Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
2 Samuel 18:1
CHAPTER XVIII
David reviews and arranges the people, and gives the command
to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, 1, 2.
On his expressing a desire to accompany them to the battle,
they will not permit him, 3.
He reviews them as they go out of the city, and gives
commandment to the captains to save Absalom, 4, 5.
They join battle with Absalom and his army, who are discomfited
with the loss of twenty thousand men, 6-8.
Absalom, fleeing away, is caught by his head in an oak; Joab
finds him, and transfixes him with three darts, 9-15.
The servants of David are recalled, and Absalom buried, 16-18.
Ahimaaz and Cushi bring the tidings to David, who is greatly
distressed at hearing of the death of Absalom, and makes
bitter lamentation for him, 19-33.
NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII
Verse 2 Samuel 18:1. And set captains of thousands] By this time David's small company was greatly recruited; but what its number was we cannot tell. Josephus says it amounted to four thousand men. Others have supposed that they amounted to ten thousand; for thus they understand a clause in 2 Samuel 18:3, which they think should be read, We are now ten thousand strong.