Rashi on Tanakh2 Samuel 18

They will not pay us any attention. It will not be important in their eyes to overpower and to boast [[victoriously] now that you are not in the war.

Because now. While you are in your glory [uncaptured] you are as important as all of us [together].

Ten thousand. Like us ten thousand men.

If you help us from the city. [Yonoson translates:] "It will be better if you pray for us from the city for help.

Be gentle to the young man. If he presents himself before you in battle have pity on him.

In the forest of Ephraim. How did Ephraim get possession of a forest on the eastern side of the Yardein,¹Dovid had crossed over to the eastern side of the Yardein earlier (17:22) and that’s where this battle took place. no one had a portion there except for the people of Gad, Reuvein and Menashe? Yehoshua [partitioned Israel] conditionally that all the tribes could [have their cattle] graze in any forest. This forest was near Ephraim's portion²On the other side of the Yardein. except that the Yardein was in between, and the people of Ephraim had their cattle graze there. [Thus] it was called Ephraim's forest

The [wild beasts of the] forest killed more people. The wild beasts of the forest, so Yonason translated.

Avsholom happenned. Denoting something that just happened, a chance meeting.

He was hanging between the sky and the earth. Our Rabbis said³Sotah 10b. See Meharsho there. He unsheathed his sword to cut his hair and saw Gehennom open beneath him.

Beware that none harm the young man. Everyone who meets up with him should preserve him.

"I will not ask you [any further]." I will not make any more requests of you because I will go myself.

Because he said, "I have no son." That can replace me and be as important as me.⁴He did have children as related earlier (14:27) but did not consider them on a par with his stature. See Sotah 11a.

This will memorialize my name. I will build this stone monument for myself. It was a significant building.

Inform him another day. A tiding of some other victory.

Because. As a result of the king's son's death therefor this announcement will not be good for you.

For you. there is no reward in this announcement. There is no reward available today for an announcement.

So what. In other words, so what if I get no reward?

And he passed. [Yonoson translates:] He arrived before the Kushite.

I saw a great multitude [engaged in battle]. Moving to and fro in battle.

And Yoav sent one of the king's other servants and [me] your servant. This is a verse that needs to be rearranged as follows: Yoav sent one of the king's other servants and [me] your servant. After Yoav sent the king's other servant, [referring to] the one who is running behind me.⁵After he sent that runner is when he sent me.

And [me] your servant. He is referring to himself. I do not know what happenned afterwords.⁶Here Rashi is explaining the last part of the verse, “and I do not know what…”

Turn and stand there. Move to the other side and stand there and let us hear what this one [the kushite] says.