2 Samuel 18

2 Samuel Chapter 18 KJV

1David, having mustered his troops under three principal leaders, giveth them a strict charge not to hurt Absalom. 6The men of Israel are smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9Absalom hanging by the hair of his head in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit. 18Absalom's place. 19Ahimaaz and Cushi carry tidings to David, 33who mourneth for Absalom.
1 And David 1numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And David sent forth 1a third part of the people under 2the 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, 3I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, 1Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not acare for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art bworth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that 2thou csuccour us out of the city.
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king 1stood 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, 1Deal 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 1wood of Ephraim;
7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a 1great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and 1the wood adevoured 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 1oak, and his 2head 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 1girdle.
12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should areceive 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 1charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, bBeware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood 1against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thy-self wouldest have set thyself against me.
14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus awith thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and 1thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the bmidst of the oak.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab 1blew 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 1laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel 2fled every one to his tent.
18 ¶ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself 1a pillar, 2which is in the king's dale: for he said, 3I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he 4called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
19 ¶ Then said 1Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath aavenged him of his enemies.
20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not abear 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 1Cushi, 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 ahowsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings bready?
23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of 1the plain, and overran Cushi.
24 And David sat 1between the two gates: and 2the watchman went up to the 3roof 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, aMe thinketh the running of the foremost is 1like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, 2He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, aAll is well. And he 1fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath bdelivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And the king said, aIs 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, aTidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath 1avenged 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, 1The 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! 1would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
2 Samuel 18