2 Samuel 18:8
ESV
The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
NIV
The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.
NASB
For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
CSB
The battle spread over the entire area, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
NLT
The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.
KJV
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.
NKJV
For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
What does 2 Samuel 18:8 mean?
It is God's will that David must oppose his own son in battle. It's part of God's curse for David's sin against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 12:10–12). But it's also God's will that David remain on the throne. Despite Absalom's larger force, David's experienced generals and loyal fighters easily rout them (2 Samuel 18:1, 7).The forest of Ephraim has rough terrain and mighty oak trees, making it perfect for guerrilla warfare. David has broken his army into small units that can draw Absalom's men into ambushes. God allows the forest to help, although the text doesn't say how the forest "devours" the men. Possibly the roots trip them, sending them tumbling, or rockslides break bones or bury bodies. Or the dark, dense forest may confuse them and lead them off cliffs. Casualties are very heavy. Even if the Hebrew word 'eleph is translated as "divisions," rather than "thousands," the losses are staggering. We're not told how many are lost on each side. But we are told that Absalom's forces are thoroughly beaten.
We learn details of how the forest contributes to one death. Absalom, riding his mule, tries to avoid Davids's troops. Riding under an oak tree, Absalom's head gets caught in a branch. This is usually attributed to his long, heavy hair (2 Samuel 14:25–26). The soldier who finds him will not take advantage of the traitor's precarious position; he heard David command that Absalom was to be spared (2 Samuel 18:5). But he will tell Joab (2 Samuel 18:2), and Joab is concerned with protecting David's reign, not his feelings. He will pierces Absalom in the heart, ending the war (2 Samuel 18:9–15).
