2 Samuel 18:1-8

David's Battle Plan. 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 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.
3 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.

4 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.
5 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.

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 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.

8 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.

1.

Where did David get his men? 2 Samuel 18:1

The army had increased from 600 to great numbers. These were numerous enough to demand the appointment of captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. Most of the men were from different parts of the country. Some were from Judah; some, from the other tribes. Because of Hushai's counsel, David had time to collect a large army; and the pendulum of affairs was swinging favor towards David and not towards Absalom. Hushai had counseled Absalom to take time to collect a large force, but the time also allowed David to collect an army. David seemed to have the better advantage.

2.

How did David divide his army? 2 Samuel 18:2

David appointed Joab captain over a third of his army. Another third was under the direction of Abishai, Joab's brother, and the third was led by Ittai, the Gittite. The fact that there were three captains in this campaign, whereas only two had led in the war against the Syrio-Ammonite coalition, would point to the fact that David had a larger army in the field against Absalom. The exact number was not stated, but if he had one-half the total of all men available to him, he must have had at his disposal some 600,000 men.

3.

Why did David want to go into the battle? 2 Samuel 18:3

David wanted to go out to the battle with the troops, for he was still a soldier. He may have been prompted to go out in order that he might guard against harm coming to Absalom, but the people would not allow him to lead the army in person. They had great respect for him, and they valued him highly. They felt that the battlefield was too dangerous a spot for their leader. The enemy would naturally be looking for David, since a part of

Ahithophel's original counsel was designed to drive off David's men and attack David personally (2 Samuel 17:2). David could direct the battle from a safe distance and send up reinforcements when and if they were needed.

4.

What instructions did David give concerning Absalom? 2 Samuel 18:5

David's command with regard to Absalom shows his deep affection for his son. At the same time, it reflects his parental indulgence. The fact that all people heard and that David gave the instructions carefully and explicitly to Joab, Abashai, and Ittai, revealed how deeply he was concerned over his safety. David did not want to spare Absalom's life so that he could punish him, but he wanted to make sure that nothing happened to the young man. As Absalom had stolen the hearts of many of the people of Israel, he had also reserved for himself a very warm spot in David's own heart. David's deep grief over his death arose out of this fondness he had for Absalom (2 Samuel 18:33).

5.

Where was the forest of Ephraim? 2 Samuel 18:6

The exact location of the forest is unknown. We cannot tell certainly where it was or what prompted the giving of its name. From the narrative we can determine that it was rough country. The men very evidently fell into pits, over cliffs, and into patches of entangling underbrush. The battle was fought east of the Jordan river, so the forest must have been there. The fact that it is called the forest of Ephraim would incline us to believe that it was parallel with the territory of Ephraim which lay west of the Jordan. Such a location would fit the description since Mahanaim was just north of the Jabbok river, and the men who helped David lived in this territory. The rugged land which lay east of the Jordan and halfway between the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee, must have been the scene of the battle.