killed
Honesty » Integrity » Examples of
Loyalty » Instances of » David's soldiers
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » David
Presents » Were given » To reward service
Virtues » Integrity » Examples of
Business life » Integrity » Examples of
Citizens » Loyal » David's soldiers
Ephraim » Forest » East » Jordon river » Absalom » Killed
Honesty » Integrity » Examples of
Loyalty » Instances of » David's soldiers
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » David
Presents » Were given » To reward service
Virtues » Integrity » Examples of
2 Samuel 18:13 (show verse)
If I had taken his life, the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!"
2 Samuel 18:14 (show verse)
"There's no reason to wait for you!" Joab retorted. Then he took three spears in his hand and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive, dangling from the branches of the oak tree.
2 Samuel 18:15 (show verse)
Ten young men who served as Joab's personal assistants then surrounded Absalom, striking him repeatedly and killing him.
2 Samuel 18:16 (show verse)
At this, Joab sounded his battle trumpet and his troops stopped pursuing the other Israelis.
2 Samuel 18:17 (show verse)
Meanwhile, Joab's army grabbed Absalom's body, tossed it into a large pit in the forest, and filled it up with a huge pile of rocks. Then the Israelis ran away back to their homes.
2 Samuel 18:18 (show verse)
While Absalom had been living, he had erected a pillar as a monument to himself in King's Valley because he had been telling himself, "I don't have a son to carry on my family name." So he named the pillar after himself it's called Absalom's Monument even today.
Absalom » Children of
Absalom » Pillar of
Ambition » Instances of » Absalom
Pillar » By absalom, to keep his name alive
Pillars » Of memorial » To perpetuate names
memorial Pillars » Memorial
Shaveh » Absalom's pillar in
Valleys » Mentioned in scripture » Shaveh or king's dale
Valleys » Called » Dales
Absalom » Pillar of
Ambition » Instances of » Absalom
Pillar » By absalom, to keep his name alive
Pillars » Of memorial » To perpetuate names
memorial Pillars » Memorial
Shaveh » Absalom's pillar in
Valleys » Mentioned in scripture » Shaveh or king's dale
Valleys » Called » Dales
2 Samuel 18:19 (show verse)
Zadok's son Ahimaaz told Joab, "Let me run over to King David and take him the news. I'll mention that the LORD has delivered him from his enemies."
2 Samuel 18:20 (show verse)
But Joab answered Ahimaaz, "You're not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not today, because the king's son is dead."
2 Samuel 18:21 (show verse)
So Joab ordered a man from Ethiopia, "Go tell the king what you've seen." So the Ethiopian saluted Joab and then ran to tell David.
2 Samuel 18:22 (show verse)
"Please," Zadok's son Ahimaaz continued, "No matter what happens, let me follow the Ethiopian!" Joab asked him, "Why this request to run, my son? There's no reward in it for you."
2 Samuel 18:23 (show verse)
"No matter what, I'm running," Ahimaaz replied. So Joab told Ahimaaz, "Run!" And Ahimaaz ran, taking the Jordan Valley road, passing the Ethiopian.
2 Samuel 18:24 (show verse)
Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself!
2 Samuel 18:25 (show verse)
So the watchman called out his news to the king.
2 Samuel 18:26 (show verse)
The king responded, "If he's alone, he's bringing some news to report." As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace, the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, "There's another man running by himself!" The king replied, "He's also bringing some news to report!"
2 Samuel 18:27 (show verse)
Then the watchman observed, "It looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadok's son Ahimaaz!" The king replied, "This is a good man bearing good news!"
2 Samuel 18:28 (show verse)
"Everything's fine!" Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground before the king and said, "Praise be to the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty the king."
2 Samuel 18:29 (show verse)
"Are things fine with respect to the young man Absalom?" the king asked. Ahimaaz answered, "I saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the king's courier and me, your servant, but I'm not sure what was going on."
Ahimaaz » Son of zadok, the high priest. Loyal to david
Care » Family » Solicitude
Children » Promises to special promises to children, examples of » Solicitude for
Cushi » A messenger, who brought news to david
Family » Cares » Parental solicitude
Home » parental love » Parental feelings and emotions » Solicitude
Parents » Prayers » Solicitude
Select readings » David's lament over absalom
Care » Family » Solicitude
Children » Promises to special promises to children, examples of » Solicitude for
Cushi » A messenger, who brought news to david
Family » Cares » Parental solicitude
Home » parental love » Parental feelings and emotions » Solicitude
Parents » Prayers » Solicitude
Select readings » David's lament over absalom
2 Samuel 18:30 (show verse)
The king replied, "Stand here at attention and wait." So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting.
2 Samuel 18:31 (show verse)
Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He reported, "Good news, your majesty the king! The LORD has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!"
2 Samuel 18:32 (show verse)
The king asked the Ethiopian, "Is the young man safe?" The Ethiopian answered, "May the enemies of your majesty the king including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you become like that young man"."
2 Samuel 18:33 (show verse)
Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, "My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!"
Absalom » David's mourning for
Ahimaaz » Son of zadok, the high priest. Loyal to david
Bereavement » Instances of » David » Of absalom
David » King of israel » Laments the death of absalom
The Dead » Mourning for » Examples of grief
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Mourning » Examples of grief
Mourning » David's lamentations over » The death of absalom
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Parents » Good--exemplified » David
Select readings » David's lament over absalom
Sorrow » Godly » Parents
Sorrow » Of david for absalom
Weeping » Instances of » Of david
Ahimaaz » Son of zadok, the high priest. Loyal to david
Bereavement » Instances of » David » Of absalom
David » King of israel » Laments the death of absalom
The Dead » Mourning for » Examples of grief
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Mourning » Examples of grief
Mourning » David's lamentations over » The death of absalom
Parents » Prayers » Sorrow
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » David
Parents » Good--exemplified » David
Select readings » David's lament over absalom
Sorrow » Godly » Parents
Sorrow » Of david for absalom
Weeping » Instances of » Of david