2 Samuel 18:9 “Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David,…”

2 Samuel 18:9

Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

World English Bible

Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.

American Standard Version

And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.

Geneva Bible 1599

Nowe Absalom met the seruants of Dauid, and Absalom rode vpon a mule, and the mule came vnder a great thicke oke: and his head caught holde of the oke, and he was taken vp betweene the heauen and the earth: and the mule that was vnder him went away.

Darby Translation

And Absalom found himself in the presence of David's servants. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of the great terebinth, and his head caught in the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

Young's Literal Translation

And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding on the mule, and the mule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great oak, and his head taketh hold on the oak, and he is placed between the heavens and the earth, and the mule that [is] under him hath passed on.

Bible in Basic English

And Absalom came across some of David's men. And Absalom was seated on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great tree, and his head became fixed in the tree and he was lifted up between earth and heaven, and the beast under him went on.

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Cross references

“his head”

2 Samuel 14:26 2 Samuel 18:14 2 Samuel 17:23 Matthew 27:5

2 Samuel 14:26 · BSB

And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard.

2 Samuel 18:14 · BSB

But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.

2 Samuel 17:23 · BSB

When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Matthew 27:5 · BSB

So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

“taken up”

Job 31:3 Proverbs 30:17 Deuteronomy 21:23 Deuteronomy 27:16 Deuteronomy 27:20 Job 18:8–10

Job 31:3 · BSB

Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?

Proverbs 30:17 · BSB

As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

Deuteronomy 21:23 · BSB

you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you a…

Deuteronomy 27:16 · BSB

‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Deuteronomy 27:20 · BSB

‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Job 18:8–10 · BSB

For his own feet lead him into a net, and he wanders into its mesh.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

8The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.

10When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

Read 2 Samuel 18