The battle between the troops of David and Absalom took place in the “forest of Ephraim” (2 Sam 18:6). Ephraim is associated with land west of the Jordan River (cf. Josh 16), but David had retreated to a city east of the Jordan, Mahanaim (2 Sam 17:24), most likely to be identified with Tell adh-Dhahab ash-Sharqiyya on the south side of the Jabbok River (see map below). So where did the battle take place? Most Bible geographers place the “forest of Ephraim” east of the Jordan River, in the region also known......