Chapter 18

And David numbered⁴ the people that [were] with him, and set⁴ captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

And David sent forth¹⁷ 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 said⁴ unto the people, I will surely² go forth⁴ with you myself also.

But the people answered,⁴ Thou shalt not go forth:⁴ for if we flee⁴ away,² they will not care^{4 3820} for us; neither if half of us die,⁴ will they care^{4 3820} for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour^{2 5826 53} us out of the city.

And the king said⁴ unto them, What seemeth you best⁴ I will do.⁴ And the king stood⁴ by the gate side, and all the people came out¹ by hundreds and by thousands.

And the king commanded¹⁷ Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying,² [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Absalom. And all the people heard¹ when the king gave all the captains charge¹⁵ concerning Absalom.

So the people went out⁴ into the field against² Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

Where the people of Israel were slain¹¹ before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men].

For the battle was there scattered¹² over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured² more⁵⁵ people that day than the sword devoured.¹

And Absalom met¹¹ the servants ⁵⁶⁵⁰ of David. And Absalom rode⁶ upon a mule, and the mule went⁴ under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold⁴ of the oak, and he was taken up⁹³ between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under him went away.¹

And a certain man saw⁴ [it], and told⁵⁵ Joab, and said,⁴ Behold, I saw¹ Absalom hanged⁷ in an oak.

And Joab said⁴ unto the man that told⁵⁶ him, And, behold, thou sawest¹ [him], and why didst thou not smite⁵² him there to the ground? and I would have given² thee ten [shekels] of silver, and a girdle.

And the man said⁴ unto Joab, Though I should receive⁶ a thousand [shekels] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not put forth⁴ mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged¹⁴ thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying,² Beware³ that none [touch] the young man Absalom.

Otherwise I should have wrought¹ falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid¹¹ from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set¹⁰¹ thyself against [me].

Then said⁴ Joab, I may not tarry⁵⁵ thus with thee. And he took⁴ three darts in his hand, and thrust⁴ them through the heart of Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak.

And ten young men that bare⁶ Joab's armour compassed about⁴ and smote⁵⁵ Absalom, and slew⁵⁵ him.

And Joab blew⁴ the trumpet, and the people returned⁴ from pursuing² after Israel: for Joab held back¹ the people.

And they took⁴ Absalom, and cast⁵⁵ him into a great pit in the wood, and laid⁵⁵ a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled¹ every one to his tent.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken¹ and reared up⁵⁵ for himself a pillar, which [is] in the king's dale: for he said,¹ I have no son to keep my name in remembrance:⁵³ and he called⁴ the pillar after his own name: and it is called¹¹ unto this day, Absalom's place.

Then said¹ Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run,⁴ and bear the king tidings,¹⁷ how that the LORD hath avenged¹ him of his enemies.⁶

And Joab said⁴ unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings ³⁷⁶ this day, but thou shalt bear tidings¹⁴ another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings,¹⁷ because the king's son is dead.¹

Then said⁴ Joab to Cushi, Go³ tell⁵⁴ the king what thou hast seen.¹ And Cushi bowed¹⁰¹ himself unto Joab, and ran.⁴

Then said⁴ Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again⁵⁵ to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run⁴ after Cushi. And Joab said,⁴ Wherefore wilt thou run,⁵ my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?⁶

But howsoever, [said he], let me run.⁴ And he said⁴ unto him, Run.³ Then Ahimaaz ran⁴ by the way of the plain, and overran⁴ Cushi.

And David sat⁶ between the two gates: and the watchman⁶ went up⁴ to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up⁴ his eyes, and looked,⁴ and behold a man running⁵ alone.

And the watchman⁶ cried,⁴ and told⁵⁵ the king. And the king said,⁴ If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth. And he came⁴ apace,² and drew near.

And the watchman⁶ saw⁴ another man running:⁵ and the watchman⁶ called⁴ unto the porter, and said,⁴ Behold [another] man running⁵ alone. And the king said,⁴ He also bringeth tidings.¹⁸

And the watchman⁶ said,⁴ Me thinketh⁶ the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said,⁴ He [is] a good man, and cometh⁴ with good tidings.

And Ahimaaz called,⁴ and said⁴ unto the king, All is well. And he fell down¹⁰¹ to the earth upon his face before the king, and said,⁴ Blessed⁷ [be] the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up¹⁴ the men that lifted up¹ their hand against my lord the king.

And the king said,⁴ Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered,⁴ When Joab sent² the king's servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw¹ a great tumult, but I knew¹ not what [it was].

And the king said⁴ [unto him], Turn aside,³ [and] stand¹⁰⁰ here. And he turned aside,¹¹ and stood still.⁴

And, behold, Cushi came;⁶ and Cushi said,⁴ Tidings,¹⁰¹ my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged¹ thee this day of all them that rose up⁵ against thee.

And the king said⁴ unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered,⁴ The enemies⁶ of my lord the king, and all that rise¹ against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is].

And the king was much moved,⁴ and went up⁴ to the chamber over the gate, and wept:⁴ and as he went,² thus he said,¹ O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God⁴ I had died² for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!