2 Samuel 18:17
ESV
And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
NIV
They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
NASB
And they took Absalom and threw him into a deep pit in the forest, and erected over him a very large pile of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
CSB
They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and raised up a huge mound of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
NLT
They threw Absalom’s body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it. And all Israel fled to their homes.
KJV
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.
NKJV
And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.
What does 2 Samuel 18:17 mean?
The war between Israel under the leadership of rebellious prince Absalom, against David's loyal servants, is over. David's general Joab killed Absalom with javelins while the traitor dangled by his head from a tree branch (2 Samuel 18:14). Hanging on a tree is a disgrace God orchestrated to illustrate Absalom's dishonor (Joshua 10:26). Leaving him overnight would place God's curse on him (Deuteronomy 21:22–23). Joab doesn't want to add insult to injury, so he takes down Absalom's body. He doesn't carry him to Jerusalem, to be buried in David's family tomb. He buries him in a pit in the forest with a pile of stones as a monument.This isn't Absalom's only monument. Although he had sons at one time, they seem to have died (2 Samuel 14:27). With no genetic legacy, Absalom had set up a pillar in his name in the King's Valley—probably the Kidron or Hinnom Valley. But the true monument for the traitorous king is a pile of rocks in a dangerous forest.
With Absalom's threat and body taken care of, Joab has a new problem. Someone needs to tell King David that, despite his own command, his son is dead (2 Samuel 18:5). The soldier who refused to kill Absalom understood this news will not please the king (2 Samuel 18:12–13). Ahimaaz, the son of the priest Zadok, and an unnamed Cushite soldier aren't as astute. Joab warns them, but when they insist, he lets them race to give the king the news (2 Samuel 18:19–23).
