2 Samuel 18
1 And he mustered David the people which [was] with him and he appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And he sent out David the people the third [was] in [the] hand of Joab and the third [was] in [the] hand of Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah [the] brother of Joab and the third [was] in [the] hand of Ittai the Gittite. And he said the king to the people certainly I will go out also I with you.
And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 And it said the people not you must go out for if certainly [if] we will flee not they will set to us heart and if they will die half of us not they will set to us heart for now like us ten thousand and therefore [is] good that you will be us from [the] city (to help. *Q(K)*)
But the people said, Thou shall not go forth. For if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us, but thou are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that thou be ready to help us out of the city.
4 And he said to them the king [that] which it will be good in view your I will do and he stood the king to [the] side of the gate and all the people they went out to hundreds and to thousands.
And the king said to them, What seems best to you I will do. And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 And he commanded the king Joab and Abishai and Ittai saying to gentleness for me to the young man to Absalom and all the people they heard when commanded the king all the commanders on [the] matter of Absalom.
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 And it went out the people the field to meet Israel and it was the battle in [the] forest of Ephraim.
So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
7 And they were defeated there [the] people of Israel before [the] servants of David and it was there the slaughter great on the day that twenty thousand.
And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
8 And it was there the battle (scattered *Q(K)*) over [the] face of all the land and it increased the forest to consume among the people more than [those] whom it consumed the sword on the day that.
For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 And he was met Absalom before [the] servants of David and Absalom [was] riding on the mule and it went the mule under [the] branche[s] of the oak great and it was firm head his in the oak and he was put between the heavens and between the earth and the mule which [was] under him it passed on.
And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak. And he was taken up between sky and earth, and the mule that was under him went on.
10 And he saw a man one and he told to Joab and he said there! I saw Absalom hung up in the oak.
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
11 And he said Joab to the man who had told to him and there! you saw and why? not did you strike down him there [the] ground towards and on me to give to you ten silver and a belt one.
And Joab said to the man who told him, and, behold, thou saw it, and why did thou not smite him there to the ground? And I would have given thee ten pieces of silver, and a belt.
12 And he said the man to Joab (and if *Q(k)*) I [were] weighing on hands my a thousand silver not I will stretch out hand my against [the] son of the king for in ears our he commanded the king you and Abishai and Ittai saying protect whoever the young man Absalom.
And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Or I had done (on life my *Q(K)*) falsehood and any thing not it is hidden from the king and you you will stand from in front.
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then thou thyself would have set thyself against me.
14 And he said Joab not thus I will wait before you and he took three spears in hand his and he thrust them in [the] heart of Absalom still he [was] alive in [the] heart of the oak.
Then Joab said, I will not delay thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And they surrounded [him] ten young men [the] bearers of [the] armor of Joab and they struck Absalom and they killed him.
And ten young men who bore Joab's armor encompassed about and smote Absalom, and killed him.
16 And he gave a blast Joab on the trumpet and it turned back the people from pursuing after Israel for he restrained Joab the people.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab held back the people.
17 And they took Absalom and they threw him in the forest into the pit great and they set up over him a heap of stones great very and all Israel they fled each (to tents his. *Q(K)*)
And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every man to his tent.
18 And Absalom he had taken and he had set up for himself (in life his *Q(K)*) a pillar which [is] in [the] valley of the king for he said not [belongs] to me a son in order to cause to be remembered name my and he called the pillar on own name his and it has been called to it [the] monument of Absalom until the day this.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king's valley, for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance. And he called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument to this day.
19 And Ahimaaz [the] son of Zadok he said let me run please and let me bear [the] news to the king that he has vindicated him Yahweh from [the] hand of enemies his.
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that Jehovah has avenged him of his enemies.
20 And he said to him Joab not [are] a man of news you day this and you will bear news on a day another and day this not you will bear [the] news for (since *Q(K)*) [the] son of the king he has died.
And Joab said to him, Thou shall not be the bearer of news this day, but thou shall bear news another day. But this day thou shall bear no news, because the king's son is dead.
21 And he said Joab to the Cushite go tell to the king [that] which you have seen and he bowed down [the] Cushite to Joab and he ran.
Then Joab said to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou have seen. And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
22 And he repeated again Ahimaaz [the] son of Zadok and he said to Joab and may it be whatever let me run please also I after the Cushite and he said Joab why? this [are] you running O son my and [will belong] to you not good news finding.
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why will thou run, my son, seeing that thou will have no reward for the news?
23 And may it be whatever I will run and he said to him run and he ran Ahimaaz [the] way of the plain and he passed by the Cushite.
But come what may, he said, I will run. And he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
24 And David [was] sitting between [the] two the gates and he went the watchman to [the] roof of the gate to the wall and he lifted up eyes his and he saw and there! a man [was] running to only him.
Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
25 And he called out the watchman and he told to the king and he said the king if to only him news [is] in mouth his and he came continuously and approaching.
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he is alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 And he saw the watchman a man another running and he called out the watchman to the gatekeeper and he said there! a man [is] running to only him and he said the king also this one [is] bearing news.
And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, He also brings news.
27 And he said the watchman I [am] seeing [the] running of the first [one] like [the] running of Ahimaaz [the] son of Zadok and he said the king [is] a man good this and with news good he is coming.
And the watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news.
28 And he called out Ahimaaz and he said to the king peace and he bowed down to the king to face his [the] ground towards. And he said blessed [be] Yahweh God your who he has delivered up the men who they lifted up hand their against lord my the king.
And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. And he bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And he said the king [does] peace? [belong] to the young man to Absalom and he said Ahimaaz I saw the multitude great to send [the] servant of the king Joab and servant your and not I know whatever.
And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, even me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30 And he said the king go around stand thus and he went around and he stood.
And the king said, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 And here! the Cushite [was] coming and he said the Cushite let him receive [the] news lord my the king for he has vindicated you Yahweh this day from [the] hand of all those [who] rose up on you.
And, behold, the Cushite came. And the Cushite said, News for my lord the king, for Jehovah has avenged thee this day of all those who rose up against thee.
32 And he said the king to the Cushite ¿ [does] peace [belong] to the young man to Absalom and he said the Cushite let them be like the young man [the] enemies of lord my the king and all [those] who they have risen up on you for harm.
And the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 And he was agitated the king and he went up to [the] upper room of the gate and he wept and thus - he said when went he O son my Absalom son my son my Absalom who? will he give died I I in place of you O Absalom son my son my.
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
