2 Samuel 18:10 kjv
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
2 Samuel 18:10 nkjv
Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, "I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!"
2 Samuel 18:10 niv
When one of the men saw what had happened, he told Joab, "I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree."
2 Samuel 18:10 esv
And a certain man saw it and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
2 Samuel 18:10 nlt
One of David's men saw what had happened and told Joab, "I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree."
2 Samuel 18 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 18:5 | David commanded Joab... “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” | David's command of mercy for Absalom. |
| 2 Sam 18:14 | Joab took three javelins in his hand... struck Absalom. | Joab's defiance and killing Absalom. |
| 2 Sam 14:26 | Whenever he cut the hair of his head (for it was heavy upon him...) | Absalom's heavy hair, source of pride and his snare. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Absalom's pride leading to his ruin. |
| Prov 24:21-22 | My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do so. | Consequences of rebellion against authority. |
| Deut 21:22-23 | If a man has committed a crime punishable by death... you shall hang him. | Concept of a curse on one "hanged on a tree." |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us... | Jesus bearing curse, linking to Dt 21:23 imagery. |
| Josh 8:29 | The king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. | Historical example of execution/display on a tree. |
| Josh 10:26 | Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. | Public display of defeated enemies on trees. |
| Gen 12:6-7 | Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the terebinth of Moreh. | Terebinth trees as significant locations. |
| Judges 9:6 | All the leaders of Shechem... went and made Abimelech king, by the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem. | Trees as places for significant events, including rebellion. |
| Judges 9:53 | A certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head... | Poetic justice for arrogant Abimelech. |
| Ps 55:23 | But you, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction... | Divine judgment against deceitful, violent men. |
| Ps 7:16 | His mischief will return upon his own head... | Rebellion's consequences on the rebel. |
| Ps 109:17 | He loved to curse; let curses come upon him. | Reflecting on Absalom's life of treachery. |
| Job 20:5-7 | The triumph of the wicked is short... They will perish forever. | Fleeting success and ultimate downfall of wicked. |
| 1 Sam 4:12-17 | A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that day. | A messenger bringing a crucial, devastating report. |
| 2 Sam 1:2-4 | A man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn. | Reporting news of a significant death. |
| 2 Sam 17:14 | The LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel. | Divine intervention in Absalom's plans. |
| Num 16:31-33 | As soon as he finished speaking... the ground under them split apart. | Swift divine judgment for rebellion (Korah). |
| Jude 1:11 | Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain and abandon themselves... | Mention of rebellion's destructive path, like Korah. |
| Rom 13:2 | Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed... | Divine ordering of authority and consequence of resistance. |
2 Samuel 18 verses
2 Samuel 18 10 Meaning
This verse details a critical moment in Absalom's rebellion: a messenger's direct report to Joab regarding Absalom's perilous state. Absalom was not executed by hanging but became suspended or caught by his hair or body in the branches of a large tree during the chaotic battle, leaving him vulnerable and immobile. This accidental entrapment set the stage for Joab's decisive, yet disobedient, action.
2 Samuel 18 10 Context
2 Samuel 18 describes the climactic battle in the Forest of Ephraim between David's forces and Absalom's rebellious army. King David had explicitly commanded his commanders, including Joab, to deal gently with Absalom. The dense forest itself contributed to Absalom's defeat, as his army suffered more casualties there than from direct combat. It is during the retreat that Absalom encounters his unexpected entanglement, which is then reported in this pivotal verse. This discovery initiates the immediate tragic end for Absalom, defying David's express wishes and profoundly affecting the kingdom's stability.
2 Samuel 18 10 Word analysis
- And (וְ - `wᵉ`): A conjunction, continuing the narrative flow. It links the previous description of battle and pursuit with this specific incident.
- a certain man (אִישׁ אֶחָד - `ʾîsh ʾeḥad`): Literally "one man." This highlights his anonymity yet also his crucial role. He is an incidental, divinely-positioned observer.
- saw it (וַיַּרְא - `way·yar` - from רָאָה `ra'ah`): "He saw, he perceived." Emphasizes a direct and undeniable observation. The immediate, personal witness provides authority to the report.
- and told (וַיַּגֵּד - `way·yag·gēd` - from נָגַד `nagad`): "He reported, he made known." Conveys the action of delivering important information promptly.
- Joab (יוֹאָב - `Yôʾāb`): Commander of David's army, a fierce and pragmatic warrior. His character is crucial; he is known for swift, decisive action, often beyond David's specific commands.
- and said (וַיֹּאמֶר - `way·yō·mer` - from אָמַר `amar`): Introduces direct speech, lending immediacy and vividness to the report.
- Behold (הִנֵּה - `hinnēh`): An interjection; "Look!" or "Indeed!" It emphasizes the startling and significant nature of the discovery, drawing Joab's attention directly.
- I saw (רָאִיתִי - `rāʾî·ṯî` - from רָאָה `ra'ah`): Reinforces the personal eyewitness account, removing any doubt from the messenger's statement.
- Absalom (אַבְשָׁלֹום - `ʾAbšālôm`): David's rebellious son, whose high pride and charismatic appearance led him to usurp the throne. His very name meaning "father of peace" is ironic given his rebellious life.
- hanged (תָּלוּי - `tālûy` - from תָּלָה `talah`): A participle meaning "suspended," "hung," or "caught." This is crucial: it does not mean Absalom was judicially executed by hanging. Rather, he was entangled or suspended, likely by his famous long hair (2 Sam 14:26), in the tree. This indicates a vulnerable, helpless state.
- in an oak (בָּאֵלָה - `bāʾēlāh`): Literally "in the terebinth/oak." `ʾēlāh` refers to a large, resilient tree, likely a terebinth, known for its strong, often low-hanging, and intertwining branches. The natural environment itself became a snare for Absalom.
- a certain man saw it, and told Joab: This phrase establishes the chain of intelligence during wartime. The anonymous eyewitness report is swiftly relayed to the highest military authority, highlighting the critical nature of the information.
- "Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak": This direct quote forms the core of the message. It's concise, unambiguous, and immediately sets the context for Joab's next move. The use of "Behold" heightens the dramatic impact of this surprising discovery. The term "hanged" underscores Absalom's dire, helpless predicament, a symbolic reversal of his arrogant power. His entrapment by a tree is seen by many as divine judgment or ironic justice for his rebellion.
2 Samuel 18 10 Bonus section
The Forest of Ephraim mentioned earlier in the chapter (2 Sam 18:6) played a crucial role in Absalom's defeat, with more men perishing in the thicket than in battle, emphasizing how nature itself worked against the rebel army. The manner of Absalom's death, being caught by a tree, evokes the imagery of a cursed one "hanged on a tree" from Deut 21:22-23, providing a subtle yet profound theological layer to his fate, implying divine disapproval of his rebellion. Though not a judicial hanging, the symbolic resonance is powerful: a self-exalted individual brought low and exposed by an unexpected natural trap. This pivotal moment solidifies Joab's image as a pragmatist willing to overstep boundaries for the greater stability of the kingdom.
2 Samuel 18 10 Commentary
This verse serves as the immediate pivot point in the tragic story of Absalom. The chance discovery by an unnamed individual and their quick reporting to Joab directly sets the stage for Absalom's death, despite David's express command of clemency. Absalom's state of being "hanged" or suspended in the tree—likely entangled by his hair or body amidst the branches—highlights the chaotic and relentless nature of the forest battle, as well as a potent symbol of poetic justice. The very thing that Absalom took pride in—his impressive head of hair—became the instrument of his helpless vulnerability, leading him to an ignominious end. The discovery shifts the narrative focus to Joab's subsequent decision, a choice that demonstrates his unflinching resolve and practical approach to warfare, contrasting sharply with David's fatherly mercy. This moment underscores the providential nature of God, who allows circumstances, even accidental ones, to unfold in accordance with His sovereign plan for judgment or consequence upon rebellion.