2Sam 18
1
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and
captains of hundreds over them.
2
And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third
part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab`s brother, and a third part
under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely
go forth with you myself also.
3
But the people said, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care
for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but you are worth ten thousand
of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to succor us out of the city.
4
And the king said to them, What seems you best I will do. And the king stood by the
gate-side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake
with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave
all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest
of Ephraim.
7
And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, and there
was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
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.
9
And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his
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 heaven and earth; and the mule that was
under him went on.
10
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in
an oak.
11
And Joab said to the man that told him, And, behold, you saw it, and why did you not
smite him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten [pieces of] silver,
and a girdle.
12
And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in
my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king`s son; for in our hearing
the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young
man Absalom.
13
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from
the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against [me].
14
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with you. And he took three darts in his hand,
and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst
of the oak.
15
And ten young men that bare Joab`s armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew
him.
16
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for
Joab held back the people.
17
And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over
him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which
is in the king`s dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance:
and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom`s monument,
to this day.
19
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how
that YHWH has avenged him of his enemies.
20
And Joab said to him, You shall not be the bearer of tidings this day, but you shall
bear tidings another day; but this day you shall bear no tidings, because the king`s
son is dead.
21
Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have seen. And the Cushite
bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
22
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, let me, I
pray you, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Wherefore will you run, my son,
seeing that you will have no reward for the tidings?
23
But come what may, [said he], I will run. And he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran
by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
24
Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof
of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running
alone.
25
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there
is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26
And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter, and
said, Behold, [another] man running alone. And the king said, He also brings tidings.
27
And the watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good
tidings.
28
And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. And he bowed himself before
the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be YHWH your God, who has delivered
up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29
And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz answered, When
Joab sent the king`s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew
not what it was.
30
And the king said, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31
And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Tidings for my lord the king;
for YHWH has avenged you this day of all them that rose up against you.
32
And the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite
answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against you to do
you hurt, be as that young man is.
33
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and
as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died
for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!