Movatterモバイル変換

surrounded Absalom
Absalom, David's son, had rebelled against his father, leading to a civil war. His capture and death were pivotal in quelling the rebellion. The act of surrounding Absalom signifies the inescapable judgment he faced due to his actions. This moment fulfills the prophecy of Nathan in2 Samuel 12:10-12, where God declared that calamity would arise from David's own house. The surrounding of Absalom also symbolizes the inevitability of divine justice.

struck him
The act of striking Absalom is significant as it represents the execution of justice. Absalom's rebellion was not only against his father but against God's anointed king. The striking down of Absalom can be seen as a necessary act to restore order and uphold God's chosen leadership. This moment echoes the biblical theme of the consequences of sin and rebellion against divine authority.

and killed him
The death of Absalom marks the end of his insurrection and the restoration of David's rule. It serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of rebellion and the seriousness of opposing God's will. Absalom's death also prefigures the ultimate judgment that awaits those who reject God's authority. In a typological sense, it contrasts with the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, who, unlike Absalom, submitted to God's will and brought reconciliation rather than division.

• The text specifies “ten,” a deliberate echo of completeness and decisive action (cf.Genesis 18:32;Leviticus 26:26).

• They are described as “young,” highlighting vigor and readiness, reminiscent of David’s own youth when he confronted Goliath (1 Samuel 17:42).

• Their number contrasts with Absalom’s lonely predicament, fulfilling the warning that “the sword shall never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 12:10).

• These men are not random soldiers; they serve as Joab’s personal armor-bearers, much like Jonathan’s companion (1 Samuel 14:6-7) or Saul’s (1 Samuel 31:4).

• Being Joab’s attendants underscores Joab’s authority and the intentionality behind the act; they carry out their commander’s will rather than acting impulsively.

• Their role also ties the scene back to Joab’s earlier pattern of taking matters into his own hands (2 Samuel 3:27 with Abner;2 Samuel 20:10 with Amasa).

• Absalom is still helpless, dangling from the oak where “his head was caught fast” (2 Samuel 18:9).

• The surrounding signifies total defeat; there is no escape, echoing the language of encirclement inPsalm 118:10-12.

• This fulfillsDeuteronomy 21:18-21’s principle that a persistently rebellious son faces community judgment—here carried out by Joab’s men rather than city elders.

• Joab had already pierced Absalom with three javelins (2 Samuel 18:14). The young men’s blows ensure the deed is finished.

• The striking reflects the gravity of treason in Israel (Judges 9:54-56 with Abimelech), demonstrating that rebellion against God’s anointed king invites swift justice.

• Each blow mirrors the cumulative consequences of Absalom’s sins—murdering Amnon (2 Samuel 13:28-29), stealing hearts at the gate (2 Samuel 15:1-6), and mounting an armed coup (2 Samuel 15:10-14).

• Despite David’s plea to “deal gently with the young man Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:5), Joab decides the kingdom’s stability outweighs paternal mercy.

• The verse signals the irreversible finality of Absalom’s rebellion; much like Pharaoh’s army inExodus 14:28, none survive God-directed judgment.

• Joab’s choice will later cost him; Solomon remembers this pattern of unauthorized bloodshed when ordering Joab’s execution (1 Kings 2:28-34).

2 Samuel 18:15 records the conclusive moment when Joab’s ten armor-bearers finish Absalom. Their number, position, and actions underscore deliberate, authoritative judgment on a rebellious son who threatened God’s chosen king. The verse teaches that while earthly fathers may long to spare wayward children, divine justice stands firm: persistent rebellion meets decisive, complete, and inescapable judgment.

Parallel Commentaries ...