The people of Israel, i.e. the soldiers of Absalom; so called, partly to note that all Israel (some few excepted) were engaged in this rebellion, which made David's deliverance more glorious and remarkable; and partly in opposition to David's men, who, as to the main body, or most considerable part, were of the tribe of Judah, or had followed him from Judah.
Related Commentaries of 2 Samuel 18:7
2 Samuel 18:7
7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.