The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 428

CHAPTER XVIII. that it would not matter "if he.If of us die," e.nd that DA vid •• is worth ten thousnnd of v.,r, 1.-And David numbered. The verb us," Ewe.Id dra,ve the reasonable conclusion really m0ans that he organized his army, that their whole number wns o.bout twenty ,rnd arranged it in companies and divisions. thousand men. The Hebrew litero.lly is, As Absalom gathered all Israel to him, there •• For now ('attal1) ns us are ten thousand," wuuld be some delay; and David, like a wise which might mean, "There are ten thousand general, made use of it for training the such a.s we o.re, but no one like thee." But brnn' but undisciplined men who had joined the Septu11giut and Vulge.te read," But thou him, chielh- from Gilead. Besides these, he (attah) art e.s ten thousand of us," The had with ·him numerous veterans, whose Syriac, however, like the Hebrew, roe.de skill and experience would be invaluable in ''now.,• snch service. The result was that when the Ver. 5.-All the people heard. The king rebels came to close quarters, they had a spe.ke so earnestly e.nrl strongly to the vast body of men, but David a disciplined generals that the words ran from rank to force, which, under skilful generalship, scat- rank as they marched forward. So in var. tered Absa.lom's raw levies with ease. The 12 the man says to Joab, "In our hearing arrangement into thousands e.ud hundreds the king charged thee and Abishe.i," eto. WaB in accordance with the civil divisions It does not follow that each one heard the (Exod. niii. 25), both heing, in fact, dic- sound of the king's voice, but only that the tated by nature as multiples of our hands. comme.ud was given publicly again e.nd Ver. 2.-.6. thlrd part. Armies are usually age.in, and in the presence of the army. divided into three divisions: a centre e.nd two Ver. 6.-The wood of Ephraim. There is wings when drawn np for battle; e. ve.n, the a diversity of opinion as to the locality thus me.in body, e.nd a rearguard when on the described. It might mean the large forest march. But the lsre.elites had no settled tract in the highlands of Ephraim; but if rule upon the point, e.nd, when occe.sion so, the battle must have been fought on the required, J oab divided his army into two west of the Jordan, whereas the general parts (eh. L 9, 10). The reason of the tenor of the narrative makes it plain that threefold division in this case wa.s that lttai it took place on the eastern side, near Ma.he.- had brought hie clan, or taf, with him, and naim. It is true that no wood of Ephraim &8 these would certainly not have fought is ever mentioned elsewhere in the 1:lible as under e.n L1:11'8.elite leader, nor the Israelites situated in Gilead, e.nd those who cannot under lttai, David placed e.11 foreigners believe in such a wood except within the under his command, while he gave hie own borders of the tribe, argue that, after the nephews the command of the native troops. three di visions had in arched out to battle, He thus avoided e.11 jealousies; and lttai's tliere was long skirmisLing, in which Abaa- men, honoured by being made e. distinct lom drew David's men across the Jordan, e.nd portion of the army, would feel their re- there gave battle. But Absalom's army was puLUtion at stake, and would rival the evidently surprised, and as we are told that Israelites in valour. "he pitched in the land of Gilead" (eh. xvii. Ver. 3.-lt is better that thou 111cconr 111 26), for bim to have retired would have been out of the city. David thought it to be his a confession of weakness; e.nd J oab, after see- duty to go out with the men who were risk- ing him cross the Jordan, would not have fol- ing their lives in his cause, but they felt not lowed him, but let this retrograde movement only how pe.inful it would be for a father to have its effect upon bis followers. Such a fight age.inst his son; but also that there movement is absolutely incredible on the part would rert&inly be a picked body of men who of an army e.t lee.et three times as numerous would try to bring the battle to a rapid end as those whom they attacked, and confident by slaying David. But while they partly of victory. Moreover, armies in those de.ye urge personal considerations, their chief were not composed of men receiving pay, e.rgnment is that David would be of more and bound to remain with their colours, but UBt, if, post.t,d with a body of troops e.t the of yeomen unwilling to be kept long absent city, he held himself in reserve to succour from their farms, and liable, therefore, any division that migLt be in danger. And rapidly to melt away. A quick decision David, st:eing how earnest their wish was, we.s pie.inly necessary for Absalom, while yielded to this representation, feeling that David could afford to we.it. But besides it would give steadiness to his men if they this, when hie forces moved out of Mahe.- knew that so experienced a general was uaim, David took his post at the gate with watching the fight, e.nd was ready to succour the reserves, and he was still there, sitting t!i,,m if they needed aid. As the people say "between the two gates," when news wo.e on. um. 1-33.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 437