The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 429

brought him of the victory (ver. 24). The between the boughs of o great terehint,l,, only renl argument in support of the view o.nd the mule, l!i.TUggling onward, left bim that the battle wus fought on the west of the hanging in mid-air. Nothina O is said ahout Jordan is that "Ahimauz ran by the wo.y of his hair having caused the accident, anrl the plain" (ver. 2,l), Hobrew, the kikkctr- apparently it was his neck which became o. name specially given to the valley of the fixed. Probably, too, he was half stunned Jordan near Jericho. But then Cushi by the blow, and choked by the pressure; must also ho.ve run through the so.me and then his hair would make it very diffi- valley, and ibis evident that his route was cult for him to extricate hims,.lf. And so, in this very respect different from that after one or two efforts, in which he would taken by Ahimo.az. Really, kikkar, which be in danger of dislocating his neck, he in Hebrew means "oircuit," may be used would remain suspended to await his fate. of the country round o.ny city, o.nd is applied Now, this adventure me.kes the whole affair in Neh. xii. 28 to the environs of Jerusalem. perfectly plain. Abse.lom was ri<lina0 his Here the meaning probably is that, while mnle, evidently unprepared for battle. The the Cushite took the route back over the chariot e.nd horses, with fifty men as his battle-field through the wood, Ahimaaz body-guard, used by him at Jerusalem (eh. went to the left of it, over the more level xv. 1), are nowhere near him. Chariots, of ground, nearer the Jordau. And though course, would have been useless on such the name is chiefly used of that part near rough ground, but AbsRlom would have bad Jericho, it was probably applied populo.rly e. picked body of young men round him in to every stretch of level ground near the the battle; and moles were on Iy for use on river. This argument, therefore, is incon- the march, and were sent into the rear when clusive; while, on the other side, it is plain the fighting began. But the last thing that that David's army returned that same day Absalom expected we.s that he shonld be to Mahanaim, that they knew at once of his attacked on the march. l:!i' was advancing distress, and that they were beginning to with au army infini'8ly i:.ore numerous than steal awa.y home when Joe.b ma.de De.vid that of David, and e.ssumed that David come forth to the.nk them, e.nd encourage would w, i; ,.t Me.hanaim, e.nd, if he fought them to remo.in with him. The most pro- e.t all, would fight under its walls. His be.hie exple.nation of the difficulty is that defee.t he regarded e.s certain, a.ud then the "the wood of Ephraim" was so called be- vain-glorions prince and all Israel wonld ca.use it was the spot where Jephthe.h de- drag the city into the nearest re.vine. In fee.ted the Ephre.imites when they inve.ded this over-confidence he was riding in ed- Gilead to punish him for de.ring to go to war ve.nce of his e.rmy, which was struggling on without tlleir consent, they being tben the over most difficult ground. For "rising .dominant tribe, to whose e.rbitrament be- as the country does suddenly from the deep longed all imperi.a.l matters (Judg. xii. 4-6). valley of the Jorde.n, it is naturally along Ver. 8.-The be.ttle was there scattered. its whole western border deeply furrowell The word in tho Hebrew is a noun, which by the me.ny streams wllich drain the dis- the Ma.ssorites have ohanged into e. pe.rti- trict; e.nd our ride," says Co.non Tristram; ciple. But the noun is right: "The battle "wus up and down concealed glens, which became a. scattering,'' that is, it was e. series we only perceived when on their brink, and of disconnected encounters, in which David's mounting from which on the other side, o three di visions attacked and routed Absa- short c1<nter soon brought us to the edge of lom's men, while still on the march, witllout the next" (Tristre.m, p. 462). Strue:gling giving tllem an opportunity of collecting and a.long over such ground, Absalom's men were forming in order of battle. And the wood not merely tired and weary, but had lost devoured more people that de.y tha.n the e.11 order, e.nd "become a scattering,'' aud sword devoured. The woodle.nd was diffi- probably Abse.lom had cantered on in order cult, full of gorges and bogs aud steep to find some suite.hie spot for re-forming defiles leading down to the J orde.n, and them. Suddenly he sees at a little diste.nce the fugitives easily lost their wo.y in it, before him one of the three detachments and wo.ndered about till they were hope- of DBvid's army, which had marched out e. lessly entangled in thioket and mo:ru.ss. few miles from Mahanaim, and posted them- Ver. 9.-Absalom met the servants of selves on some fit spot to attuck the rebels David. The verb means that he came upon on their me.rob. Appe.rently they ce.ught them by oho.nee. Evidently in the int1·i- no glimpse of him, but he immediately cacies of the forest, Absnlom had lost his became aware of the taotics of the king's we.y, e.nd,fl.ndiug himself suddenly in di:mger gene:ru.ls, and discerned the extreme danger of boin"' captured by some of David's men, of his position. Everything depended upon ho nro-o"'d his mule tllrough e. thicket, 11a the celerity. If he could we.rn his men, the open ground was blocked by his pursuers. foremost would halt until the others rume But iu the attempt his hee.d w11s jo.mmed up, 11nd a sufficient force be gt1thered to  438 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ou. xvm. 1--113.