6 David's army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
6 So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
6 The army took the field to meet Israel. It turned out that the battle was joined in the Forest of Ephraim.
6 So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim.
6 So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:6
Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:1-8
(Read 2 Samuel 18:1-8)
How does David render good for evil! Absalom would have only David smitten; David would have only Absalom spared. This seems to be a resemblance of man's wickedness towards God, and God's mercy to man, of which it is hard to say which is most amazing. Now the Israelites see what it is to take counsel against the Lord and his anointed.