2 Samuel 18:14

Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak.

Then said {H559} Joab {H3097}, I may not tarry {H3176} thus with thee {H6440}. And he took {H3947} three {H7969} darts {H7626} in his hand {H3709}, and thrust {H8628} them through the heart {H3820} of Absalom {H53}, while he was yet alive {H2416} in the midst of the oak {H424}.

Yo'av said, "I can't waste time arguing with you!" He took three darts in his hand and rammed them through Avshalom's heart while he was still alive, hanging from the terebinth.

But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.

Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

Commentary

2 Samuel 18:14 describes the decisive and tragic moment when Absalom’s rebellion against his father, King David, was brought to a brutal end by Joab, David’s chief military commander. This verse highlights Joab's ruthless pragmatism in the face of a direct threat to the kingdom.

Context

This verse is set during the climactic battle between King David's forces and those of his rebellious son, Absalom. Despite David's explicit command to his generals, including Joab, to "deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom," Joab takes matters into his own hands. Absalom had become entangled by his hair in an oak tree, leaving him vulnerable. A soldier had reported Absalom's predicament to Joab but refused to strike him, fearing David's wrath. Joab, known for his cunning and unwavering loyalty to David's throne (though not always to David's personal wishes), saw Absalom's continued existence as a lingering danger to the stability of Israel. His action here is a stark contrast to David's compassionate plea, bringing a swift and definitive end to Absalom's ambitious, yet ill-fated, rebellion.

Key Themes

  • Consequences of Rebellion: Absalom's pursuit of power through treachery ultimately led to his violent demise, illustrating the severe consequences of defying established authority and natural order.
  • Military Pragmatism vs. Personal Mercy: Joab's action underscores the tension between military necessity and personal sentiment. While David desired mercy for his son, Joab prioritized the immediate and long-term security of the kingdom by eliminating the source of civil strife.
  • Tragic End: This verse marks the tragic conclusion of Absalom's life, a son who had once been a favored prince, but whose ambition consumed him. It sets the stage for David's profound grief, as seen later in 2 Samuel 18:33.
  • Decisive Leadership: Joab's character is highlighted as a leader willing to make unpopular but strategically necessary decisions to secure victory and peace, even if it meant defying the king's direct order.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "three darts." The Hebrew word for "darts" is shelaḥim (שְׁלָחִים), which generally refers to missiles or weapons that are thrown, such as javelins or spears. This indicates that Joab used formidable, piercing weapons to ensure Absalom's death, emphasizing the finality and brutality of the act. The phrase "thrust them through the heart" leaves no ambiguity about the fatal intent and immediate cause of death.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of rebellion and disloyalty. While the context is ancient warfare and monarchy, the underlying principles resonate: actions have consequences, and the pursuit of selfish ambition can lead to ruin. It also presents the difficult dilemmas leaders face, where the greater good or the survival of a system may sometimes demand harsh measures that conflict with personal feelings. For believers, it highlights the solemn truth that sowing discord and rebellion can lead to tragic outcomes, and that peace and order are often preserved through difficult, decisive actions.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 12:40 (2 votes)

    For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

  • 2 Samuel 18:5 (2 votes)

    And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

  • Judges 5:31 (2 votes)

    So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but [let] them that love him [be] as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

  • 2 Samuel 14:30 (2 votes)

    Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

  • Psalms 45:5 (2 votes)

    Thine arrows [are] sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; [whereby] the people fall under thee.

  • Judges 5:26 (2 votes)

    She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

  • Judges 4:21 (2 votes)

    Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.