For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
- KJV For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
- BSB The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.
- NASB For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
- NLT The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.
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
The forest itself claims more lives than the sword that day. The terrain becomes an instrument of judgment on the rebels.
Overview
The wild, dangerous woodland devours more of Absalom's army than the actual fighting, as men perish in pits, ravines, and thickets. The detail shows God using even creation to accomplish His purposes against the rebellion. It is a sober reminder that the whole created order serves the will of the LORD who defends His anointed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Exod 15:10You blew with your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
- Josh 10:11As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, Yahweh hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.
- Ps 43:1Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.
- Judg 5:20–21From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.
- 1 Kgs 20:30But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner room.
- Ps 3:7Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 18:8 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.