2 Samuel 18
โ 2 Samuel 17 | 2 Samuel | 2 Samuel 19 โ
v1
David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
v2
David sent the people out, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joabโs brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, โI will also surely go out with you myself.โ
v3
But the people said, โYou shall not go out; 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.โ
v4
The king said to them, โI will do what seems best to you.โ The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
v5
The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, โDeal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.โ All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
v6
So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
v7
The people of Israel were struck there before Davidโs servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
v8
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.
v9
Absalom happened to meet Davidโs servants. 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.
v10
A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, โBehold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.โ
v11
Joab said to the man who told him, โBehold, you saw it, and why didnโt you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver, and a sash.โ
v12
The man said to Joab, โThough I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldnโt stretch out my hand against the kingโs son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, โBeware that no one touch the young man Absalom.โ
v13
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.โ
v14
Then Joab said, โIโm not going to wait like this with you.โ He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the middle of the oak.
v15
Ten young men who bore Joabโs armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
v16
Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
v17
They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
v18
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the kingโs valley, for he said, โI have no son to keep my name in memory.โ He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalomโs monument, to this day.
v19
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, โLet me now run and carry the king news, how Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.โ
v20
Joab said to him, โYou must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the kingโs son is dead.โ
v21
Then Joab said to the Cushite, โGo, tell the king what you have seen!โ The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
v22
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, โBut come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.โ Joab said, โWhy do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?โ
v23
โBut come what may,โ he said, โI will run.โ He said to him, โRun!โ Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
v24
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.
v25
The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, โIf he is alone, there is news in his mouth.โ He came closer and closer.
v26
The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper, and said, โBehold, a man running alone!โ The king said, โHe also brings news.โ
v27
The watchman said, โI think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.โ The king said, โHe is a good man, and comes with good news.โ
v28
Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, โAll is well.โ He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, โBlessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!โ
v29
The king said, โIs it well with the young man Absalom?โ Ahimaaz answered, โWhen Joab sent the kingโs servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I donโt know what it was.โ
v30
The king said, โCome and stand here.โ He came, and stood still.
v31
Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, โNews for my lord the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.โ
v32
The king said to the Cushite, โIs it well with the young man Absalom?โ The Cushite answered, โMay the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.โ
v33
The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, โMy son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!โ