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 out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, and one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I myself, will surely also go with you.
3 But the people answered, you shall not go with us: for if we flee away, they will not care; not even if half of us die will they be concerned: but now you are worth ten thousand of us: therefore it is better that you be ready to come from the city to help us.
4 And the king said to them, Whatever seems best to you, I will do. And the king stood beside the gate, 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 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 woods of Ephraim;
7 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 woods 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 branches of a great oak, and his head was caught in it’s branches, and he was held 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 hanging in an oak.
11 And Joab said to the man that told him, what is this, you saw him? Then why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver, and a belt to gird.
12 And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet would I not stretch out my hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Preserve for me the young man Absalom.
13 Otherwise I would have worked falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.
14 Joab answered, I will not wait around like this. And he took three spears 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 bore Joab’s armour circled around and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: and so Joab held the people back from the pursuit.
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18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and 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 called the pillar after his own name: and it is to proclaim, all that is of Absalom’s hand to this day.
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bring the news to king, how that the Lord has avenged him of his enemies.
20 And Joab said to him, You shall not bring this news today, but you shall carry news another day: but this day you shall bear no good tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
21 Then said Joab 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, said yet again to Joab, But I pray you, let me run also, even after Cushi. And Joab said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have nothing new to tell?
23 But however, he said, let me run. And he said to 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 to 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 is alone, there is good news in his mouth. And he came closer, and drew nearer.
26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called to the gatekeeper, and said, I see another man running alone. And the king said, He also is bringing good news.
27 And the watchman said, I believe the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.
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, which has 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 I your servant saw a great tumult, but I did 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, Good News, my lord the king: for the Lord has avenged you this day of all those that 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 that rise up against you for harm, 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 that I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!
