2 Samuel 18:1-18

1And DavidH1732 marshalled the peopleH5971 that were with him, and setH7760 captains of thousandsH505 and captains of hundredsH3967 over them.

2And DavidH1732 sentH7971 forthH3318 the peopleH5971, a thirdH7992 part under the handH3027 of JoabH3097, and a thirdH7992 part under the handH3027 of AbishaiH52 the sonH1121 of ZeruiahH6870, Joab's brotherH251, and a thirdH7992 part under the handH3027 of IttaiH863 the GittiteH1663. And the kingH4428 saidH559 to the peopleH5971, I will surely goH3318 forthH3318 with you myself alsoH1571.

3But the peopleH5971 saidH559, Thou shalt not goH3318 forthH3318, for if we should in any case fleeH5127, they will not care for us; neither if halfH2677 of us dieH4191, will they care for us; for thou art worth tenH6235 thousandH505 of us; and nowH6258 it is betterH2896 that thou succour us out of the cityH5892.

4And the kingH4428 saidH559 to them, I will do what is goodH3190 in your sight. And the kingH4428 stoodH5975 by the gate-side, and all the peopleH5971 cameH3381 out by hundredsH3967 and by thousandsH505.

5And the kingH4428 commandedH6680 JoabH3097 and AbishaiH52 and IttaiH863, sayingH559, [Deal] gently for my sake with the youngH5288 manH5288 AbsalomH53. And all the peopleH5971 heardH8085 when the kingH4428 gave all the captains charge concerning AbsalomH53.

6And the peopleH5971 wentH3318 out into the fieldH7704 against IsraelH3478; and the battleH4421 wasH1961 in the forestH3293 of EphraimH669.

7And the peopleH5971 of IsraelH3478 wereH1961 routed before the servantsH5650 of DavidH1732, and there wasH1961 a greatH1419 slaughterH4046 there that dayH3117: twentyH6242 thousandH505 men.

8And the battleH4421 wasH1961 there scatteredH6327 over the faceH6440 of all the country; and the forestH3293 devouredH398 more peopleH5971 that dayH3117 than the swordH2719 devouredH398.

9And AbsalomH53 found himself in the presenceH6440 of David's servantsH5650. And AbsalomH53 was ridingH7392 upon a muleH6505, and the muleH6505 wentH935 under the thick boughs of the greatH1419 terebinthH424, and his headH7218 caught in the terebinthH424, and he was takenH2388 up between the heavenH8064 and the earthH776; and the muleH6505 that was under him wentH935 awayH5674.

10And a manH376 sawH7200 it, and toldH5046 JoabH3097, and saidH559, Behold, I sawH7200 AbsalomH53 hangingH8518 in a terebinthH424.

11And JoabH3097 saidH559 to the manH376 that toldH5046 him, And behold, thou sawest [him], and whyH4069 didst thou not smite him there to the groundH776? and I would have givenH5414 thee tenH6235 silverH3701 pieces and a girdle.

12And the manH376 saidH559 to JoabH3097, Though I should receive a thousandH505 silverH3701 pieces in my handH3027, yet would I not put forthH7971 my handH3027 against the king's sonH1121; for in our hearing the kingH4428 charged thee and AbishaiH52 and IttaiH863, sayingH559, TakeH8104 care, whoever it be [of you], of the youngH5288 manH376 AbsalomH53.

13Or I should have actedH6213 falsely against mine ownH5315 lifeH5315, for there is no matterH1697 concealed from the kingH4428, and thou wouldest have set thyself against [me].

14Then saidH559 JoabH3097, I may not tarry thusH3651 with thee. And he tookH3947 threeH7969 spears in his handH3709, and thrustH8628 them into Absalom's body, while he was yetH5750 aliveH2416 in the midst of the terebinthH424.

15And tenH6235 youngH5288 menH5288 that boreH5375 Joab's armour surroundedH5437 and smote AbsalomH53, and killed him.

16And JoabH3097 blew the trumpetH7782, and the peopleH5971 returnedH7725 from pursuingH7291 after IsraelH3478; for JoabH3097 keptH2820 backH7725 the peopleH5971.

17And they tookH3947 AbsalomH53, and castH7993 him into a greatH1419 pitH6354 in the wood, and raised a veryH3966 greatH1419 heapH1530 of stonesH68 upon him. And all IsraelH3478 fledH5127 every oneH376 to his tentH168.

18Now AbsalomH53 in his lifetime had takenH3947 and reared up for himself a monument, which is in the king's dale; for he saidH559, I have no sonH1121 to keep my nameH8034 in remembranceH2142; and he calledH7121 the monument after his own nameH8034; and it is calledH7121 unto this dayH3117, Absalom's memorial.