Bible Strands
2 Samuel 18:17
They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records the immediate aftermath of the battle where Joab halted the pursuit of the Israelite army. The text describes the actions taken against Absalom and the subsequent dispersal of the troops to their homes.
The words — וַ/יַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּ (va/i.yash.Li.khu) translates literally as "and they threw," denoting the violent casting of Absalom into the pit. הַ/פַּ֣חַת (ha./Pa.chat) means "the pit," specifying the exact location of his interment.
The thread — The act of covering a defeated figure with stones parallels the burial of Achan under a large pile of rocks in Joshua 7:26. Similar patterns of disposing of defeated leaders appear in Joshua 8:29 and Joshua 10:27.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that military victory concludes in immediate, individual retreat rather than collective celebration. It requires the reader to observe how political rebellion ends in physical concealment and sudden dispersal.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
Cross-references
- Joshua 7:26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
- Joshua 8:29 He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.
- Joshua 10:27 At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.
- 2 Samuel 19:8 So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.
- 2 Samuel 20:1 Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
- 2 Samuel 20:22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
- Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
- Jeremiah 22:18 Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’