28 And Ahimaaz H290 called, H7121 and said H559 unto the king, H4428 All is well. H7965 And he fell down H7812 to the earth H776 upon his face H639 before the king, H4428 and said, H559 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 which hath delivered up H5462 the men H582 that lifted up H5375 their hand H3027 against my lord H113 the king. H4428
And blessed H1288 be the most high H5945 God, H410 which hath delivered H4042 thine enemies H6862 into thy hand. H3027 And he gave H5414 him tithes H4643 of all.
And when the woman H802 of Tekoah H8621 spake H559 to the king, H4428 she fell H5307 on her face H639 to the ground, H776 and did obeisance, H7812 and said, H559 Help, H3467 O king. H4428
And he said, H559 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 God H430 of my master H113 Abraham, H85 who hath not left destitute H5800 H5973 my master H113 of his mercy H2617 and his truth: H571 I being in the way, H1870 the LORD H3068 led me H5148 to the house H1004 of my master's H113 brethren. H251
And thou hast shewed H5046 this day H3117 how that thou hast dealt H6213 well H2896 with me: forasmuch as when the LORD H3068 had delivered H5462 me into thine hand, H3027 thou killedst H2026 me not.
Then said H559 Abishai H52 to David, H1732 God H430 hath delivered H5462 thine enemy H341 into thine hand H3027 this day: H3117 now therefore let me smite H5221 him, I pray thee, with the spear H2595 even to the earth H776 at once, H6471 H259 and I will not smite him the second time. H8138
It came even to pass on the third H7992 day, H3117 that, behold, a man H376 came H935 out of the camp H4264 from Saul H7586 with his clothes H899 rent, H7167 and earth H127 upon his head: H7218 and so it was, when he came H935 to David, H1732 that he fell H5307 to the earth, H776 and did obeisance. H7812
With the pure H1305 thou wilt shew thyself pure; H1305 and with the froward H6141 thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. H6617
Not unto us, O LORD, H3068 not unto us, but unto thy name H8034 give H5414 glory, H3519 for thy mercy, H2617 and for thy truth's H571 sake.
Blessed H1288 be the LORD, H3068 who hath not given H5414 us as a prey H2964 to their teeth. H8127
[[A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 my strength, H6697 which teacheth H3925 my hands H3027 to war, H7128 and my fingers H676 to fight: H4421 My goodness, H2617 and my fortress; H4686 my high tower, H4869 and my deliverer; H6403 my shield, H4043 and he in whom I trust; H2620 who subdueth H7286 my people H5971 under me.
And G2532 after G3326 these things G5023 I heard G191 a great G3173 voice G5456 of much G4183 people G3793 in G1722 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 Alleluia; G239 Salvation, G4991 and G2532 glory, G1391 and G2532 honour, G5092 and G2532 power, G1411 unto the Lord G2962 our G2257 God: G2316 For G3754 true G228 and G2532 righteous G1342 are his G846 judgments: G2920 for G3754 he hath judged G2919 the great G3173 whore, G4204 which G3748 did corrupt G5351 the earth G1093 with G1722 her G846 fornication, G4202 and G2532 hath avenged G1556 the blood G129 of his G846 servants G1401 at G1537 her G846 hand. G5495 And G2532 again G1208 they said, G2046 Alleluia. G239 And G2532 her G846 smoke G2586 rose up G305 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 18
Commentary on 2 Samuel 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
This chapter puts a period to Absalom's rebellion and life, and so makes way for David to his throne again, whither the next chapter brings him back in peace and triumph. We have here,
2Sa 18:1-8
Which way David raised an army here, and what reinforcements were sent him, we are not told; many, it is likely, from all the coasts of Israel, at least from the neighbouring tribes, came in to his assistance, so that, by degrees, he was able to make head against Absalom, as Ahithophel foresaw. Now here we have,
Bishop Hall thus descants on this: "What means this ill-placed love? This unjust mercy? Deal gently with a traitor? Of all traitors, with a son? Of all sons, with an Absalom? That graceless darling of so good a father? And all this, for thy sake, whose crown, whose blood, he hunts after? For whose sake must he be pursued, if forborne for thine? Must the cause of the quarrel be the motive of mercy? Even in the holiest parents, nature may be guilty of an injurious tenderness, of a bloody indulgence. But was not this done in type of that immeasurable mercy of the true King and Redeemer of Israel, who prayed for his persecutors, for his murderers, Father, forgive them? Deal gently with them for my sake.' When God sends an affliction to correct his children, it is with this charge, "Deal gently with them for my sake;' for he knows our frame.
2Sa 18:9-18
Here is Absalom quite at a loss, at his wit's end first, and then at his life's end. He that began the fight, big with the expectation of triumphing over David himself, with whom, if he had had him in his power, he would not have dealt gently, is now in the greatest consternation, when he meets the servants of David, v. 9. Though they were forbidden to meddle with him, he durst not look them in the face; but, finding they were near him, he clapped spurs to his mule and made the best of his way, through thick and thin, and so rode headlong upon his own destruction. Thus he that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare, Jer. 48:44. David is inclined to spare him, but divine justice passes sentence upon him as a traitor, and sees it executed-that he hang by the neck, be caught alive, be embowelled, and his body disposed of disgracefully.
2Sa 18:19-33
Absalom's business is done; and we are now told,