King Dauid disposeth his armie in three partes, geuing special charge to saue Absalom aliue. 9. VVhom neuertheles (hanging by the heares of his head in an oke) Ioab killeth: 16. and saueth the common people. 19. VVhich Dauid vnderstanding greatly bewayleth Absalom.
1And David, having reviewed his people, appointed over them captains of thousands and of hundreds,Davidde adunque, fatta la rassegna della sua gente, elesse tribuni, e centurioni, che la comandassero.DAVID therfore hauing viewed his people, appointed ouer them tribunes & centurions,Igitur considerato David populo suo, constituit super eos tribunos et centuriones, 2And sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abisai the son of Sarvia Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and the king said to the people: I also will go forth with you.E diede il comando di un terzo de' soldati a Gioab e di un terzo ad Abisai figliuolo di Sarvia fratello di Gioab, e dell'altro terzo ad Ethai che era di Geth: e il re disse a' suoi: Verrò io pure con voi.and gaue the third part of the people vnder the hand of Ioab, and the third part vnder the hand of Abisai the sonne of Seruia the brother of Ioab, and the third part vnder the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and the king said to the people: I also wil goe forth with you.et dedit populi tertiam partem sub manu Joab, et tertiam partem sub manu Abisai filii Sarviæ fratris Joab, et tertiam partem sub manu Ethai, qui erat de Geth. Dixitque rex ad populum: Egrediar et ego vobiscum. 3And the people answered: Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not much mind us: or if half of us should fall, they will not greatly care: for thou alone art accounted for ten thousand: it is better therefore that thou shouldst be in the city to succour us.E quelli risposero: Tu non dei venire: perocché quando noi fossimo messi in fuga, non sarà per quelli un gran vantaggio; e quando perisse la metà di noi quelli non faranno gran caso: perocché tu solo conti per dieci mila. È meglio adunque che tu ci dia ajuto dalla città.And the people answered: Thou shalt not goe forth: for whether we shal flee, it wil be no great importance to them of vs: or whether the halfe part of vs shal fal, they wil not greatly care: because thou alone art accounted for ten thousandes: it is better therefore that thou be in the citie to ayde vs.Et respondit populus: Non exibis: sive enim fugerimus, non magnopere ad eos de nobis pertinebit: sive media pars ceciderit e nobis, non satis curabunt, quia tu unus pro decem millibus computaris: melius est igitur ut sis nobis in urbe præsidio. 4And the king said to them: What seemeth good to you, that will I do. And the king stood by the gate: and all the people went forth by their troops, by hundreds and by thousands.Disse loro il re: Io farò quello che voi credete opportuno. Il re adunque fermossi alla porta; e i soldati uscivano a schiere di cento, e di mille uomini.To whom the king said: What seemeth good to you, that wil I doe. The king therfore stoode beside the gate: and al the people went forth by their troupes, by hundredes and by thousandes.Ad quos rex ait: Quod vobis videtur rectum, hoc faciam. Stetit ergo rex juxta portam: egrediebaturque populus per turmas suas centeni et milleni.
5And the king commanded Joab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Save me the boy Absalom. And all the people heard the king giving charge to all the princes concerning Absalom.E diede il re quest'ordine a Gioab, ad Abisai, ad Ethai, e disse: Salvatemi il figliuolo Assalonne. E tutto il popolo udì, come il re raccomandava Assalonne a tutti i capi.And the King commanded Ioab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Saue me the child Absalom. And al the people heard the King commanding al the princes for Absalom.Et præcepit rex Joab, et Abisai, et Ethai, dicens: Servate mihi puerum Absalom. Et omnis populus audiebat præcipientem regem cunctis principibus pro Absalom. 6So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.Uscì pertanto in campagna l'esercito contro Israele, e seguì la battaglia nel bosco di Ephraim:The people therfore went out into the filde against Israel, & the battel was fought in the forest of Ephraim.Itaque egressus est populus in campum contra Israël, et factum est prælium in saltu Ephraim. 7And the people of Israel were defeated there by David’s army, and a great slaughter was made that day of twenty thousand men.E ivi il popolo d'Israele fu sconfitto dall'esercito di Davidde, e grande strage fu in quel giorno di venti mila uomini.And the people of Israel was slayne there of Dauids armie, and there was made a great slaughter in that day, of twentie thousand.Et cæsus est ibi populus Israël ab exercitu David, factaque est plaga magna in die illa, viginti millium. 8And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the country, and there were many more of the people whom the forest consumed, than whom the sword devoured that day.E i combattenti si azzuffarono rottamente chi qua, chi là per tutto quel tratto, e molti più furono quelli del popolo, che in fuggendo periron pel bosco, che quelli che furon trucidati dalla spada in quel giorno:And the battel there was dispersed vpon the face of al the earth, and there were manie moe, whom the forest had consumed of the people, then they whom the sword deuoured in that day.Fuit autem ibi prælium dispersum super faciem omnis terræ, et multo plures erant quos saltus consumpserat de populo, quam hi quos voraverat gladius in die illa. 9And it happened that Absalom met the servants of David, riding on a mule: and as the mule went under a thick and large oak, his head stuck in the oak: and while he hung between the heaven and the earth, the mule on which he rode passed on.Or egli avvenne, che s'imbattè nei soldati di David Assalonne, che cavalcava un mulo: e il mulo venendo a passare sotto una quercia grande, e molto fronzuta, il capo di lui rimase appiccato alla quercia; e restando egli appeso tra cielo e terra, il mulo che ei cavalcava, tirò avanti.And it chanced that Absalom mette the seruantes of Dauid, sitting on a mule: and when the mule was gone in vnder a thicke oke and a great, his head stucke to the oke: and he hanging betwen heauen and earth, the mule that he rode vpon passed through.Accidit autem ut occurreret Absalom servis David, sedens mulo: cumque ingressus fuisset mulus subter condensam quercum et magnam, adhæsit caput ejus quercui: et illo suspenso inter cælum et terram, mulus cui insederat, pertransivit.
10And one saw this and told Joab, saying: I saw Absalom hanging upon an oak.E vi fu, chi l'osservò, e ne diede parte a Gioab, dicendo: Ho veduto Assalonne appeso ad una quercia.And one sawe this & told Ioab: saying: I saw Absolom hang vpon an oke.Vidit autem hoc quispiam, et nuntiavit Joab, dicens: Vidi Absalom pendere de quercu. 11And Joab said to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why didst thou not stab him to the ground, and I would have given thee ten sicles of silver, and a belt?E Gioab disse a colui, che gli dava tal nuova: Se l'hai veduto, perchè non lo hai tu conficcato in terra, e io ti avrei dato dieci sicli di argento, e una bandoliera?And Ioab sayd to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why didst thou not nayle him to the earth, and I had geuen thee ten sicles of siluer, and one belt?Et ait Joab viro qui nuntiaverat ei: Si vidisti, quare non confodisti eum cum terra, et ego dedissem tibi decem argenti siclos, et unum balteum ? 12And he said to Joab: If thou wouldst have paid down in my hands a thousand pieces of silver, I would not lay my hands upon the king’s son for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Save me the boy Absalom.E quegli rispose a Gioab: Quando mi avessi messo in mano mille monete d'argento, non avrei stesa la mano contro il figliuolo del re: mentre udimmo ben noi come il re ordinò, e disse a te, ad Abisai, e ad Ethai: Conservatemi il figliuolo Assalonne.Who sayd to Ioab: If thou wouldest pay downe in my handes a thousand peeces of siluer, I would not lay my handes vpon the kinges sonne: for in our hearing the king commanded thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Keepe me the child Absalom.Qui dixit ad Joab: Si appenderes in manibus meis mille argenteos, nequaquam mitterem manum meam in filium regis: audientibus enim nobis præcepit rex tibi, et Abisai, et Ethai, dicens: Custodite mihi puerum Absalom. 13Yea and if I should have acted boldly against my own life, this could not have been hid from the king, and wouldst thou have stood by me?E se io avessi ardito di tradire l'anima mia, non avrebbe potuto restare ascosa al re simil cosa; e mi avresti tu forse difeso?Yea and if I had done agaynst my life boldly, this could not haue beene hid from the king, and thou wouldest haue stand agaynst it?Sed etsi fecissem contra animam meam audacter, nequaquam hoc regem latere potuisset, et tu stares ex adverso ? 14And Joab said: Not as thou wilt, but I will set upon him in thy sight. So he took three lances in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom: and whilst he yet panted for life, sticking on the oak,Ma Gioab disse: Non sarà come vuoi tu: anzi io lo trafiggerò in tua presenza. Prese egli adunque in mano tre dardi, e gl'immerse nel petto di Assalonne: e mentre quegli appiccato alla quercia tuttor palpitava,And Ioab sayd: Not as thou wilt, but I wil set vpon him before thee. He tooke therefore three lances in his hand, and thrust them in the hart of Absalom: and when as yet he panted for life sticking on the oke,Et ait Joab: Non sicut tu vis, sed aggrediar eum coram te. Tulit ergo tres lanceas in manu sua, et infixit eas in corde Absalom: cumque adhuc palpitaret hærens in quercu, 15Ten young men, armourbearers of Joab, ran up, and striking him slew him.Corsero dieci giovani scudieri di Gioab, e co' loro colpi lo finirono.there ranne ten yong men the squyers of Ioab, and striking they killed him.cucurrerunt decem juvenes armigeri Joab, et percutientes interfecerunt eum.
16And Joab sounded the trumpet, and kept back the people from pursuing after Israel in their flight, being willing to spare the multitude.E Gioab fece suonare la sua tromba, e contenne il popolo dall'inseguire i fuggitivi, risparmiar volendo la moltitudine.And Ioab sounded the trumpet, and stayed the people, that they should not pursew Israel fleeing, willing to spare the multitude.Cecinit autem Joab buccina, et retinuit populum, ne persequeretur fugientem Israël, volens parcere multitudini. 17And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and they laid an exceeding great heap of stones upon him: but all Israel fled to their own dwellings.E presero Assalonne, e lo gettarono nel bosco in una buca grande; e lo gettarono nel bosco in una buca grande; e gettaron sopra di lui una massa altissima di pietre: e tutto Israele se ne fuggì alle sue tende.And they tooke Absalom, and cast him in the forrest, into a great pitte, and they heaped vpon him an exceding great heape of stones: but al Israel fled into their tabernacles.Et tulerunt Absalom, et projecerunt eum in saltu, in foveam grandem, et comportaverunt super eum acervum lapidum magnum nimis: omnis autem Israël fugit in tabernacula sua. 18Now Absalom had reared up for himself, in his lifetime, a pillar, which is in the king’s valley: for he said: I have no son, and this shall be the monument of my name. And he called the pillar by his own name, and it is called the hand of Absalom, to this day.Or Assalonne si era eretto, mentre era in vita, un monumento nella valle del re: perocché diceva: Io non ho un figliuolo: lascerò questa memoria del nome mio. E diede a quel monumento il suo nome, e si chiama fino al dì d'oggi la Mano di Assalonne.Moreouer Absalom had erected to himself, whiles he yet liued, a title which is in the kinges Valley: for he said: I haue no sonne, and this shal be a monument of my name. And he called the title by his name, and it is called The hand of Absalom, vntil this present day.Porro Absalom erexerat sibi, cum adhuc viveret, titulum qui est in Valle regis: dixerat enim: Non habeo filium, et hoc erit monimentum nominis mei. Vocavitque titulum nomine suo, et appellatur Manus Absalom, usque ad hanc diem. 19And Achimaas the son of Sadoc said: I will run and tell the king, that the Lord hath done judgment for him from the hand of his enemies.Or Achimaas figliuolo di Sadoc disse: Correrò a recare a Davidde la nuova, come il Signore ha fatta a lui giustizia contro i suoi nemici.And Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said: I wil runne, and tel the king, that our Lord hath done him iudgement of the hand of his enemies.Achimaas autem filius Sadoc, ait: Curram, et nuntiabo regi quia judicium fecerit ei Dominus de manu inimicorum ejus.
20And Joab said to him: Thou shalt not be the messenger this day, but shalt bear tidings another day: this day I will not have thee bear tidings, because the king’s son is dead.Ma Gioab disse a lui: Non porterai le nuove oggi, ma un'altra volta: oggi non voglio, che porti le nuove tu, perchè il figliuolo del re è morto.To whom Ioab said: Thou shalt not be messenger this day, but thou shalt carie the message an other day: to day I wil not haue thee carie the message, for the kinges sonne is dead.Ad quem Joab dixit: Non eris nuntius in hac die, sed nuntiabis in alia: hodie nolo te nuntiare: filius enim regis est mortuus. 21And Joab said to Chusai: Go, and tell the king what thou hast seen. Chusai bowed down to Joab, and ran.E disse Gioab a Chusi: Va, e riferisci al re quello che hai veduto. Chusi s'inchinò a Gioab, e corse via.And Ioab said to Chusai: Goe, and tel the king what thou hast seene. Chusai adored Ioab, and ranne.Et ait Joab Chusi: Vade, et nuntia regi quæ vidisti. Adoravit Chusi Joab, et cucurrit. 22Then Achimaas the son of Sadoc said to Joab again: Why might not I also run after Chusai? And Joab said to him: Why wilt thou run, my son? thou wilt not be the bearer of good tidings.Ma Achimaas figliuolo di Sadoc disse dipoi a Gioab: Che mal sarà egli, se io pure correrò dietro a Chusi? E Gioab gli disse: Perchè vuoi tu, figliuol mio, far questa corsa? tu non saresti apportatore di grata novella.And againe Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said to Ioab: What letteth if I also runne after Chusai? And Ioab sayd to him: Why wilt thou runne my sonne? thou shalt not be caryer of good tydinges.Rursus autem Achimaas filius Sadoc dixit ad Joab: Quid impedit si etiam ego curram post Chusi ? Dixitque ei Joab: Quid vis currere, fili mi ? non eris boni nuntii bajulus. 23He answered: But what if I run? And he said to him: Run. Then Achimaas running by a nearer way passed Chusai.E quegli rispose: E se io facessi questa corsa? E Gioab gli disse: Corri. Allora Achimaas, presa una scorciatoja, trapassò Chusi.Who answered: But what if I runne? And he said to him: Runne. Achimaas therfore running a nere way out went Chusai.Qui respondit: Quid enim si cucurrero ? Et ait ei: Curre. Currens ergo Achimaas per viam compendii, transivit Chusi. 24And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman that was on the top of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.Or Davidde stava sedendo tra le due porte: e una sentinella, che stava in cima alla porta sulla muraglia, alzati gli occhi, vide un uomo solo che correva;And Dauid sate betwen the two gates: and the watchman that was in the toope of the gate vpon the wal, lifting vp his eies, saw a man running alone.David autem sedebat inter duas portas: speculator vero, qui erat in fastigio portæ super murum, elevans oculos, vidit hominem currentem solum.
25And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be alone, there are good tidings in his mouth. And as he was coming apace, and drawing nearer,E alzò la voce per dirlo al re, e il re disse: Se egli è solo, reca buona novella: ma quegli venendo in tutta fretta, e avvicinandosi di più,And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be alone, there are good tydinges in his mouth. And he making hast, and coming neerer,Et exclamans indicavit regi: dixitque rex: Si solus est, bonus est nuntius in ore ejus. Properante autem illo, et accedente propius, 26The watchman saw another man running, and crying aloud from above, he said: I see another man running alone. And the king said: He also is a good messenger.La sentinella vide un altr'uomo, che correva, e gridando da alto disse: Comparisce un altr'uomo, che corre, ed è solo. E il re disse: Anche questo porta buone nuove.the watchman saw an other man running, and crying alowde in the toppe, he said: There appeareth vnto me an other man running alone. And the king said: And this is a good messenger.vidit speculator hominem alterum currentem, et vociferans in culmine, ait: Apparet mihi alter homo currens solus. Dixitque rex: Et iste bonus est nuntius. 27And the watchman said: The running of the foremost seemeth to me like the running of Achimaas the son of Sadoc. And the king said: He is a good man: and cometh with good news.E la sentinella disse: Se bado alla maniera di correre del primo, mi sembra ch'ei sia Achimaas figliuolo di Sadoc. E il re disse: Egli è uomo dabbene, e viene a portare buone nuove.And the watchman, I behold, said he, the running of the former, as it were the running of Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc. And the king said: He is a good man: and cometh bringing good newes.Speculator autem: Contemplor, ait, cursum prioris, quasi cursum Achimaas filii Sadoc. Et ait rex: Vir bonus est, et nuntium portans bonum venit. 28And Achimaas crying out, said to the king: God save thee, O king. And falling down before the king with his face to the ground, he said: Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath shut up the men that have lifted up their hands against the lord my king.E Achimaas gridò, e disse al re: Dio ti salvi, o re: e prostratosi per terra dinanzi a lui, lo adorò e disse: Benedetto il Signore Dio tuo, il quale ha messi alle strette coloro, che alzaron le mani contro il re mio signore.And Achimaas crying, sayd to the king: God saue thee ô king. And adoring the king before him flatte to the earth, he said: Blessed be our Lord thy God, who hath shut vp the men that haue lifted vp their handes against my lord the king.Clamans autem Achimaas, dixit ad regem: Salve rex. Et adorans regem coram eo pronus in terram, ait: Benedictus Dominus Deus tuus, qui conclusit homines qui levaverunt manus suas contra dominum meum regem.
29And the king said: Is the young man Absalom safe? And Achimaas said: I saw a great tumult, O king, when thy servant Joab sent me thy servant: I know nothing else.E disse il re: È egli salvo il figliuolo Assalonne? E Achimaas disse: Io vidi un grande scompiglio quando Gioab tuo servo, o re, spediva me tuo servo: altra cosa io non so.And the king said: Is the child Absalom safe? And Achimaas sayd? I saw a great tumult, when thy seruant Ioab sent, ô king, me thy seruant: other thing I know not.Et ait rex: Estne pax puero Absalom ? Dixitque Achimaas: Vidi tumultum magnum cum mitteret Joab servus tuus, o rex, me servum tuum: nescio aliud. 30And the king said to him: Pass, and stand here.E il re a lui: Avanzati, e posati qui. E quando quegli si fu avanzato al suo posto,To whom the king, Passe, sayd he, and stand here.Ad quem rex: Transi, ait, et sta hic. Cumque ille transisset, et staret, 31And when he had passed, and stood still, Chusai appeared and coming up he said: I bring good tidings, my lord, the king, for the Lord hath judged for thee this day from the hand of all that have risen up against thee.Comparve Chusi, e in arrivando disse: Buone nuove io ti porto, o re mio signore: perocché oggi il Signore ha sentenziato in tuo favore liberandoti dalle mani di quelli che si son ribellati.And when he had passed, and stood, Chusai appeared: and coming he sayd: I bring good tydinges my lord king: for our Lord hath iudged for thee this day of the hand of al that haue rysen against thee.apparuit Chusi: et veniens ait: Bonum apporto nuntium, domine mi rex: judicavit enim pro te Dominus hodie de manu omnium qui surrexerunt contra te. 32And the king said to Chusai: Is the young man Absalom safe? And Chusai answering him, said: Let the enemies of my lord, the king, and all that rise against him unto evil, be as the young man is.Ma il re disse a Chusi: È egli salvo il figliuolo Assalonne? Rispose a lui Chusi: Sia come di quel figliuolo, così di tutti i nemici del re mio signore, e di tutti quelli che si ribellano contro di lui per nuocergli.And the king sayd to Chusai: Is the child Absalom safe? To whom Chusai answering, sayd: Let the enemies of my lord the king become, as the child, and al that ryse against him vnto euil.Dixit autem rex ad Chusi: Estne pax puero Absalom ? Cui respondens Chusi: Fiant, inquit, sicut puer, inimici domini mei regis, et universi qui consurgunt adversus eum in malum. 33The king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom.Allora il re pieno di dolore salì alla camera, che era sopra la porta, e pianse, e nell'andare diceva: Assalonne figliuol mio, Assalonne figliuol mio! Chi mi concederà, che io muoja per te, Assalonne figliuol mio, figliuol mio Assalonne?The king therfore being made sorie, went vp into the high chamber of the gate, and wept. And thus he spake, going: My sonne Absalom, Absalom my sonne: who would graunt me that I might die for thee, Absalom my sonne, my sonne Absalom.Contristatus itaque rex, ascendit cœnaculum portæ, et flevit. Et sic loquebatur, vadens: Fili mi Absalom, Absalom fili mi: quis mihi tribuat ut ego moriar pro te, Absalom fili mi, fili mi Absalom ?
18:1
Year of the World 2981, Year before Christ 1023.
Calmet
Hundreds. Josephus only allows David 4000 men. But his army seems to have been pretty numerous, since he divides it into three parts, and appoints three head commanders, with officers of a thousand, etc., under them. See ver. 4. (Calmet)
Salien
He designed to lead them to battle himself, if the people had not dissuaded him. (Salien)
18:3
Calmet
Ten thousand, "like us." (Hebrew) (Calmet)
Menochius
Succour us, "by praying for us." (Chaldean) or by sending reinforcements, where they may be necessary. (Menochius)
Tacitus
David was persuaded "to reserve himself (like Otho) for the interest of the state, at a distance from the danger of battle." (Tacitus, An. ii.)
18:5
Menochius
Save me: do not hurt, ver. 12. St. Augustine (Doct. 3:23.) concludes, that David wished to allow his son time for repentance. (Menochius)
Abulensis
He seems to have been sure of victory. (Abulensis)
18:6
Calmet
Ephraim, where the men of that tribe had formerly signalized themselves, Judges vii., and viii., and xii. (Calmet)
18:8
Haydock
Country; people fighting in great numbers. But the army of Absalom was soon dispersed. (Haydock)
Haydock
Consumed, viz., by pits and precipices: (Challoner) "wild beasts." (Syriac, etc.) Many also died of their wounds, and were slain in the wood; (Calmet) so that not less, probably, than 50,000 perished on this fatal day. (Haydock)
18:9
Calmet
Oak, between the branches, which hindered him from escaping. (Calmet)
Menochius
His beautiful curls got also entangled. (Menochius)
18:11
Haydock
Silver, somewhat above a guinea: sicles are not expressed in Hebrew. (Haydock)
Claud
Belt, the richest part of armour. Jonathan and Ajax made presents of their belts to David and Hector, 1 Kings 18:4. (Homer, Iliad H.) See Job 13:18. The Romans wore very splendid belts. Balteus et notis fulserunt cingula bullis. (Claud., Proserp. ii.)
18:12
Save. Protestants, "beware that none touch the young man."
18:13
Haydock
My own. Some copies of the Hebrew and Septuagint read, "his;" others, my, etc. The soldier would have acted against his conscience, and exposed his life to danger, if he had transgressed the king's order. (Haydock)
Calmet
By me? or, omitting the mark of interrogation, "Thou wouldst have declared thyself against me." (Calmet)
18:14
Haydock
Sight. Hebrew, "I will not tarry thus with thee." I will not stand to refute these reasons, nor imitate thy example. (Haydock)
18:15
Calmet
Ten. Naharai alone is specified, 2 Kings 23:37. Why he had ten does not appear. (Calmet)
Haydock
Slew him, inflicting many wounds on him; though Joab had already done sufficient. (Haydock)
Salien
These men abused his corpse, as if to revenge the insult offered to David's ten wives. (Salien)
Haydock
It is asked whether Joab did wrong? He consulted the public welfare, rather than the parental affection of the king for a son, whom the law condemned to die for rebellion, incest, and murder, Leviticus 18:29., and 2 Kings 13:28. But still he was not a proper judge to inflict this death in cold blood; and thus to render the salvation of Absalom's soul more desperate. David would, however, have done well to have punished this son, as incorrigible and dangerous to the state. (Haydock)
18:17
Menochius
Him. Thus was the law executed upon Absalom, Deuteronomy 21:18. (St. Jerome) (Menochius)
Calmet
History scarcely affords a more detestable character; and his punishment was no less terrible than instructive. He was a figure of the Jews persecuting Jesus Christ, while he gave his blood for the redemption of these his enemies, and prayed for them. As they continued obdurate, they were held up as objects of horror both to heaven and to all nations, like Absalom suspended on the tree, and rejected by heaven and earth. (Calmet)
18:18
Josephus
No son. The sons mentioned above, 2 Kings 14:27, were dead when this pillar was erected; unless we suppose he raised this pillar before they were born: (Challoner) or meant this pillar to perpetuate his memory, when they should be no more. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] 7:9.)
This author says that it was a pillar of marble; so that it is different from that which Doubdan (15) mentions, observing , that all who pass throw a stone at it. Thus was his vanity chastised!
Menochius
Hand, work. So Martial (VIII. 51.) says of a vial! Mentoris haec manus est an, Polyclete, tua? (Menochius)
G.[Calmet?]
The same word is translated, triumphal arch, 1 Kings 15:12. (G.[Calmet?])
18:21
Grotius
Chusi: perhaps, of Ethiopian extraction. (Grotius)
18:22
Calmet
Tidings. People of reputation did not wish to perform this office, 3 Kings 2:42. Hebrew, "these tidings will bring thee nothing;" or, "do not suit thee." (Calmet)
Haydock
Protestants, "seeing thou hast no tidings ready?" (Haydock)
18:24
Two gates, one leading into the town, the other into the country. In the middle was a chamber for public meetings, and another above, Job 29:7. On the roof a guard was stationed on this occasion.
18:25
Calmet
Mouth. If the army had been routed, all would have been in confusion. (Calmet)
Menochius
Now they are employed in plundering the vanquished. (Menochius)
18:28
Haydock
Shut up; frustrated the attempts of the enemy, and consigned many to the grave. (Haydock)
18:29
Calmet
Else. This was false, ver. 20. (Calmet)
Haydock
But he wished not to communicate the bad news; for which reason he had got first to the king. (Haydock)
18:32
Haydock
Is. This was as much as to tell plainly that he was dead, (Menochius) or at least, a prisoner. But David understood him right. (Haydock)
18:33
Menochius
Wept, in private. (Menochius)
Would. David lamented the death of Absalom, because of the wretched state in which he died; and therefore would have been glad to have saved his life, even by dying for him. In this he was a figure of Christ weeping, praying, and dying for his rebellious children, and even for them that crucified him. (Challoner; St. Ambrose (de Ob. Valent.); Theodoret, q. 35.)
Calmet
David had presently ceased to weep for the son of Bethsabee, because he had reason to hope that he was saved. (Calmet)
18:8
Consumed.... Viz., by pits and precipices.
18:18
No son.... The sons mentioned above, chap. 14.27, were dead when this pillar was erected: unless we suppose he raised this pillar before they were born.
18:33
Would to God.... David lamented the death of Absalom, because of the wretched state in which he died: and therefore would have been glad to have saved his life, even by dying for him. In which he was a figure of Christ weeping, praying and dying for his rebellious children, and even for them that crucified him.
18:5
Dauid moued with compassion towardes his sonne Absalom, being in actual rebellion against him presigured Christs cōpassion, towards his persecuters, being his creatures, praying for them in his passion. S. Ambrose in Psal. •18. v. 108.
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Al his sonnes being •ea•, ••t he had once three sonnes & a daughter. chap. 14. v. 〈◊〉.
18:5
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 2.22
… But whilst that delay took place, which the prophet, being prudent above all, thought ought to intervene, they could no longer hold out or bear it. Then David having no doubt about the victory commended his son to those who went out to fight, so that they should spare him.
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sant'Ignazio di Antiochia † 108 d.C. Epistle to the Magnesians: Shorter and Longer Versions 3
… For Dathan and Abiram did not speak against the law, but against Moses, and were cast down alive into Hades. Korah also, and the two hundred and fifty who conspired with him against Aaron, were destroyed by fire. Absalom, again,
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus 2.25
25. Holy David lost two sons; the one incestuous, the other a parricide.
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sant'Atanasio di Alessandria † 373 d.C. Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.) 16
… For having seen that there has been much rain in the regions of Ethiopia, and knowing that they are the cause of the flood of the river before the water has come to Egypt they run on and announce it. And this men could have told, if they had as great power of running as the demons. And as David’s spy
18:33
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Decease of His Brother Satyrus 2.28
28. But that same David, that the difference of his actions may not perhaps disturb those who cling to the words of Scripture; that same David, I say, who had not wept for the innocent infant, wept for the parricide when dead. For at the last, when he was wailing and mourning, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! Who will grant me to die for thee!”
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. Concerning Repentance 2.11
… Wherefore holy David says to all: “Come, let us worship and fall down before Him, and mourn before our Lord Who made us.” But for a sinner who has died without repentance, because nothing remains but to mourn grievously and to weep, you find him groaning and saying: “O my son Absalom! my son Absalom!”
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 29
… Such ought a ruler to be and to grieve rather at the calamities of others than his own. Some such thing he suffered in his son’s case likewise, that you might see that he did not love his son more than his subjects, and yet the youth was unchaste, and an ill-user of his father ( πατραλοίας ), and still he said, “Would that I might have died for thee!” (
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 39.4
4. Why should I not mourn, you say? Jacob put on sackcloth for Joseph, and when all his family gathered round him, refused to be comforted. “I will go down,” he said, “into the grave unto my son mourning.” David also mourned for Absalom, covering his face, and crying: “O my son, Absalom…my son, Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son!”
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Expositions on the Book of Psalms 3.1
… or in the history of the New Testament, when Judas was the betrayer of our Lord; how “father’s peace” can be understood. But both in the former place they who read carefully, see that David in that war was at peace with his son, who even with sore grief lamented his death, saying, “O Absalom, my son, would God I had died for thee!”
18:5
Vers. 5. SERVATE MIHI PUERUM ABSALOM. — Certat hic Davidis pietas paterna cum impietate hostili Absalomi, in flagranti parricidali ejus scelere et prælio. Audi S. Chrysostomum, hom. De Absalom, tom. I: Inde dementia contra genitorem exsurgit, hinc clementia, ut parricidæ parcatur, exposcit. Inde furor, hinc pietas operatur. Inde insania, hinc misericordia interponitur. Inde crudelitas, hinc bonitas ostentatur. Parricida non læsus insanit, David læditur et mitescit, Debellatur ab impietate pietas, nec movetur pietas patris, nec gladio vincitur, nec terrore mutatur. Parricida nec ratione frangitur, nec imminenti interitu deterretur.
18:6
Vers. 6. Et factum est prælium in saltu Ephraim. — Saltus hic non erat in tribu Ephraim, hæc enim habitabat cis Jordanem; exercitus autem uterque transierat Jordanem in Galaaditern, uti dictum est cap. præced. vers. 2, 4. Erat ergo hic saltus trans Jordanem, in tribu Gad juxta urbem Mahanaim, in quam se receperat David, non longe a mari Galilæe: vide Adrichomii tabulas geographicas. Dictus est «Ephraim» ab aliquo eventu, sive quod esset oppositus tribui Ephraim, sive quod tribus hæc eo pabulatum mitteret sua pecora, sive quod prælium aliquod in eo commisisset. Ita Abulensis, Vatablus et alii.
18:8
Vers. 8. ET MULTO PLURES ERANT, QUOS SALTUS CONSUMPSERAT. — «Saltus,» id est feræ saltus: puta leones, lupi, tigrides in saltu latitantes, quod arguit divinam hanc fuisse vindictam, ait S. Hieronymus, Cajetanus, Angelomus. Rursum «saltus,» id est præcipitia et fossæ saltus occultæ, in quas corruerunt fugientes. Ita Abulensis, Vatablus et alii.
18:9
Vers. 9. ADHÆSIT CAPUT EJUS QUERCUI. — Septuaginta, implicatum est caput ejus in arbore; Chaldæus, et apprehensum est caput ejus in quercu; Vatablus, detentum est caput ejus a quercu; Hebræus, adhæsit casaries ejus in ramis perplexis quercus. Densi ergo et promissi capilli Absalomi, densis et implexis ramis quercus impliciti adhæserunt. Per crines ergo, in quibus gloriatus erat Absalom, punitur et suspenditur. Ita Abulensis et Josephus. Addit Cajetanus caput ejus detentum fuisse inter duos ramos, nimirum capite plectitur, qui illud superbe contra patrem efferre voluerat. Audi S. Chrysostomum, hom. De Absalom, tom. I: Inscritur ramis, obligatur lignis, transfixo gutture colligatus. Pendens jam mortuus ab hominibus invenitur, quem jam nec cœlum potuit conspicere vivum, nec terra ulterius sustinere. O nefandum meritum parricidæ! Injuriam patris, non pugnantis gladius, non hostilis manus, non jaculantis ictus defendit, sed vindicant ligna, arbor ulciscitur, rami defendunt. ET ILLO SUSPENSO INTER CŒLUM ET TERRAM, MULUS, CUI INSEDERAT, PERTRANSIVIT. — Septuaginta, et suspensus est in arbore inter cælum et terram, etc. Sic et Chaldæus. Adverte hic supplicium justa Dei vindicta sceleri Absalomi per omnia commensum: patris solium affectavit; thronus ei datur patibulum. Diademate coronari ambivit, en corona ejus fuit coma capitis arbori implexa. Sceptrum optavit, en sibi lanceæ tres pro triplici sceptro quibus confoditur. Satellitium regium concupivit, idipsum ei præstant armigeri Joab. Supplicium ergo ei versum est in sepulcrum et criminis epitaphium. Audi Chrysostomum, hom. in Psalm.: «Absalom Davidem aggressus est, occisus a Joab, et in alto ligno suspensus est, qui adversus patrem erigebatur; et ab arbore definebatur, qui cum radice pugnabat; et vinctus erat a ramo ramus, qui erat a paterna affectione abruptus, et capite tenebatur, qui genitoris caput auferre contendebat; et tanquam fructus pendebat ab arbore, qui naturæ agricolam volebat exscindere; et in corde jaculo confossus est, illic occisus, ubi cædem parabat.» Causam deinde cur suspensus sit Absalom, subjicit: «Poterat ergo videri Absalom suspensus in medio cœli et terræ. Cœlum eum non admittebat. Si enim primum insurrectorem ejecit diabolum, quomodo ipsum insurrectorem secundum admisisset? Terra eum adversabatur, non ferens pollui passibus parricidæ. Si enim Dathan devoravit, qui contra Mosen erat locutus, et os suum aperuit adversus eum qui os improbe aperuerat; quomodo potuisset ferre pedes currentes adversus genitorem?»
18:11
11. QUARE NON CONFODISTI EUM CUM TERRA, — ut in terram decideret, ibique confossus exspiraret; patet ex Hebræo.
18:14
14. Tulit ergo tres lanceas (breviores, unde Septuaginta vertunt, tria jacula; Chaldæus, tria tela; Vatablus, tria spicula; hæc enim significat Hebræum CORDE scebatim), ET INFIXIT EAS IN CORDE ABSALOM, — ut cor fictum et duplex imo triplex, quo coram patre exterius simularat obedientiam, interius vero foverat regni ambitionem et rebellionem; cor, inquam, proditorium triplici telo confederet. Causam hanc dat S. Chrysostomus, loco jam citato, dicens: In cor excordis tres sagittas infixit, illic eum feriens, ubi erat receptaculum iniquitatis, et cum in arbore sublimis penderet, pulchrum epitaphium ei David cecinit: Vidi impium superexaltatum et elatum tanquam cedros Libani; et transivi, et ecce non erat. Idem Chrysostomus in Psal. VII, tom. I: «Et ut scias quod factum est, non fuisse humanæ industriæ, sed totum fuisse divini judicii, capilli et lignum eum alligarunt, et brutum eum animal tradidit, et pro fune quidem coma, pro ligno autem arbor exstitit. Pro milite autem eum adduxit mulus. Considera autem (id quod est admirabile), cum hæc passus est, nemo suorum ad eum accedere ausus est, cum tantum fuisset spatium. Hoc autem Deus providerat, ut neque detraheretur, nec vinctus ad patrem afferretur, quoniam paterna viscera ei parci velle ultra modum indicaverant; et quod est admirabilius, qui patrem ei reconciliavit, Mystice Glossa: Arbor Absalomi, ait, significat patibulum gehennæ; tres lanceæ triplicem damnatorum pænam, scilicet ignis, vermis, et carentia visionis beatificæ. Porro peccavit Joab occidendo Absalom, quia eum occidit contra præceptum regis jubentis eum servari; quare non habebat auctoritatem et jus eum occidendi, ait Abulensis, qui opinatur hac de causa Davidem ei abstulisse ducatum et regimen exercitus, cap. XIX, vers. 43. Excusat tamen Joab Cajetanus, quod ipse dictum Davidis de servando Absalomo acceperit, non ut præceptum, sed ut monitum et desiderium aut pietatis paternæ indicium. Rursum, quod eum occiderit ardore prælii ex zelo vindictæ tanti sceleris et parricidii. Denique quod metueret, si ei parceretur, eum redintegraturum bellum, vel alias patri suo insidias moliturum: timebat etiam Joab sibi, ne ab Absalomo occideretur.
18:16
16. RETINUIT POPULUM NE PERSEQUERETUR FUGIENTEM ISRAEL. — Politicum enim præceptum est, ut in rebellione universali capita plectantur; parcatur vero multitudini, ne princeps suis subditis destituatur, ac rex sit sine regno. Ita Moyses principes, qui populo fuerant duces ad cultum Beelphegor, suspendit, populo vero pepercit, Numer. XXV, 4. Idem fecit Joab in seditione Sebæ, ut audiemus cap. XX. Sic et Elias occidit sacerdotes Baal, qui populum fovebant in idololatria, III Reg. XVIII, 40.
18:17
17. PROJECERUNT EUM IN FOVEAM GRANDEM, ET COMPORTAVERUNT SUPER EUM ACERVUM LAPIDUM; — ut hoc acervo cum ejusque scelus, nomen et memoriam obruerent, et æterna oblivione æque ac infamiæ nota sepelirent: quippe qui, ut ait S. Hieronymus, sceleratissimus erat et geminæ neci obnoxius; scilicet qui et patrem contra legis præceptum valde dehonorârit, et turpitudinem ejus revelârit, violando publice ejus concubinas.
18:18
18. DIXERAT ENIM: NON HABEO FILIUM, ET HOC ERIT MONIMENTUM NOMINIS MEI. — Audivimus cap. XIV, vers. 27, Absalomum tres habuisse filios, et unam filiam. Ergo hi filii jam mortui erant, vel certe Absalom hoc monumentum erexit antequam eos genuisset. Ita Abulensis, Cajetanus, Dionysius. Unde Chaldæus vertit, non habebat filium superstitem. Aliter Rabbini et Lyranus, qui censent Absalomum reliquisse filios post se, sed ineptos ad regnandum, vel mox morituros ob patris rebellionem. Audi eorum historiam, vel potius fabellam, quam refert S. Hieronymus in Tradit.: «Tradunt Hebræi, quod depositus de quercu, petierit sibi inducias, antequam perimeretur, ut faceret sibi titulum ob memoriam sui, eo quod non haberet filium talem, qui regno dignus esset; putabat enim filios suos non solum regno indignos, verum etiam ob peccatum suum, quod in patrem ET HOC ERIT MONIMENTUM NOMINIS MEI. — Exstat etiamnum hic Absalomi titulus, sive monumentum, «in valle Regis,» vers. 18, id est in valle Josaphat, cum nomine sepulcri ejusdem, quod floribus in summo sculptis exornatur, uti scribit testis oculatus Zuallardus, lib. III, peregrinationis suæ die secunda. Audi Adrichomium in Descript. Hierusalem, num. 227. Monumentum sive manus Absalom, columna erat et statua marmorea cum inscriptione, duobus ab Hierosolyma stadiis distans, quam Absalom vivus sibi in monumentum in valle regia erexerat. Ubi etiamnum turris et magnus lapidum exstat acervus qui quotidie magis ac magis augetur. Nam pagani et peregrini illac transeuntes pro more habent, ut quisque lapidem in eum projiciat, et quasi juxta legem vindicantes ipsius adversus David patrem suum rebellionem, hujusmodi maledictione illum exsecrentur: «Maledictus sit parricida Absalom; et quicumque injuste parentes suos persequuntur, maledicti sint in æternum.» Hinc patet titulum sive monumentum Absalomi fuisse columnam marmoream, cui insistebat statua ejusdem; unde Josephus ait fuisse statuam. Alii vocant ædificium. Vatablus nuncupat arcum triumphalem vel pyramidem, exque colligit Absalomum fuisse superbum et ambitiosum, nimisque avidum laudis et gloriæ, ideoque pro monumento hoc superbo repensum ei fuisse vilem rudemque acervum lapidum. ET APPELLATUR MANUS ABSALOM. — «Manus,» id est monumentum manu operaque Absalomi excitatum. Est metonymia. Tropologice ambitiosi, uti erat Absalom, erigunt sibi titulos et pyramides, ut nomen suum æternent, illosque vocant «manus» suas, dicentes: «Manus nostra excelsa fecit hoc.» Ita Dionysius.
18:25
25. Si solus est, bonus est nuntius. — Signum enim est meos esse victores, ac victos hostes persequi; si enim mei cæsi victique essent, utique iste non solus veniret, sed multi cum eo fugientes se reciperent in urbem, ut vitam salvarent.
18:33
33. FILI MI ABSALOM. — Flebat David mortem non tam præsentem, quam æternam Absalomi, quod in flagranti delicto parricidii occisus foret; unde metuebat, imo credebat eum esse damnatum. Porro S. Chrysostomus, hom. De Absalom, Davidi respondet ejusque lamenta inhibet dicendo: Quid plangis, gloriose pater? quid lamentaris, quasi Absalom quod ausus est, comprobares? Quid fles scelestum, quasi eum parricidium perpetrare volueris: plangis gloriam victoris exercitus, si fletur hostis interitus, nec lætitia esse poterit in victoria, si parricidæ plangitur pæna. Ille tuus non fuit filius, qui sic violavit paternos affectus. Ille tuus dici non meruit, qui jus patris sanctissimi violavit. Te non contempserunt exercitus, non duces, quibus parci scelesto mandasti, sed illa arbor, illa te primum ulta est; illa defendit, illa læsi patris injuriam, quæ te non audierat, vindicavit. Et paulo post, causam subjicit dicens: Novo enim supplicio debuit interire, qui sæculo novum scelus per patris exitium voluit inferre. Denique paternus affectus in filium licet sceleratum urgebat Davidem. Nam, ut ait Quintilianus, Declam. 322: Pater erat; nunquam hi affectus in tantum vincuntur, ut non ad naturam suam tandem revertantur.
An Absalom sit damnatus? Quæres, an Absalom sit damnatus? Nonnulli negant; nam lanceis confossus non statim exspiravit; habuit ergo tempus pœnitendi. Verum in flagranti delicto confossus, nec animum, nec consilium, nec rationem de Deo et sua salute cogitandi videtur habuisse; sed vulneribus oppressus sopita sepultaque mente videtur infelicem animam exhalasse, esseque damnatus. Ita censent S. Augustinus, lib. III De Doctrin. Christ. cap. XXI, et lib. XXII Contra Faustum, cap. LXVI; Silvianus, lib. II De Provid.; S. Chrysostomus, hom. 69 et 70 ad Popul.; S. Bernardus, serm. 26 in Cant.; Theodoretus, Procopius et alii hic. Nam, ut ait S. Augustinus: Justum est hoc Dei judicium, ut peccator qui in vita oblitus est Dei, in morte obliviscatur et sui. Simile prorsus scelus fuit Chramni filii Clotharii regis Franciæ, qui patri rebellans simili vindicta occubuit; de quo audi Gregorium Turonensem, lib. IV Histor. Franc. cap. XX: «Ibat Clotharius tanquam novus David contra Absalomum filium pugnaturus, plangens atque dicens: Respice, Domine, de cœlo, et judica causam meam, quia injuste a filio injurias patior; respice et judica juste; illudque impone judicium quod quondam inter Absalomum et patrem ejus David posuisti. Confligentibus igitur pariter; Britannorum comes terga vertit, ibique et cecidit: denique Chramnus fugam iniit, naves in mari paratas habens; sed dum uxorem et filias suas liberare voluit, ab exercitu patris oppressus, captus atque ligatus est. Quod cum Clothario regi nuntiatum
18:2
… Per l'audacia con cui si slanciò, sbaragliandoli, contro 300 nemici, fu incluso nella seconda triade degli eroi di David e meritò il comando di parte dell'esercito davidico contro gli Ammoniti (ibid. 10, 9-14), contro Absalom (ibid. 18, 2 sg.), contro Seba (ibid. 20, 6 sg.) e contro gli Idumei (I Par. 18, 12). Per le personali inimicizie di Joab con Abner, aiutò il fratello nell'eliminazione del generale nemico, già …
18:6
… Wādi Ḥesbān al Jarmūk. È diviso dallo Iaboc (Nahr ez-Zerqā) in due sezioni: la settentrionale, oggi 'Aǧlūn, la più elevata dell'altipiano (800-900 m.), con il monte Umm ed-Dereǧ (1300) a sud, è ben irrigata, con aree a pascoli, e come anticamente (II Sam. 18, 6) alternata con boschi di querce, di terebinti e pini. …
18:18
… Nella Bibbia è commemorativo di un beneficio divino (Gen. 28, 18, 22; 31, 13; 35, 14), o di un patto (tra Giacobbe e Laban: Gen. 31, 45, 51 sg.; del patto del Sinai: Ex. 24, 4); è simbolo del culto del vero Dio (Is. 19, 19). Come stele funeraria (II Sam. 18, 18; Gen. 35, 20), è in uso ancor oggi tra i musulmani. …
18:19
ACHIMAAS (EBR., PROB. «FRATELLO DELL'IMPERO»)
… Sam. 15, 27-36; 17, 17-20). Combattente fra le truppe di David, A., velocissimo, portò al re la notizia della vittoria sui ribelli, ma lasciò al nunzio cuñita, ch'egli aveva preceduto nella corsa, l'ingrato incarico di comunicargli la morte di Absalom (ibid. 18, 19-31). Molti ritengono che l'A. di I Reg. 4, 7-15, ufficiale delle imposte su Nephtali e genero di Salomone, sia il nostro A. Francesco Spadafora
18:21
… In Ier. 13, 23 il cuscità è descritto come appartenente alla razza negra; mentre in Am. 9, 7 si ostenta un certo disprezzo verso quel popolo, in genere adibito come schiavo (cf. II Sam. 18, 21 sgg.; Ier. 38, 7; 39, 16). Tuttavia anche la moglie di Mosè era una cuscità (Num. 12, 1). Angelo Penna
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Pubblico dominio.