Joab Kills Abasalom
February 23, 2021
Commentary
David has lots of military strength at his disposal. He divides his army into three divisions and sends them out under the command of Joab (the commander over all), his brother Abishai and Ittai, the Gittite (vv. 1-5). David announces his intention to march out into battle with them, but the men point out that he will just be a target for Absalom’s soldiers. They say that his soldiers won’t care about “us,” but “you” will be more valuable than all the rest of us put together. They tell him that he will be more help if he remains behind in Mahanaim. David stands beside the city gate as the troops march off to battle. His final order to his three commanders is to be gentle with Absalom. This indicates his paternal affection in spite of Absalom’s destructive ambition, arrogance, and treachery.
The “battle field” included the “forested hill country” of Ephraim and Manasseh, west of the Jordan river (vv. 6-8). It seems that in (v. 6) “army” refers to David’s troops and in (v. 7) it signifies Absalom’s men. Absalom’s army experienced heavy defeats and casualties but the Lord played a key role in their overthrow. The forest claimed more lives than the sword which reminds us that natural things are often more deadly than human enemies (Jos. 10:11).
This passage provides an example of how a forest can claim victims (vv. 9-18). Riding his mule, Absalom gets his head caught in the branches of a tree and the mule leaves the owner behind. One of David’s men is the first to see Absalom hanging in the tree and reports it to Joab. Joab cannot understand why the man did not kill Absalom on the spot as he would have awarded him ten shekels of silver as well as a warrior’s belt ( I Kings 2:5). The man explains that even a hundred times that much silver could not tempt him to kill Absalom because of King David’s orders to be gentile with him. Joab decided to take matters into his own hands and plunged three sharp pointed weapons into Absalom, which mortally wounded him. Ten of Joab’s men finished the task of killing Absalom.
Application
Because children grow up in a Godly family does not mean they will automatically turn out to be Godly or even good citizens. It takes lot of love, discipline and training.
2 Samuel 18:1– 18 (NET)
1 David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds. 2 David then sent out the armyâa third under the leadership of Joab, a third under the leadership of Joabâs brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under the leadership of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, âI too will indeed march out with you.â
3 But the soldiers replied, âYou should not do this! For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they wonât be concerned about us. Even if half of us should die, they wonât be concerned. But you are like 10,000 of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support.â 4 Then the king said to them, âI will do whatever seems best to you.â
5 The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: âFor my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.â Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.
6 Then the army marched out to the field to fight against Israel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 The army of Israel was defeated there by Davidâs men. The slaughter there was great that dayâ20,000 soldiers were killed. 8 The battle there was spread out over the whole area, and the forest consumed more soldiers than the sword devoured that day.
9 Then Absalom happened to come across Davidâs men. Now as Absalom was riding on his mule, it went under the branches of a large oak tree. His head got caught in the oak and he was suspended in midair, while the mule he had been riding kept going.
10 When one of the men saw this, he reported it to Joab saying, âI saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.â 11 Joab replied to the man who was telling him this, âWhat! You saw this? Why didnât you strike him down right on the spot? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a commemorative belt!â
12 The man replied to Joab, âEven if I were receiving 1,000 pieces of silver, I would not strike the kingâs son! In our very presence the king gave this order to you and Abishai and Ittai, âProtect the young man Absalom for my sake.â 13 If I had acted at risk of my own life âand nothing is hidden from the kingâyou would have abandoned me.â
14 Joab replied, âI will not wait around like this for you!â He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree. 15 Then ten soldiers who were Joabâs armor-bearers struck Absalom and finished him off.
16 Then Joab blew the trumpet and the army turned back from chasing Israel, for Joab had called for the army to halt. 17 They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and stacked a huge pile of stones over him. In the meantime all the Israelite soldiers fled to their homes.
18 Before this Absalom had set up a monument and dedicated it to himself in the Kingâs Valley, reasoning, âI have no son who will carry on my name.â He named the monument after himself, and to this day it is known as Absalomâs Memorial.