Then David 1numbered
the people
who
were with him and aset
over
them commanders
of thousands
and commanders
of hundreds
.
David sent
the people
out, aone third
under the 1command
of Joab
, one third
under the 1command
of Abishai
the son
of Zeruiah
, Joab's
brother
, and one third
under the 1command
of bIttai
the Gittite
. And the king
said
to the people
, "I myself
will surely
go
out with you also
."
But the people said
, " aYou should not go
out; for if
we indeed
flee
, they will not care
about
us; even if
half
of us die
, they will not care
about
us. But 1you are worth ten
thousand
of us; therefore now
it is better
that you be ready to help
us from the city
."
Then the king said
to them, "Whatever
seems
best
to you I will do
." So athe king
stood
beside
the gate
, and all
the people
went
out by hundreds
and thousands
.
The king charged
Joab
and Abishai
and Ittai
, saying
, "Deal gently
for my sake with the young
man
Absalom
." And aall
the people
heard
when the king
charged
all
the commanders
concerning
Absalom
.
Then the people went
out into the field
against
Israel
, and the battle
took
place
in athe forest
of Ephraim
.
The people of Israel
were 1defeated
there
before
the servants
of David
, and the slaughter
there
that day
was great
, 20,000
men.
For the battle there
was spread
over
the whole
countryside
, and the forest
devoured
more
people
that day
than
the sword
devoured
.
Now Absalom happened to meet
the servants
of David
. For Absalom
was riding
on his mule
, and the mule
went
under
the thick
branches
of a great
oak
. And ahis head
caught
fast
in the oak
, so he was 1left
hanging
between
heaven
and earth
, while the mule
that was under
him kept going
.
When a certain man
saw
it, he told
Joab
and said
, "Behold
, I saw
Absalom
hanging
in an oak
."
Then Joab said
to the man
who had told
him, "Now behold
, you saw
him! Why
then did you not strike
him there
to the ground
? And I would have given
you ten
pieces of silver
and a belt
."
The man said
to Joab
, "Even if
I should receive
a thousand
pieces of silver
in my hand
, I would not put
out my hand
against
the king's
son
; for ain our hearing
the king
charged
you and Abishai
and Ittai
, saying
, ` 1Protect
for me the young
man
Absalom
!'
"Otherwise, if I had dealt
treacherously
against his life
(and athere is nothing
hidden
from the king
), then you yourself
would have stood
aloof
."
Then Joab said
, "I will not 1waste
time
here
with you." aSo he took
three
spears
in his hand
and thrust
them through the heart
of Absalom
while he was yet
alive
in the 2midst
of the oak
.
And ten young
men
who carried
Joab's
armor
gathered
around
and struck
Absalom
and killed
him.
Then aJoab blew
the trumpet
, and the people
returned
from pursuing
Israel
, for Joab
restrained
the people
.
They took Absalom
and cast
him into 1a deep
pit
in the forest
and aerected
over
him a very
great
heap
of stones
. And ball
Israel
fled
, each
to his tent
.
Now Absalom in his lifetime
had taken
and aset
up for himself a pillar
which
is in bthe King's
Valley
, for he said
, " cI have
no
son
1to preserve
my name
." So he named
the pillar
after
his own name
, and it is called
Absalom's
Monument
to this
day
.
Then aAhimaaz the son
of Zadok
said
, "Please
let me run
and bring
the king
news
bthat the LORD
has 1freed
him from the hand
of his enemies
."
But Joab said
to him, "You are not the man
to carry
news
this
day
, but you shall carry
news
another
day
; however, you shall carry
no
news
today
because
the king's
son
is dead
."
Then Joab said
to the Cushite
, "Go
, tell
the king
what
you have seen
." So the Cushite
bowed
to Joab
and ran
.
Now Ahimaaz the son
of Zadok
said
once
more
to Joab
, "But whatever
happens
, please
let me also
run
after
the Cushite
." And Joab
said
, "Why
would you run
, my son
, since ayou will have
no
reward
for going
?"
"But whatever happens
," he said, "I will run
." So he said
to him, "Run
." Then Ahimaaz
ran
by way
of the plain
and passed
up the Cushite
.
Now aDavid was sitting
between
the two
gates
; and bthe watchman
went
up to the roof
of the gate
by the wall
, and raised
his eyes
and looked
, and behold
, a man
running
by himself
.
The watchman called
and told
the king
. And the king
said
, "If
he is by himself
there is good news
in his mouth
." And he came
nearer
and nearer
.
Then the watchman saw
another
man
running
; and the watchman
called
to the gatekeeper
and said
, "Behold
, another man
running
by himself
." And the king
said
, "This
one
also
is bringing
good news
."
The watchman said
, "I 1think
the running
of the first
one
ais like the running
of Ahimaaz
the son
of Zadok
." And the king
said
, " bThis
is a good
man
and comes
with good
news
."
Ahimaaz called
and said
to the king
, " 1All is well
." And ahe prostrated
himself before the king
with his face
to the ground
. And he said
, " bBlessed
is the LORD
your God
, who
has delivered
up the men
who
lifted
their hands
against my lord
the king
."
The king said
, " aIs it well
with the young
man
Absalom
?" And Ahimaaz
answered
, "When Joab
sent
the king's
servant
, and your servant
, I saw
a great
tumult
, but bI did not know
what
it was."
Then the king said
, "Turn
aside
and stand
here
." So he turned
aside
and stood
still
.
Behold, the Cushite
arrived
, and the Cushite
said
, "Let my lord
the king
receive
good news
, for athe LORD
has 1freed
you this day
from the hand
of all
those who rose
up against
you."
Then the king said
to the Cushite
, " aIs it well
with the young
man
Absalom
?" And the Cushite
answered
, " bLet the enemies
of my lord
the king
, and all
who
rise
up against
you for evil
, be as that young
man
!"
1The king was deeply
moved
and went
up to the chamber
over
the gate
and wept
. And thus
he said
as he walked
, " aO my son
Absalom
, my son
, my son
Absalom
! bWould
I had died
instead
of you, O Absalom
, my son
, my son
!"