2 Samuel 18:8

2 Samuel 18:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

Context of 2 Samuel 18:8

6So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, 7and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives. The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword. 9During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. 10One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, “I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.”

2 Samuel 18:8 word by word

וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֧ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה נָפֹ֖צֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֶּ֤רֶב הַיַּ֙עַר֙ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בָּעָ֔ם מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָכְלָ֛ה הַחֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• was there scatteredפּוּץpûts · to scatterH6327
• over the faceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: surfaceH6440
• of all the countryאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• and the woodיַ֫עַרya‛ar · woodH3293
• devouredאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• moreרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• than the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:8

• Exodus 15:10But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
• Joshua 10:11As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword.
• Judges 5:20The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
• 1 Kings 20:30The rest fled into the town of Aphek, but the wall fell on them and killed another 27,000. Ben-hadad fled into the town and hid in a secret room.
• Psalms 3:7Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
• Psalms 43:1Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The wood devoured more people - It is generally supposed that, when the army was broken, they betook themselves to the wood, fell into pits, swamps, etc., and, being entangled, were hewn down by David's men; but the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, state that they were devoured by wild beasts in the wood.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The battle was scattered - Probably Absalom‘s forces were far more numerous than David‘s; but, most likely by Joab‘s skillful generalship, the field of battle was such that numbers did not tell, and David‘s veteran troops were able to destroy Absalom‘s rabble in detail. The wood entangled them, and was perhaps full of pits, precipices, and morasses 2 Samuel 18:17.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8the forest devoured more people: The land in the forest (its rough ground and thick growth) removed the numerical advantage of Absalom’s army.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. the wood devoured more people than the sword--The thick forest of oaks and terebinths, by obstructing the flight, greatly aided the victors in the pursuit.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:8

• Ephraim

In the dictionaries

• That Day
• Charge
• David
• Ephraim, Wood of
• Forest
• Lift
• Pillar
• Rise
• Thrust
• Armor; Arms

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