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 that 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 a third part of the people 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 unto 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 answered, Thou shalt 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 now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour 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 unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came 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 wood 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.
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter 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 scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood 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 met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a 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 the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
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 hanged 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 unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
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 unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine 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 I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest 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 said Joab, I may not tarry 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 that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew 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 a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one 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 a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: 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 unto this day, Absalom’s place.
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 said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath 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 unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, 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 said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto 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 said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
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 howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
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.
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto 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 be alone, there is tidings 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 unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
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, Me thinketh 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 cometh with good tidings.
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 unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that 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 the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and 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 unto him, 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, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that 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 unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise 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 God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
