Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
Parallel translations
- WEB The people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
- BSB There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.
- NKJV The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day.
- NASB The people of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men.
- NLT and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Absalom's army is decisively defeated with twenty thousand casualties. David's rebellion-torn kingdom wins a costly victory.
Overview
The forces of Israel under Absalom are routed by David's servants in a great slaughter. The heavy loss reflects the tragic cost of rebellion against God's appointed king. Even in victory, the bloodshed among God's own people is a grief, underscoring how sin's revolt brings death.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 24:21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
- 2 Chr 28:6For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
- Prov 11:21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
- 2 Sam 2:31But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
- 2 Chr 13:16–17And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
- 2 Sam 15:6And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
- 2 Sam 19:41–43And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?
- 2 Sam 2:17And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
- 2 Sam 2:26Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 18:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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