2 Samuel 18

Absalom Killed

1Then David 1took a count of the people who were with him and 2appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2And David sent the people out, 3a third 4under the command of Joab, a third 5under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third 6under the command of 7Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will certainly go out with you also.” 3But the people said, “8You 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 9you are 10worth 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 11the 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 12all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.

6Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in 13the forest of Ephraim. 7The people of Israel were 14defeated 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.

9Now Absalom encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then 15his head caught firmly in the oak, and he was 16left 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 17my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to 18receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for 19in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘20Protect the young man Absalom for me!’ 13Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against 21his life (and 22there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have 23avoided me.” 14Then Joab said, “I will not 24waste time here with you.” 25So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the 26midst of the oak. 15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

16Then 27Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17And they took Absalom and threw him into 28a deep pit in the forest, and 29erected over him a very large pile of stones. And 30all Israel fled, each to his own tent. 18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and 31set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in 32the King’s Valley, for he said, “33I have no son to 34continue 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

19Then 35Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news 36that the Lord has 37freed 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 38you 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.

24Now 39David was sitting between the two gates; and 40the 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 41think the running form of the first one 42is like the running form of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “43This is a good man, and he is coming with good news.”

28Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “44All is well.” And 45he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “46Blessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 29But the king said, “47Is 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 48I did not know what it was.” 30Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for 49the Lord has 50freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32Then the king said to the Cushite, “51Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “52May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man!”

3353Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “54My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! 55If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”