2 Samuel 18:8 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“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. {devoured: Heb. multiplied to devour}”

2 Samuel 18:8

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

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

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}.

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. {devoured: Heb. multiplied to devour}

And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that {was} under him went away.

And a certain man saw {it}, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

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2 Samuel 18:1

"And David numbered the people that {were} with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them."

2 Samuel 18:2

"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."

2 Samuel 18:3

"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 succour us out of the city. {care...: Heb. set their heart on us} {worth...: Heb. as ten thousand of us} {succour: Heb. be to succour or help}"

2 Samuel 18:4

"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."

2 Samuel 18:5

"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."

2 Samuel 18:6

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

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