1 And David{H1732} numbered{H6485}{(H8799)} the people{H5971} that were with him, and set{H7760}{(H8799)} captains{H8269} of thousands{H505} and captains{H8269} of hundreds{H3967} over them.

2 And David{H1732} sent forth{H7971}{(H8762)} a third part{H7992} of the people{H5971} under the hand{H3027} of Joab{H3097}, and a third part{H7992} under the hand{H3027} of Abishai{H52} the son{H1121} of Zeruiah{H6870}, Joab's{H3097} brother{H251}, and a third part{H7992} under the hand{H3027} of Ittai{H863} the Gittite{H1663}. And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the people{H5971}, I will surely{H3318}{(H8800)} go forth{H3318}{(H8799)} with you myself{H589} also.

3 But the people{H5971} answered{H559}{(H8799)}, Thou shalt not go forth{H3318}{(H8799)}: for if we flee{H5127}{(H8799)} away{H5127}{(H8800)}, they will not care{H7760}{(H8799)}{H3820} for us; neither if half{H2677} of us die{H4191}{(H8799)}, will they care{H7760}{(H8799)}{H3820} for us: but now thou art worth{H3644} ten{H6235} thousand{H505} of us: therefore now it is better{H2896} that thou succour{H5826}{(H8800)}{(H8675)}{H5826}{(H8687)} us out of the city{H5892}.

4 And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, What seemeth{H5869} you best{H3190}{(H8799)} I will do{H6213}{(H8799)}. And the king{H4428} stood{H5975}{(H8799)} by the gate{H8179} side{H3027}, and all the people{H5971} came out{H3318}{(H8804)} by hundreds{H3967} and by thousands{H505}.

5 And the king{H4428} commanded{H6680}{(H8762)} Joab{H3097} and Abishai{H52} and Ittai{H863}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Deal gently{H328} for my sake with the young man{H5288}, even with Absalom{H53}. And all the people{H5971} heard{H8085}{(H8804)} when the king{H4428} gave all the captains{H8269} charge{H6680}{(H8763)} concerning{H1697} Absalom{H53}.

6 So the people{H5971} went out{H3318}{(H8799)} into the field{H7704} against{H7125}{(H8800)} Israel{H3478}: and the battle{H4421} was in the wood{H3293} of Ephraim{H669};

7 Where the people{H5971} of Israel{H3478} were slain{H5062}{(H8735)} before{H6440} the servants{H5650} of David{H1732}, and there was there a great{H1419} slaughter{H4046} that day{H3117} of twenty{H6242} thousand{H505} men.

8 For the battle{H4421} was there scattered{H6327}{(H8737)} over the face{H6440} of all the country{H776}: and the wood{H3293} devoured{H398}{(H8800)} more{H7235}{(H8686)} people{H5971} that day{H3117} than the sword{H2719} devoured{H398}{(H8804)}.

9 And Absalom{H53} met{H7122}{(H8735)} the servants{H6440}{H5650} of David{H1732}. And Absalom{H53} rode{H7392}{(H8802)} upon a mule{H6505}, and the mule{H6505} went{H935}{(H8799)} under the thick boughs{H7730} of a great{H1419} oak{H424}, and his head{H7218} caught hold{H2388}{(H8799)} of the oak{H424}, and he was taken up{H5414}{(H8714)} between the heaven{H8064} and the earth{H776}; and the mule{H6505} that was under him went away{H5674}{(H8804)}.

10 And a certain{H259} man{H376} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} it, and told{H5046}{(H8686)} Joab{H3097}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold, I saw{H7200}{(H8804)} Absalom{H53} hanged{H8518}{(H8803)} in an oak{H424}.

11 And Joab{H3097} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the man{H376} that told{H5046}{(H8688)} him, And, behold, thou sawest{H7200}{(H8804)} him, and why didst thou not smite{H5221}{(H8689)} him there to the ground{H776}? and I would have given{H5414}{(H8800)} thee ten{H6235} shekels of silver{H3701}, and a{H259} girdle{H2290}.

12 And the man{H376} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Joab{H3097}, Though{H3863} I should receive{H8254}{(H8802)} a thousand{H505} shekels of silver{H3701} in mine hand{H3709}, yet would I not put forth{H7971}{(H8799)} mine hand{H3027} against the king's{H4428} son{H1121}: for in our hearing{H241} the king{H4428} charged{H6680}{(H8765)} thee and Abishai{H52} and Ittai{H863}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Beware{H8104}{(H8798)} that none touch the young man{H5288} Absalom{H53}.

13 Otherwise{H176} I should have wrought{H6213}{(H8804)} falsehood{H8267} against mine own life{H5315}: for there is no matter{H1697} hid{H3582}{(H8735)} from the king{H4428}, and thou thyself wouldest have set{H3320}{(H8691)} thyself against me.

14 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Joab{H3097}, I may not tarry{H3176}{(H8686)} thus with thee{H6440}. And he took{H3947}{(H8799)} three{H7969} darts{H7626} in his hand{H3709}, and thrust{H8628}{(H8799)} them through the heart{H3820} of Absalom{H53}, while he was yet alive{H2416} in the midst of the oak{H424}.

15 And ten{H6235} young men{H5288} that bare{H5375}{(H8802)} Joab's{H3097} armour{H3627} compassed about{H5437}{(H8799)} and smote{H5221}{(H8686)} Absalom{H53}, and slew{H4191}{(H8686)} him.

16 And Joab{H3097} blew{H8628}{(H8799)} the trumpet{H7782}, and the people{H5971} returned{H7725}{(H8799)} from pursuing{H7291}{(H8800)} after{H310} Israel{H3478}: for Joab{H3097} held back{H2820}{(H8804)} the people{H5971}.

17 And they took{H3947}{(H8799)} Absalom{H53}, and cast{H7993}{(H8686)} him into a great{H1419} pit{H6354} in the wood{H3293}, and laid{H5324}{(H8686)} a very{H3966} great{H1419} heap{H1530} of stones{H68} upon him: and all Israel{H3478} fled{H5127}{(H8804)} every one{H376} to his tent{H168}.

18 Now Absalom{H53} in his lifetime{H2416} had taken{H3947}{(H8804)} and reared up{H5324}{(H8686)} for himself a pillar{H4678}, which is in the king's{H4428} dale{H6010}: for he said{H559}{(H8804)}, I have no son{H1121} to keep my name{H8034} in remembrance{H2142}{(H8687)}: and he called{H7121}{(H8799)} the pillar{H4678} after his own name{H8034}: and it is called{H7121}{(H8735)} unto this day{H3117}, Absalom's{H53} place{H3027}.

19 Then said{H559}{(H8804)} Ahimaaz{H290} the son{H1121} of Zadok{H6659}, Let me now run{H7323}{(H8799)}, and bear{H1319} the king{H4428} tidings{H1319}{(H8762)}, how that the LORD{H3068} hath avenged{H8199}{(H8804)} him of his enemies{H3027}{H341}{(H8802)}.

20 And Joab{H3097} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thou{H376} shalt not bear tidings{H1309} this day{H3117}, but thou shalt bear tidings{H1319}{(H8765)} another{H312} day{H3117}: but this day{H3117} thou shalt bear no tidings{H1319}{(H8762)}, because the king's{H4428} son{H1121} is dead{H4191}{(H8804)}.

21 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Joab{H3097} to Cushi{H3569}, Go{H3212}{(H8798)} tell{H5046}{(H8685)} the king{H4428} what thou hast seen{H7200}{(H8804)}. And Cushi{H3569} bowed{H7812}{(H8691)} himself unto Joab{H3097}, and ran{H7323}{(H8799)}.

22 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Ahimaaz{H290} the son{H1121} of Zadok{H6659} yet again{H3254}{(H8686)} to Joab{H3097}, But howsoever{H4100}, let me, I pray thee, also run{H7323}{(H8799)} after{H310} Cushi{H3569}. And Joab{H3097} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Wherefore wilt thou run{H7323}{(H8801)}, my son{H1121}, seeing that thou hast no tidings{H1309} ready{H4672}{(H8802)}?

23 But howsoever, said he, let me run{H7323}{(H8799)}. And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Run{H7323}{(H8798)}. Then Ahimaaz{H290} ran{H7323}{(H8799)} by the way{H1870} of the plain{H3603}, and overran{H5674}{(H8799)} Cushi{H3569}.

24 And David{H1732} sat{H3427}{(H8802)} between the two{H8147} gates{H8179}: and the watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} went up{H3212}{(H8799)} to the roof{H1406} over the gate{H8179} unto the wall{H2346}, and lifted up{H5375}{(H8799)} his eyes{H5869}, and looked{H7200}{(H8799)}, and behold a man{H376} running{H7323}{(H8801)} alone.

25 And the watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} cried{H7121}{(H8799)}, and told{H5046}{(H8686)} the king{H4428}. And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)}, If he be alone, there is tidings{H1309} in his mouth{H6310}. And he came{H3212}{(H8799)} apace{H1980}{(H8800)}, and drew near{H7131}.

26 And the watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} another{H312} man{H376} running{H7323}{(H8801)}: and the watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} called{H7121}{(H8799)} unto the porter{H7778}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold another man{H376} running{H7323}{(H8801)} alone. And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)}, He also bringeth tidings{H1319}{(H8764)}.

27 And the watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Me thinketh{H7200}{(H8802)} the running{H4794} of the foremost{H7223} is like the running{H4794} of Ahimaaz{H290} the son{H1121} of Zadok{H6659}. And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)}, He is a good{H2896} man{H376}, and cometh{H935}{(H8799)} with good{H2896} tidings{H1309}.

28 And Ahimaaz{H290} called{H7121}{(H8799)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428}, All is well{H7965}. And he fell down{H7812}{(H8691)} to the earth{H776} upon his face{H639} before the king{H4428}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}, which hath delivered up{H5462}{(H8765)} the men{H582} that lifted up{H5375}{(H8804)} their hand{H3027} against my lord{H113} the king{H4428}.

29 And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Is the young man{H5288} Absalom{H53} safe{H7965}? And Ahimaaz{H290} answered{H559}{(H8799)}, When Joab{H3097} sent{H7971}{(H8800)} the king's{H4428} servant{H5650}, and me thy servant{H5650}, I saw{H7200}{(H8804)} a great{H1419} tumult{H1995}, but I knew{H3045}{(H8804)} not what it was.

30 And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Turn aside{H5437}{(H8798)}, and stand{H3320}{(H8690)} here{H3541}. And he turned aside{H5437}{(H8735)}, and stood still{H5975}{(H8799)}.

31 And, behold, Cushi{H3569} came{H935}{(H8802)}; and Cushi{H3569} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Tidings{H1319}{(H8691)}, my lord{H113} the king{H4428}: for the LORD{H3068} hath avenged{H8199}{(H8804)} thee this day{H3117} of all them{H3027} that rose up{H6965}{(H8801)} against thee.

32 And the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Cushi{H3569}, Is the young man{H5288} Absalom{H53} safe{H7965}? And Cushi{H3569} answered{H559}{(H8799)}, The enemies{H341}{(H8802)} of my lord{H113} the king{H4428}, and all that rise{H6965}{(H8804)} against thee to do thee hurt{H7451}, be as that young man{H5288} is.

33 And the king{H4428} was much moved{H7264}{(H8799)}, and went up{H5927}{(H8799)} to the chamber{H5944} over the gate{H8179}, and wept{H1058}{(H8799)}: and as he went{H3212}{(H8800)}, thus he said{H559}{(H8804)}, O my son{H1121} Absalom{H53}, my son{H1121}, my son{H1121} Absalom{H53}! would God I had died{H4191}{(H8800)} for thee{H5414}{(H8799)}, O Absalom{H53}, my son{H1121}, my son{H1121}!