SECOND SAMUEL

 

2 Samuel Chapter 18

1 ¶ David numbered the men who were with him, and appointed commanders over thousands and commanders over hundreds.

2 And David sent out one third of the army under the leadership of Joab, one third under the leadership of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the leadership of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, I myself will also go out with you.

3 But the men insisted, You should not go: for if we flee, they will not care about us; if half of us die, they will not care about us: but you are worth ten thousand of us: therefore it would be better for you to send us help from the city.

4 So the king said to them, I will do whatever seems best to you. Then the king stood beside the gate, 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, Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave orders to the commanders concerning Absalom.

6 So the army went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim;

7 Where the men of Israel were slain by the servants of David, and on that day there was there a great slaughter of twenty thousand men.

8 For the battle spread over the entire region: and the forest claimed more men that day than the sword.

9 ¶ Then Absalom, who was riding on a mule, encountered the servants of David. And his mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and the mule he was riding ran away, leaving him hanging between the heavens and the earth.

10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, saying, I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.

11 And Joab said to the man who told him, You saw him, why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver, and a belt.

12 And the man said to Joab, Even if a thousand shekels of silver were placed in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son: for we heard the king command you Abishai and Ittai, saying, Make sure that no one harms the young man Absalom.

13 Otherwise I would have jeopardized my own life: for nothing is hidden from the king, and you yourself would have sided against me.

14 Then Joab said, I will not waste time like this with you. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.

15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.

16 Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops returned from pursuing Israel: for Joab held the men back.

17 And they took Absalom, and threw him into a great pit in the forest, and piled a very great heap of stones on him: and all of Israel fled every one to his home.

18 Now in his lifetime Absalom had raised up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s valley: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he named the pillar after himself: and to this day it is called, Absalom’s place.

19 ¶ Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me now run, and carry the news to the king, that the LORD has avenged him on his enemies.

20 But Joab said to him, You shall not carry the news today, you may carry the news another day: but on this day you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.

21 Then Joab said to Cushi, Go tell the king what you have seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again said to Joab, But, I beg you, at least let me follow Cushi. But Joab said, Why would you go, my son, seeing that you have no additional news?

23 But, he said, let me run after him anyway. And he said, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and got ahead of Cushi.

24 Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate by the wall, and looked out, and saw a man running alone.

25 And the watchman shouted to the king. And the king said, If he is alone, he has news to tell. And he came on, and drew near.

26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called to the porter, and said, I see another man running alone. And the king said, He also brings news.

27 And the watchman said, I think that the man in front runs like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news.

28 And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

29 And the king asked, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, sent me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.

30 And the king said to him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, News, my lord the king: for today the LORD has avenged you on all those who rose up against you.

32 And the king said to Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.

33 And the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! if only I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!