2 Samuel 18:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And ten young men, Joab 's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.

NIV: And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.

NASB: And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

CSB: ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

NLT: Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.

KJV: And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

NKJV: And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.

A soldier found the traitorous prince Absalom hanging from a tree, defenseless. Striking him would end the war between Absalom and David. But the soldier had heard David command that no one should harm his son. The soldier knows that if he kills Absalom, no one will come to his defense—not even the general Joab who most wants Absalom dead (2 Samuel 18:5, 9–13). Irritated, and probably convicted by the soldier's wisdom, Joab finds Absalom and thrusts three javelins—short throwable spears—into his heart (2 Samuel 18:14). Since Joab took the first strike, his armor-bearers feel free to finish the job.

Joab then sounds his trumpet, signaling the end of both the battle and the war. Soldiers take Absalom off the tree and bury him in a pit (2 Samuel 18:16–17). To die on a tree is a dishonor. To remain hanging overnight is a curse of God (Deuteronomy 21:22–23).

The soldier believed Joab wouldn't defend him if he killed David's son. David does apparently discipline Joab, but not with execution. He fires Joab and gives his job to Absalom's general Amasa (2 Samuel 19:13), Joab's and Absalom's cousin (2 Samuel 17:25). David will later tell Solomon to execute Joab, but not because he killed Absalom (1 Kings 2:5–6). Joab has already murdered Abner, Saul's former general who had made a peace treaty with David (2 Samuel 3:27), for killing Joab's brother in battle (2 Samuel 2:22–23). And the first chance he gets, Joab will murder Amasa and reclaim his role as military commander (2 Samuel 20:10). Joab dies for those murders, not for killing Absalom who is a legal combatant in war and a traitor.

Second Samuel 18:9–18 records the loss of David's third son, and the completion of God's curse. As God promised, the sons of David's house have brought violence and evil (2 Samuel 12:10–12). Absalom and his army are fighting against David, but David has told his men to be kind to his son. Joab, David's long-time general, disagrees. He finds Absalom in a vulnerable situation and kills him. David's mourning over Absalom will earn him a scolding from Joab (2 Samuel 19:1–8).

In 2 Samuel 18, the rebellion ends. Absalom has built a following and revolted against David (2 Samuel 15; 17). His army is no match for David's seasoned warriors or the dangerous terrain on which the battle is fought. Absalom is pursued and killed despite David's order that he be spared. When David hears of this, he falls into grief. Joab tells David to stop disrespecting his people's sacrifice (2 Samuel 19:1–8). David leads his people back to Jerusalem and starts to repair the broken kingdom (2 Samuel 19:9–43).

Second Samuel 18 marks the fulfillment of God's curses against David. The violence and betrayal God promised David (2 Samuel 12:10–12) because of his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11) culminate in Absalom's attempt to kill his father and take the throne (2 Samuel 15—17). David's generals make quick work of Absalom's army. Joab kills Absalom against David's direct order. David will attempt to repair the fractured kingdom, starting with forgiving his enemies (2 Samuel 19:9–43). The rift never fully heals, however, and the nation splits permanently after Solomon dies (2 Chronicles 10).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.