1 D avid numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

Then David numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

2 D avid 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, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, “I will also surely go out with you myself.”

David sent the people out, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.”

3 B ut the people said, “You 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.”

But the people said, “ You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”

4 T he king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.

5 T he 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 commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.

The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “ Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.

6 S o the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.

7 T he people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.

The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20, 000 men.

8 F or the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 A bsalom happened to meet David’s 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.

Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.

10 A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”

When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”

11 J oab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver, and a sash.”

Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”

12 T he man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’

The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘ Protect for me the young man Absalom!’

13 O therwise 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.”

Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”

14 T hen Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” 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.

Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.” So 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 T en young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.

And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

16 J oab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.

Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.

17 T hey took Absalom and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.

They took Absalom and cast him into a deep pit in the forest and erected over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.

18 N ow Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “ I have no son to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day. David Is Grief-stricken

19 T hen Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run, and carry the king news, how Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.”

Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has freed him from the hand of his enemies.”

20 J oab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”

But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.”

21 T hen Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen!” The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.

22 T hen Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why do you want to run, my son, since that you will have no reward for the news?”

Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since you will have no reward for going?”

23 “ But come what may,” he said, “I will run.” He said to him, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.

“But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.

24 N ow 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.

Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself.

25 T he watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He came closer and closer.

The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer.

26 T he watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter, and said, “Behold, a man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.”

Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.”

27 T he watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “ This is a good man and comes with good news.”

28 A himaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”

Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “ All is well.” And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “ Blessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”

29 T he 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.”

The king said, “ Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.”

30 T he king said, “Turn aside, and stand here.” He turned aside, and stood still.

Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 B ehold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “News for my lord the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.”

Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”

32 T he king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.”

Then the king said to the Cushite, “ Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “ Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”

33 T he king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “ O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”