2 Samuel Chapter 18

2 Samuel Chapter 18
1 Then David numbered the people that
were with him, and set over them
captains of thousands and captains of
hundreds.
2 And David sent forth the third part of
the people under the hand of Joab, and
the third part under the hand of Abishai
Joab's brother the son of Zeruiah: and
the other third part under the hand of
Ittai the Gittite. and the king said unto the
people, I will go with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt
not go forth: for if we flee away, they
will not regard us, neither will they pass
for us, though half of us were slain: but
thou art now worth ten thousand of us:
therefore now it is better that thou succor
us out of the city.
4 Then the king said unto them, What
seemeth you best, that I will do. So 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, Entreat the
young man Absalom gently for my sake.
and all the people heard when the king
gave all the captains charge concerning
Absalom.
6 So the people went out into the field to
meet Israel, and the battle was in the
wood of Ephraim:
7 Where the people of Israel were slain
before the servants of David: so there
was a great slaughter that day, even of
twenty thousand. 8 For the battle was
scattered over all the country: and the
wood devoured much more people that
day, than did the sword.
9 Now Absalom met the servants of
David, and Absalom rode upon a mule,
and the mule came under a great thick
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 one that saw it, told Joab,
saying, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged
in an oak.
11 Then Joab said unto the man that told
him, And hast thou indeed seen?
Why then didst thou not there smite him
to the ground, and I would have given
thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle?
12 Then the man said unto Joab, Though
I should receive a
thousand shekels of silver in mine hand,
yet would I not lay mine hand upon the
king's son: for in our hearing the king
charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai,
saying, Beware, lest any touch the young
man Absalom.
13 If I had done it, it had been the
danger of my life: for nothing can be hid
from the king: yea, thou thyself wouldest
have been against me. 14 Then said
Joab, I will not thus tarry with thee. And
he took three darts in his hand, and thrust
them through Absalom, while he was yet
alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten servants that bear Joab's
armor, compassed about and smote
Absalom, and slew him.
16 Then 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
mighty 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 him up 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,
I pray thee, let me run, and bear the king
tidings that the Lord hath delivered him
out of the hand of his enemies. 20 And
Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not be the
messenger today, but thou shalt bear
tidings another time, but today thou shalt
bear none: for 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
again to Joab, What, I pray thee, if I also
run after Cushi? And Joab said,
Wherefore now wilt thou run, my son,
seeing that thou hast no tidings to bring?
23 Yet what if I run? Then he said unto
him, Run. So Ahimaaz ran by the way of
the plain, and overwent Cushi.
24 Now David sat between the two
gates. And the watchman went to the top
of the gate upon the wall, and lift up his
eyes, and saw, and behold, a man came
running alone.
25 And the watchman cried, and told the
king. And the King said, If he be alone,
he bringeth tidings. 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 runneth 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.
Then the king said, He is a good man,
and cometh with good tidings.
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto
the king, Peace be with thee: and he fell
down to the earth upon his face before
the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord
thy God, who hath shut up the men that
lift up their hands 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.
30 And the king said unto him, Turn
aside, and stand here. so he turned aside
and stood still.
31 And behold, Cushi came, and Cushi
said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the
Lord hath delivered thee this day out of
the hand of all that rose against thee. 32
Then 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 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.