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2SA-18:1 And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and
set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2SA-18:2 And David sent forth a third part of the people 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 unto the people, I will
surely go forth with you myself also.
2SA-18:3 But the people answered, Thou shalt 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 now [thou art] worth ten
thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour
us out of the city.
2SA-18:4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I
will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people
came out by hundreds and by thousands.
2SA-18:5 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.
2SA-18:6 So the people went out into the field against Israel:
and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
2SA-18:7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the
servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that
day of twenty thousand [men].
2SA-18:8 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.
2SA-18:9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode
upon a 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 the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under
him went away.
2SA-18:10 And a certain man saw [it], and told Joab, and said,
Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
2SA-18:11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold,
thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to the
ground? And I would have given thee ten [shekels] of silver, and
a girdle.
2SA-18:12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a
thousand [shekels] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not put
forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the
king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that
none [touch] the young man Absalom.
2SA-18:13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine
own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou
thyself wouldest have set thyself against [me].
2SA-18:14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. 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.
2SA-18:15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed
about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
2SA-18:16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned
from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
2SA-18:17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit
in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and
all Israel fled every one to his tent.
2SA-18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up
for himself a 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 unto this day,
Absalom's place.
2SA-18:19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run,
and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of
his enemies.
2SA-18:20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings
this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day
thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
2SA-18:21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou
hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
2SA-18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab,
But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And
Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou
hast no tidings ready?
2SA-18:23 But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto
him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran
Cushi.
2SA-18:24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman
went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up
his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
2SA-18:25 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.
2SA-18:26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the
watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold [another] man
running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
2SA-18:27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh 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 cometh with good tidings.
2SA-18:28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is
well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the
king, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath
delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord
the king.
2SA-18:29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And
Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and [me]
thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].
2SA-18:30 And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand
here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
2SA-18:31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my
lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all
them that rose up against thee.
2SA-18:32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom
safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and
all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young
man [is].
2SA-18:33 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 God I had died for
thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
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