“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!” (2
Samuel 18:1-33 AV)
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