2 Samuel 18:16
ESV
Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
NIV
Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them.
NASB
Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
CSB
Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.
NLT
Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Israel.
KJV
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
NKJV
So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.
What does 2 Samuel 18:16 mean?
Absalom spent more time building his rebellion than he did rebelling. For four years, he met people at the gates of Jerusalem and manipulated them into thinking he would be a better king for them than David (2 Samuel 15:1–6). When he had enough support, he marched on Jerusalem, gathered an army, and hunted his father (2 Samuel 15:13–14; 16:1; 17:11–14, 24–26). The battle lasts one day and results in massive casualties (2 Samuel 18:7). Now, Absalom is dead, stabbed in the heart by David's military commander Joab (2 Samuel 18:14). This is despite David's command to treat Absalom gently (2 Samuel 18:5).When Absalom entered Jerusalem, he asked his counselor Ahithophel what he should do. Ahithophel wanted Absalom to be king, but he didn't want a civil war. He asked to take available men immediately to track David, kill him, and bring his servants back to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 17:1–4). This plan was disrupted when David's spy Hushai convinced Absalom to wait, gather a larger army, and lead the charge (2 Samuel 17:11–13).
Joab's military mind arrives at the same conclusion as Ahithophel: kill the enemy leader at the first opportunity (2 Samuel 18:14). respects Ahithophel's plan. Joab kills Absalom the first chance he gets (2 Samuel 18:14). With that act, the rebellion is over. Joab "blew" the trumpet, described using the same Hebrew root word used when he "thrust" the javelins into Absalom's heart (2 Samuel 18:14). Soldiers on both sides can withdraw. There's nothing more to fight for.
The war is won but Joab has a battle yet to fight. When David learns Absalom is dead, the king falls into great despair. Joab confronts him, telling him that by mourning his enemy in such a manner, he is dishonoring the sacrifices of his own soldiers. David accepts Joab's chastisement, encourages his troops, and starts the long work of rebuilding peace (2 Samuel 19:1–8).
