2 Samuel 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 * 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.
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.
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.
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 wood of Ephraim;
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.
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 * .
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 * .
10. And a certain man saw * it, and told * Joab, and said * , Behold, I saw * Absalom hanged * in an oak.
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.
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.
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.
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.
15. And ten young men that bare * Joab's armour 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 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.
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.
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 * .
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 * .
21. Then said * Joab to Cushi, Go * tell * the king what thou hast seen * . And Cushi bowed * himself unto Joab, and ran * .
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 * ?
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.
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.
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 * unto the porter, and said * , Behold another man running * alone. And the king said * , He also bringeth tidings * .
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.
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.
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.
30. And the king said * unto him, Turn aside * , and stand * here.And he turned aside * , and stood still * .
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.
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.
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 !
