Day 149 – 2 Samuel 18:1-8
Scripture Review
2 Samuel 18:1-8
"And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them."
2 Samuel 18:1
David organized the people who remained loyal to him. He counted them, arranged them, and placed leaders over them. The word numbered means David counted and organized the people. The word captains means leaders or commanders. These were men placed in charge of groups of soldiers. David did not rush into battle carelessly. Even though his heart was wounded because of Absalom's rebellion, he still led with wisdom and order.
"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 myself also."
2 Samuel 18:2
David divides his army into three parts. One group was placed under Joab, one under Abishai, and one under Ittai the Gittite. He tells the people that he will go into battle with them. He does not want to send others into danger while he stays far away. He had the heart of a shepherd and a soldier. He desired to share the burden with those who followed him.
"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 succour us out of the city."
2 Samuel 18:3
The people refuse to let David go into the battle. They understand that Absalom's forces are mainly after David. If David falls, the kingdom is in far greater danger. The word succour means to help, support, strengthen, or send aid. The people are telling David that he can help them better from the city than on the battlefield. The people say David is worth ten thousand of them. This does not mean their lives had no value. It means David's life was central to the safety of the kingdom. They loved their king and knew his life needed to be protected.
"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."
2 Samuel 18:4
David accepts the counsel of the people. He does not demand his own way. He listens. The word seemeth means "seems" or "appears." David is saying, "What seems best to you, I will do." The gate side was a place near the city gate where David could stand and watch the army go out. This shows humility. David is the king, but he is not too proud to receive wise counsel from others. Sometimes strong leadership means knowing when to step forward. Other times, strong leadership means knowing when to listen.
"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."
2 Samuel 18:5
David gives a clear command to his commanders. He tells Joab, Abishai, and Ittai to deal gently with Absalom. The phrase deal gently means to treat with mercy, restraint, and care. This is one of the more moving parts in this chapter. Absalom has betrayed David. He has stolen the hearts of the people. He has tried to take the kingdom. Yet David still calls him "the young man." David still sees him as his son. David's love does not erase Absalom's sin, but it does show the deep sorrow of a father's heart. David wants justice in the kingdom, but he also longs for mercy toward his son.
"So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;"
2 Samuel 18:6
David's army goes out to fight against the forces following Absalom. The battle takes place in the wood of Ephraim. This was likely a forest or heavily wooded area. The wood of Ephraim was the place where this battle happened. Even though it carried the name Ephraim, the battle appears to take place east of Jordan, near the area where David had found refuge.
"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."
2 Samuel 18:7
Absalom's army suffers a terrible defeat. Twenty thousand men die that day. This verse shows the cost of rebellion. Absalom's pride did not only hurt himself. It brought death and grief to many homes in Israel. Sin often promises greatness, freedom, or control, but it leaves behind sorrow and destruction.
"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."
2 Samuel 18:8
The soldiers are no longer gathered in one place. They are scattered throughout the forest. The phrase the wood devoured more people does not mean the trees literally ate people. It means the forest caused many deaths. Men may have fallen into pits, become trapped, been injured by rough terrain, or died while fleeing in confusion. The sword killed many, but the forest killed even more. This reminds me that God does not need large armies or obvious weapons to accomplish His will. He can use terrain, timing, weather, weakness, confusion, or circumstances to bring judgment or deliverance. A heart after God recognizes that God can use even the natural world to accomplish His purposes. Sometimes the hardest battle is not against an enemy outside the family, but grief inside the heart. David stood by the gate with the heart of a king and the sorrow of a father.