1 David mustered the people who were with him and appointed commanders over thousands and commanders over hundreds.

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2 David divided the troops into three groups: one-third under Joab, one-third under Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one-third under Ittai the Gittite. Then the king said to the troops, 'I will also go into battle with you.'

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 replied, 'You must not go with us. If we are forced to flee, no one will care about us. Even if half of us die, no one will pay attention. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for you to provide support from the city.'

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 The king said to them, 'I will do whatever seems best to you.' So the king stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.

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 The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, 'Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.' All the troops heard the king’s orders concerning Absalom to all the commanders.

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 The army went out to the field to confront Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

7 There, the army of Israel was defeated by David's servants, and the casualties were heavy that day—twenty thousand men.

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 The battle spread over the entire area, and more men were consumed by the forest than by the sword that day.

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 Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. He was riding his mule when it passed under the thick branches of a large oak tree. His head got caught in the tree, leaving him hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule under him kept going.

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 A man saw what had happened and told Joab, 'I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.'

And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

11 Joab said to the man who reported it, 'You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him down right there? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a belt.'

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 But the man replied to Joab, 'Even if I were to receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not dare to harm the king’s son. For we all heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai to protect the young man Absalom for his sake.'

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 'If I had acted treacherously against my own life, nothing is hidden from the king, and you yourself would have kept your distance from me.'

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 Joab said, 'I cannot linger here with you.' So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s heart while he was still alive, hanging in the oak tree.

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 Ten of Joab’s young armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16 Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab had restrained them.

And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

17 They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a great heap of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.

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 During his lifetime, Absalom had set up a pillar in the King’s Valley for himself, saying, 'I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.' He named the pillar after himself, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

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 Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, 'Let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.'

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 But Joab said to him, 'You are not the one to take the news today. You may take the news another day, but not today, because the king’s son is dead.'

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 Joab said to a Cushite, 'Go, tell the king what you have seen.' The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran off.

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

22 But Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, 'Come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.' Joab replied, 'Why do you want to run, my son? You will not gain any reward for delivering this news.'

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 Ahimaaz insisted, 'Let me run, no matter what!' So Joab said, 'Run!' Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.

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 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall. As he looked, he saw a man running alone.

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 The watchman called out and told the king. The king said, 'If he is alone, he is bringing news.' And the runner continued approaching.

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 Then the watchman saw another man running, and he called to the gatekeeper, 'Look, another man is running alone!' The king said, 'He too brings news.'

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 The watchman said, 'It seems to me the running of the first man is like that of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' 'He is a good man,' the king said, 'and he comes with good news.'

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 Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, 'All is well!' He bowed down with his face to the ground before the king and said, 'Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.'

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 The king asked, 'Is the young man Absalom safe?' Ahimaaz answered, 'I saw a great commotion when Joab sent the king’s servant and me, but I do not know what it was.'

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 The king said, 'Stand aside and wait here.' So he stepped aside and stood there.

And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31 Then the Cushite arrived and said, 'My lord the king, hear the good news! Today the Lord has vindicated you by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.'

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 The king asked the Cushite, 'Is the young man Absalom safe?' The Cushite replied, 'May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise against you to harm you end up like that young man.'

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.