1 David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of
thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 David sent forth the
people, a third part 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. The king said to the people, I will surely go
forth with you myself also. 3 But the people said, You shall 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 you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it
is better that you are ready to help us out of the city. 4 The king said
to them, What seems you best I will do. The king stood by the gate-side, and
all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 The king commanded
Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young
man, even with Absalom. 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 forest of Ephraim. 7 The
people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and there
was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For the
battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest
devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 9 Absalom happened
to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his 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 sky and earth; and the mule that was
under him went on. 10 A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said,
Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak. 11 Joab said to the man who told
him, Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground?
and I would have given you ten pieces of silver, and a sash.
12 The man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand pieces
of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t put forth my hand against the
king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai,
saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 13 Otherwise if I
had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the
king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.
14 Then said Joab, I may not wait thus with you. 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 Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor
compassed about and struck Absalom, and killed him. 16 Joab blew the
trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held
back the people. 17 They took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in
the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel
fled everyone to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and
reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king’s dale; for he said, I
have no son to keep my name in memory: and he called the pillar after his own
name; and it is called Absalom’s monument, to this day. 19 Then said
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that
Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies. 20 Joab said to him, You shall not
be the bearer of news this day, but you shall bear news another day; but this
day you shall bear no news, because the king’s son is dead. 21 Then said
Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have seen. The Cushite bowed
himself to Joab, and ran. 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again
to Joab, But come what may, Please let me also run after the Cushite. Joab
said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the
news? 23 But come what may, said he, I will run. He said to him,
Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up
to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and,
behold, a man running alone. 25 The watchman cried, and told the king. The
king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. He came apace, and
drew near. 26 The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman
called to the porter, and said, Behold, another man running alone.
The king said, He also brings news. 27 The watchman said, I think the
running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. The
king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news. 28 Ahimaaz called,
and said to the king, All is well. He bowed himself before the king with his
face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has delivered up
the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 29 The king
said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent
the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t
know what it was. 30 The king said, Turn aside, and stand here. He turned
aside, and stood still. 31 Behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said,
News for my lord the king; for Yahweh has avenged you this day of all those
who rose up against you. 32 The king said to the Cushite, Is it well with
the young man Absalom? The Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king,
and all who rise up against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is.
33 The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and
wept: and as he went, thus he said, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
would I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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