Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 18:8

"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." — 2 Samuel 18:8 (ASV)

The wood devoured more.—The battle and the pursuit covered a wide range of country; more were slain in the pursuit through the wood, both by accident and by the sword, than in the actual battle itself.