2 Samuel 18:18
ESV
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King 's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom 's monument to this day.
NIV
During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, "I have no son to carry on the memory of my name." He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
NASB
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, 'I have no son to continue my name.' So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
CSB
When he was alive, Absalom had taken a pillar and raised it up for himself in the King’s Valley, since he thought, "I have no son to preserve the memory of my name." So he named the pillar after himself. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.
NLT
During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, 'I have no son to carry on my name.' He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.
KJV
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
NKJV
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.
What does 2 Samuel 18:18 mean?
Absalom is dead, killed by Joab (2 Samuel 18:14). Joab and his men bury Absalom's body in a deep pit and cover it with a mound of stones (2 Samuel 18:17). They will not take his body to Jerusalem to rest in his family tomb. They will not hold a ceremony of remembrance or hire public mourners. Their only courtesy is removing him from the tree he got caught on and not leaving him for the birds.Absalom does, however, have a monument near Jerusalem: probably either in the Kidron or Hinnom Valley. The reason he built it is confusing. When Absalom lived in Jerusalem, safe but estranged from his father, he had three sons and one daughter (2 Samuel 14:27). Apparently, the sons have died, but their deaths aren't recorded.
Since the first time the people begged Samuel for a king, God has made it extraordinarily clear that He alone is responsible for determining who will lead His people. He hand-chose Saul (1 Samuel 10:1). When Saul sinned, He hand-chose David (1 Samuel 16:12). David had 19 sons just from his wives (1 Chronicles 3:1–9). But God chose Solomon to succeed David (1 Chronicles 28:5–7). Some of Solomon's brothers refused to accept God's word. First, Absalom rebelled against David. Next, as David lies dying, Adonijah will convince Joab and the priest Abiathar to support him as king (1 Kings 1:7).
So it may be, even in the nation of God's people, in the family led by a man after God's own heart, that God had to clear the way for His chosen son of David to be king. It's possible that God removed his protection from Absalom's sons so they would not be rivals to Solomon. Jonathan, the rightful crowned prince, was willing to lay down his life to make sure his friend, God's anointed, became king (1 Samuel 20:14–17). It's ironic that David's sons couldn't do the same.
