2 Samuel 18
Absalom Killed
1 Then David ▼▼Lit mustered
took a count of the people who were with him and bappointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2And David sent the people out, ca third ▼▼Lit by the hand of
under the command of Joab, a third ▼▼Lit by the hand of
under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third ▼▼Lit by the hand of
under the command of gIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will certainly go out with you also.” 3But the people said, “ hYou should not go out; for if in fact we flee, they will not care about us; and if half of us die, they will not care about us. But ▼▼As in some ancient versions; MT for now there are 10,000 like us
you are ▼▼Lit like us by 10,000
worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you will be ready to help us from the city.” 4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So kthe king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And lall the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom. 6 Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in mthe forest of Ephraim. 7The people of Israel were ▼▼Lit struck
defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men. 8For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 9 Now Absalom encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then ohis head caught firmly in the oak, and he was ▼▼Lit placed
left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11Then Joab said to the man who had informed him, “So behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And it would have been ▼▼Lit And upon me
my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to ▼▼Lit weigh
receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for sin our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘ ▼▼As in some mss and ancient versions; MT Protect, whoever you are, the
Protect the young man Absalom for me!’ 13Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against ▼▼Another reading is my life; i.e., at the risk of my own life
his life (and vthere is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have ▼▼Lit stood aloof
avoided me.” 14Then Joab said, “I will not ▼▼Lit wait so with
waste time here with you.” ySo he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the ▼▼Lit heart
midst of the oak. 15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him. 16 Then aaJoab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17And they took Absalom and threw him into ▼▼Lit the great
a deep pit in the forest, and acerected over him a very large pile of stones. And adall Israel fled, each to his own tent. 18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and aeset up for himself a memorial stone, which is in afthe King’s Valley, for he said, “ agI have no son to ▼▼Lit bring to remembrance
continue my name.” So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day. David Is Grief-stricken
19 Then aiAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news ajthat the Lord has ▼▼Lit vindicated
freed him from the hand of his enemies!” 20But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to bring news this day, but you shall bring news another day; however, you shall bring no news this day, because the king’s son is dead.” 21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22However, 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 alyou will have no messenger’s reward for going?” 23“But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed by the Cushite. 24 Now amDavid was sitting between the two gates; and anthe watchman went to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked; and behold, a man was running by himself. 25So the watchman called out 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. 26Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man is running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27The watchman said, “I ▼▼Lit see
think the running form of the first one apis like the running form of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “ aqThis is a good man, and he is coming with good news.” 28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “ ▼▼Lit Peace; Heb Shalom
All is well.” And ashe prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “ atBlessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 29But the king said, “ auIs it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great commotion, but avI did not know what it was.” 30Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. 31 Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for awthe Lord has ▼▼Lit vindicated
freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32Then the king said to the Cushite, “ ayIs it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “ azMay the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man!” 33 ▼▼Ch 19:1 in Heb
Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “ bbMy son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! bcIf only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
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