The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.

The wood devoured more people, ie more people died in the wood, either through hunger, and thirst, and weariness; or by the wild beasts.

New International Version The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.

8 For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

There Israel's troops were routed by David's men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. The battle spread out over the whole.

The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword. The army took the field to meet Israel.

For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured .

2 Samuel 18:8 — New Century Version (NCV). 8 The battle spread through all the country, but that day more men died in the forest than in the fighting.

David's army then took the field against Israel, and a battle was fought in the forest near Mahanaim. 7 The forces of Israel were defeated by David's servants.