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.
Absalom met the servants of David - or was overtaken.
And his head caught hold of the oak, х wayechªzaq (H2388) ro'show (H7218) baa'eelaah (H424)] - and his head caught fast in the terebinth (probably Quercus AEgilops, Valonia oak, for which Gilead and Bashan were famous). 'It is necessary to be continually on one's guard against the branches of trees; and when the hair is worn in large locks floating down the back, as was the case with a young man of the party to which I belonged, any thick boughs interposing in the path might easily dislodge a rider from his seat, and catch hold of his flowing hair' (Hartley). It appears, however, that the sacred historian points not so much to the hair, which would be covered by his helmet, as to the head of Absalom, which, being caught while running between two branches, was enclosed so firmly that he could not disengage himself from the hold, nor running between two branches, was enclosed so firmly that he could not disengage himself from the hold, nor make use of his hands.
The mule that was under him went away. The Orientals, not having saddles like us, do not sit so firmly on the beasts they ride. Absalom, quitting his hold of the bridle, apparently to release himself when caught in the oak, the mule escaped. And there was no armour-bearer near him, as in the closing scene of Saul. He had stolen the hearts of Israel, and none of them had a heart to sympathize with and defend him.