2 Samuel 18:17

“And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, etc.] In the wood of Ephraim, near to which the battle was fought, and into which Absalom fled, and where he was slain: and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: his punishment was very exemplary; he was first hanged on an oak, and then thrust through with darts, and swords, and then covered with stones, (<101809>2 Samuel 18:9,14,15), pointing to the death that a rebellious son, according to the law, ought to die, (<052121>Deuteronomy 21:21); though this might be done in honour of him as a king’s son; for such “tumuli”, or heaps of stones or earth, were used by the ancients as sepulchral monuments, and the larger the more…”

“they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit . . . and laid a very great heap of stones upon him--The people of the East indicate their detestation of the memory of an infamous person by throwing stones at the place where he is buried. The heap is increased by the gradual accumulation of stones which passers-by add to it.”

“A great heap of stones - See the marginal reference. This kind of monument is common to almost all early nations. return to 'Top of Page'”

“18:17 all Israel fled to their homes: Absalom’s supporters (17:11) knew their lives were in danger (cp. 19:8). They had backed a usurper whose coup d’etat had been thwarted.”

“laid: This was the ancient method of burying, whether heroes or traitors; the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The Arabs in general make use of no other monument than a heap of stones over a grave. Thus, in an Arabic poem, it is related, that Hatim the father, and Adi the grandfather of Kais, having been murdered, at a time before Kais was capable of reflection, his mother kept it a profound secret; and in order to guard him against having any suspicion, she collected a parcel of stone on two hillocks in the neighbourhood, and told her son that the one was the grave of his father, and the other of his grandfather. The ancient cairns in…”

“But Absalom they cast into a great pit in the wood, and threw up over him a very large heap of stones, as an ignominious monument, like those thrown up over Achan ( Jos 7:26) and the king of Air ( Jos 8:29). This was the end of Absalom and his rebellion. "All Israel (that had crowded round him) had fled, every one to his tent" (i.e., home: see at Deu 16:7). 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 18:18”