John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And Absalom met the servants of David , etc.] When his army was routed, he was in such a fright that he knew not which way to flee, and instead of flying from David’s men, he fled in the way of them; but none of them attempted to slay him, nor even to stop him, but let him pass by them, knowing David’s charge concerning him: and Absalom rode upon a mule ; as was common for great personages to do in those days, ( 2 Samuel 13:29); and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak ; and running full speed, Absalom could not guide him, nor stop, nor divert him from going under it: and his head caught hold of the oak ; either the hair of his head was twisted and entangled in the thick boughs of the oak; or rather his head was jammed into a forked branch of the oak: and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth ; hung in the air between both, as unworthy to live in either: and the mule that [was] under him went away ; and left him hanging in the oak.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-18 - Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrenc of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery an contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.
Original Hebrew ויקרא7122 אבשׁלום53 לפני6440 עבדי5650 דוד1732 ואבשׁלום53 רכב7392 על5921 הפרד6505 ויבא935 הפרד6505 תחת8478 שׂובך7730 האלה424 הגדולה1419 ויחזק2388 ראשׁו7218 באלה424 ויתן5414 בין996 השׁמים8064 ובין996 הארץ776 והפרד6505 אשׁר834 תחתיו8478 עבר׃5674
