2 Samuel 18
18:1And David numbered all the people with him. And he placed over them commanders of thousands, and commanders of hundreds.
18:2And David sent away the people, a third under the hand of Joab, and another third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and other third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, In going forth, I shall go forth even indeed I myself with you.
18:3And the people said, You shall not go forth; for if we should flee into exile, they shall not put us to heart. And if half of us should die they shall not put us to heart. For you are as of us ten thousand. And now it is good that you will be with us in the city for our helper.
18:4And the king said to them, The pleasing thing before you I will do. And the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people went forth by hundreds and by thousands.
18:5And the king gave charge to Joab and to Abishai and to Ittai, saying, Spare for me the young man Absalom! And all the people heard the king giving charge to all the rulers concerning Absalom.
18:6And all the people went forth into the field for meeting Israel. And the battle happened in the grove of Ephraim.
18:7And the people of Israel failed there before the children of David. And there became a great devastation in that day -- twenty thousand men.
18:8And it came to pass there the war dispersed over the face of all the land. And the forest was superabundant in devouring of the people above what the sword devoured among the people in that day.
18:9And Absalom met before the servants of David. And Absalom was mounted upon the mule, and the mule was entering under the thicket of the great oak. And his head was twisted in the oak, and he hung between the heaven and between the earth, and the mule underneath him went on.
18:10And one man saw it, and announced to Joab. And said, Behold, I have seen Absalom hanging in the oak.
18:11And Joab said to the man announcing to him, And behold, you saw it? And why is it that you did not strike him there to the ground, and I would have given to you ten shekels of silver, and one sash?
18:12And the man said to Joab, And if you rendered unto my hands a thousand shekels of silver, in no way would I put my hand against the son of the king. For in our ears the king gave charge to you, and to Abishai, and to Ittai, saying, Guard for me the young man Absalom,
18:13to not do anything injust against his life! And all the matter will not be kept unaware from the king, and you shall set yourself right opposite me.
18:14And Joab said, This I begin; not thus shall I abide before you. And Joab took three arrows in his hand, and he stuck them in the heart of Absalom while yet he was living, in the heart of the oak.
18:15And there encircled ten young men lifting the weapons of Joab, and they struck Absalom, and killed him.
18:16And Joab trumped with the trumpet, and the people returned to not pursue after Israel, for Joab spared the people.
18:17And Joab took Absalom, and he tossed him into a great chasm in the grove, into the great pit, and they set over him a heap of exceedingly great stones. And all Israel fled each to his tent.
18:18And Absalom while still living took and set for himself a monument in the valley of the king. For he said, There is not to me a son calling to mind my name. And he called the monument by his name. And he named it Hand of Absalom, until this day.
18:19And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, Running indeed, I will announce good news to the king, that the lord passed judgment to him on the hand of his enemies.
18:20And Joab said to him, You are not a man of good news in this day, but you shall announce good news in another day. But in this day you shall not announce good news, for a son of the king has died.
18:21And Joab said to Cushi, Go, announce to the king what you have seen! And Cushi did obeisance to Joab, and he ran.
18:22And Ahimaaz son of Zadok added still, and he said to Joab, Also let it be that I run also indeed myself after Cushi! And Joab said, Why do you run, my young one? There is not good news to you for benefit in going.
18:23And Ahimaaz said, For what if I shall run? And Joab said to him, Run! And Ahimaaz ran by the way of Kechar, and he surpassed Cushi.
18:24And David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went onto the roof of the gate house, unto the wall; and he lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, there was a man running alone before him.
18:25And the watchman yelled out, and reported to the king. And the king said, If he is alone good news is in his mouth. And he went along, coming and approaching.
18:26And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman yelled out at the gate, and said, Behold, another man is running alone. And the king said, Also this one is announcing good news.
18:27And the watchman said, I see the racing of the first as the racing of Ahimaaz son of Zadok. And the king said, This is a good man, and indeed for good news he shall come.
18:28And Ahimaaz yelled and said to the king, Peace. And he did obeisance to the king upon his face upon the ground. And he said, Blessed be the lord your God, who shut up the men, the ones lifting their hand against my master the king.
18:29And the king said, Is there peace to the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz said, I saw the great multitude being gladdened in the sending Joab the servant of the king, and your servant, and I do not know what happened there.
18:30And the king said, Turn aside and stand by here! And he turned aside and stood.
18:31And behold, Cushi came. And Cushi said to the king, Let there be good news announced, O my master the king! for the lord passed judgment for you today of the hand of all the ones rousing against you.
18:32And the king said to Cushi, How is the peace to the young man Absalom? And Cushi said, Let be as that young man, the enemies of my master the king! and all as many as rise up against you for evils.
18:33And the king was disturbed, and he ascended into the upper room of the gate and wept. And so he said as he wept, O My son, Absalom. O my son!, O my son, Absalom. What that I couldn't give my death for you, I instead of you, Absalom, O my son! O my son.