King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword.
Berean Standard Bible:
The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.
American Standard Version:
For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
For the battle{H4421} was there scattered{H6327} over the face{H6440} of all the country{H776}: and the wood{H3293} devoured{H398} more{H7235} people{H5971} that day{H3117} than the sword{H2719} devoured{H398}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 15:10
- Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Psalms 3:7
- Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Judges 5:20
- They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
Judges 5:21
- The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
Joshua 10:11
- And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, [and] were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: [they were] more which died with hailstones than [they] whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
Psalms 43:1
- ¶ Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
1 Kings 20:30
- But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and [there] a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men [that were] left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Samuel 18:8
2 Samuel 18:8 is a verse set within the context of a significant military conflict in the history of ancient Israel—the rebellion of Absalom against his father, King David. This rebellion is one of the pivotal narratives in the Books of Samuel, reflecting themes of family dysfunction, betrayal, and the consequences of sin within the royal household.
In this particular verse, the focus is on the tragic outcome of the battle between the forces loyal to King David and those who have sided with his son Absalom. The text describes a chaotic and widespread battle, indicating that the fighting was not confined to a specific location but was scattered across a vast area. The mention of the wood devouring more people than the sword is poignant and suggests that many of the casualties occurred as a result of the treacherous terrain. This could imply that soldiers were caught in dense forestland, leading to a higher number of deaths due to the environment (such as getting lost, falling, or being trapped) than from direct combat.
The verse captures the brutality and indiscriminate nature of war, where the landscape itself becomes an agent of death, contributing to the overall tragedy of civil conflict. It also foreshadows the personal grief that King David will soon experience upon hearing of Absalom's death, which will be one of the most emotionally wrenching moments in his life. The verse serves to underscore the destructive impact of the rebellion, not just on the combatants but also on the unity and fabric of Israelite society at the time.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4421
There are 308 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִלְחָמָה
Transliteration: milchâmâh
Pronunciation: mil-khaw-maw'
Description: from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior). - Strong's Number: H6327
There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פּוּץ
Transliteration: pûwts
Pronunciation: poots
Description: a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse); break (dash, shake) in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive, retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad. - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H3293
There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעַר
Transliteration: yaʻar
Pronunciation: yah'-ar
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure; a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees); (honey-) comb, forest, wood. - Strong's Number: H398
There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָכַל
Transliteration: ʼâkal
Pronunciation: aw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. - Strong's Number: H7235
There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבָה
Transliteration: râbâh
Pronunciation: raw-baw'
Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.