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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