2 Samuel 18:17

2 Samuel 18:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
• New International Version (NIV)They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.

Context of 2 Samuel 18:17

15ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him. 16Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them. They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and raised up a huge mound of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent. 18When he was alive, Absalom had taken a pillar and raised it up for himself in the King’s Valley, since he thought, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he named the pillar after himself. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today. 19Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has vindicated him by freeing him from his enemies.”

2 Samuel 18:17 word by word

וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם וַיַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּ אֹת֤וֹ בַיַּ֙עַר֙ אֶל־הַפַּ֣חַת הַגָּד֔וֹל וַיַּצִּ֧בוּ עָלָ֛יו גַּל־אֲבָנִ֖ים גָּד֣וֹל מְאֹ֑ד וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נָ֖סוּ אִ֥ישׁ לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• Absalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹם'ăbîyshâlôm 'abshâlôm · AbsalomH53
• and castשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
• him into a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• pitפַּ֫חַתpachath · pitH6354
• in the woodיַ֫עַרya‛ar · woodH3293
• and laidנָצַבnâtsab · to standH5324
• a veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• heapגַּלgal · heapH1530
• of stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• upon him: and all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
• every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• to his tentאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tent: homeH168

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:17

• Joshua 7:26and raised over him a large pile of rocks that remains still today. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor still today.
• Joshua 8:29He hung the body of the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take his body down from the tree. They threw it down at the entrance of the city gate and put a large pile of rocks over it, which still remains today.
• Joshua 10:27At sunset Joshua commanded that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave where they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are still there today.
• Proverbs 10:7The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
• Jeremiah 22:18Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: They will not mourn for him, saying, “Woe, my brother!” or “Woe, my sister!” They will not mourn for him, saying, “Woe, lord! Woe, his majesty!”

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17And laid a very great heap of stones - This was the method of burying heroes, and even traitors, the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The ancient cairns or heaps of stones, in different parts of the world, are of this kind. The various tumuli or barrows in England are the same as the cairns in different parts of Ireland and Scotland. In the former, stones were not plenty; hence they heaped up great…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17A great heap of stones - See the marginal reference. This kind of monument is common to almost all early nations.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-18Verses 9-18 Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed, forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrence of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery and contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17all the Israelites fled, each to his home: Those who supported Absalom knew their lives were in danger (2 Samuel 17:11; compare 2 Samuel 19:8). They had supported a usurper (a person who tried to take the throne by force), and his attempt to seize the kingdom had failed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit ... and laid a very great heap of stones upon him--The people of the East indicate their detestation of the memory of an infamous person by throwing stones at the place where he is buried. The heap is increased by the gradual accumulation of stones which passers-by add to it.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:17

• Absalom
• Ephraim

In the dictionaries

• Absalom
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Burial
• Charge
• Lift
• Pillar
• Rise
• Thrust

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings