2 Samuel 18
1 Binilang ni David ang mga sundalong kasama niya at nagtalga ng mga kapitan ng libu-libo at mga kapitan ng daan-daan.
David arranged his soldiers for the battle. He divided them into groups, and appointed a commander for each 100 soldiers and a commander for each 1,000 soldiers.
2 Pagkatapos ipinadala ni David ang hukbo, isang-katlo sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Joab, isa pang katlo sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Abisai anak ni Zeruias, kapatid ni Joab at isa pa ring katlo sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Itai na taga-Gat. Sinabi ng hari sa hukbo, “Titiyakin kong sasama rin ako sa inyo.”
He sent them out in three groups. Joab commanded one group, Joab’s brother Abishai commanded a second group, and Ittai from Gath commanded the third group. David said to them, “I myself will go with you [to the battle].”
3 Pero sinabi ng kalalakihan, “Hindi ka dapat pumunta sa labanan, dahil kung tatakas kami hindi sila mag-aalala sa amin, o kung mamatay ang kalahati sa amin wala silang pakialam. Pero kasing halaga mo ang sampung libo sa amin!
But his soldiers said, “No, we will not allow you to go with us. If they force us all to run away, they will not be concerned about that happening. Or if they kill half of us, that will also not be what they want. To them, [killing] you is more important than [killing] 10,000 of us. So it will be better that you [stay here] in the city and send help to us.”
4 Kaya mas mabuting maghanda kang tulungan kami mula sa lungsod.” Kaya sinagot sila ng hari, “Gagawin ko anuman ang pinakamabuti para sa inyo.” Tumayo ang hari sa tarangkahan ng lungsod habang lumabas ang buong hukbo nang daan-daan at libu-libo.
The king replied, “Okay, I will do whatever seems best to you.” So he stood at the gate [and watched] while his soldiers marched out, group by group.
5 Inutusan ni David sina Joab, Abisai at Itai sa pagsasabing, “Makitungo nang malumanay alang-alang sa akin sa binata, kay Absalom.” Narinig ng lahat ng tao na ibinigay ng hari sa mga kapitan ang utos na ito tungkol kay Absalom.
[While they were leaving, ] the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “For my sake, do not harm my son Absalom!” And all the troops heard it when David gave that order about Absalom to those three commanders.
6 Kaya lumabas ang hukbo sa kabukiran laban sa Israel; umabot ang labanan sa kagubatan ng Efraim.
So the army went out to fight against the Israeli soldiers [who were with Absalom]. They fought the battle in the forest [where people from the tribe] of Ephraim [lived].
7 Natalo roon ang hukbo ng Israel sa harapan ng mga sundalo ni David; may isang matinding patayan doon sa araw na iyon nang dalawampung libong kalalakihan.
David’s soldiers defeated Absalom’s soldiers. They killed 20,000 of them!
8 Umabot ang labanan hanggang sa buong kabukiran at mas maraming kalalakihan ang nilamon ng kagubatan kaysa ng espada.
The battle was fought {They fought the battle} all over that area, and the number of men who died because of [dangerous things in] the forest [PRS] was greater than the number of men who were killed (in the battle/by swords).
9 Nagkataong nakasalubong ni Absalom ang ilan sa mga sundalo ni David. Nakasakay si Absalom sa kaniyang mola at napadaan ang mola sa ilalim ng makakapal na sanga ng isang malaking punong kahoy at sumabit ang kaniyang ulo sa mga sanga ng puno. Naiwan siyang nakabitin sa pagitan ng lupa at ng langit habang nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo ang kaniyang sinasakyang mola.
During the battle, Absalom suddenly came near [some of] David’s soldiers. Absalom was riding on his mule; and when the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head/hair was caught in the branches. The mule kept going, but Absalom was left dangling in the air.
10 Nakita ito ng isang tao at sinabihan si Joab, “Tingnan, nakita kong nakabitin si Absalom sa isang punong kahoy!”
One of David’s soldiers saw what happened, and went and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11 Sinabi ni Joab sa taong nagsabi sa kaniya tungkol kay Absalom, “Tingnan mo! Nakita mo siya! Bakit hindi mo siya hinampas pababa sa lupa? Bibigyan sana kita ng sampung siklong pilak at isang sinturon.”
Joab said to the man, “What? You say that you saw him hanging there, so why did you not kill him immediately [RHQ]? [If you had killed him, ] I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt!”
12 Sumagot ang lalaki kay Joab, “Kahit na makatanggap ako ng isanglibong siklong pilak, hindi ko pa rin iaabot ang aking kamay laban sa anak ng hari, dahil narinig naming lahat na inutusan ka ng hari, si Abisai at si Itai, sa pagsasabing, 'Walang isa mang dapat gumalaw sa binatang si Absalom.'
The man replied to Joab, “Even if you gave me 1,000 pieces of silver, I would not have done anything to harm [IDM] the king’s son. We all heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, do not harm my son Absalom!’
13 Kung inilagay ko sa panganib ang aking buhay sa pamamagitan ng isang kasinungalingan (at walang makukubli mula sa hari), pinabayaan mo nalang sana ako.”
If I had disobeyed the king and killed Absalom, the king would have heard about it, because the king hears about everything, and even you would not have defended me!”
14 Pagkatapos sinabi ni Joab, “Hindi na ako maghihintay sa iyo.” Kaya nagdala si Joab ng tatlong sibat sa kaniyang kamay at isinaksak ang mga ito sa puso ni Absalom, habang buhay pa siya at nakabitin mula sa kahoy.
Joab said, “I am not going to waste time talking to you!” Then he took three spears [and went to where Absalom was], and thrust them into Absalom’s chest/heart while he was still alive, dangling from the oak tree.
15 Pagkatapos pumaligid ang sampung binatang kalalakihang tagadala ng sandata ni Joab kay Absalom, sinalakay siya at pinatay.
Then ten young men who carried weapons for Joab surrounded Absalom and [finished] killing him.
16 Pagkatapos hinipan ni Joab ang trumpeta at bumalik ang hukbo mula sa pagtugis sa Israel, dahil pinabalik ni Joab ang hukbo.
Then Joab blew his trumpet [to signal that they should not fight any more], and his soldiers returned from pursuing those Israeli soldiers.
17 Kinuha nila si Absalom at itinapon siya sa isang malaking hukay sa kagubatan; inilibing nila ang kaniyang katawan sa ilalim ng isang malaking tumpok ng mga bato, habang tumatakas ang buong Israel, ang bawat tao sa kanilang sariling tahanan.
They took Absalom’s body and threw it into a huge pit in the forest, and covered it with a huge pile of stones. Then all the remaining Israeli soldiers [who had been with Absalom] fled to their own towns.
18 Ngayon si Absalom, Nang buhay pa siya, nagtayo siya para sa kaniyang sarili ng isang malaking haliging bato sa Lambak ng Hari, dahil sinabi niya, “Wala akong anak na lalaki para ipagpatuloy ang alaala ng aking pangalan.” Pinangalanan niya ang haligi kasunod sa kaniyang sariling pangalan, kaya tinawag itong Bantayog ni Absalom hanggang sa araw na ito.
Absalom had no sons to preserve his [family] name. So, while Absalom was alive, he built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley [near Jerusalem, in order that people would remember him]. He put his name on the monument, and people still call it Absalom’s monument.
19 Pagkatapos sinabi ni Ahimaaz anak na lalaki ni Zadok, “Pahintulutan mo akong tumakbo ngayon sa hari dala ang mabuting balita, kung paano siya iniligtas ni Yahweh mula sa kaniyang mga kaaway.”
[After Absalom had been killed, ] Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said to Joab, “Allow me to run to the king to tell him the good news that Yahweh has rescued him from the power of his enemies!”
20 Sinagot siya ni Joab, “Hindi ka magiging tagapagdala ng balita ngayon; dapat mong gawin ito sa ibang araw. Ngayon hindi ka magdadala ng balita dahil patay ang anak na lalaki ng hari.”
But Joab said to him, “No, I will not allow you to take news to the king today. Some other day I will allow you to take some news, but not today. [If you took news today it would not be good news for the king, ] because his son is dead.”
21 Pagkatapos sinabi ni Joab sa isang Cusita, “Humayo ka, sabihin sa hari kung ano ang iyong nakita.” Yumukod ang Cusita kay Joab at tumakbo.
Then Joab said to David’s servant who was from Ethiopia, “You go and tell the king what you have seen.” So the man from Ethiopia bowed in front of Joab, and started to run.
22 Pagkatapos sinabing muli ni Ahimaaz anak na lalaki ni Zadok kay Joab, “Kahit anuman ang mangyari, pakiusap pahintulutan mo rin akong tumakbo at sundan ang Cusita.” Sumagot si Joab, “Bakit gusto mong tumakbo, anak ko, nakikitang wala kang gantimpala para sa balita?”
Then Ahimaaz said again to Joab, “Even though [that man from Ethiopia is running], allow me to run behind him.” Joab replied, “My boy/son, why do you want to do that? You will not receive any reward for your news!”
23 “Anuman ang mangyayari,” sabi ni Ahimaaz, “Tatakbo ako.” Kaya sinagot siya ni Joab, “Takbo.” Pagkatapos tumakbo si Ahimaaz sa daan ng kapatagan at naunahan ang Cusita.
But Ahimaaz replied, “That does not matter, I want to go.” So Joab said, “Okay, go.” So Ahimaaz ran along [another] road through the Jordan Valley and arrived [where David was] before the man from Ethiopia arrived.
24 Ngayon nakaupo si David sa pagitan ng mga panloob at panlabas ng tarangkahan. Umakyat ang bantay sa bubong ng tarangkahan sa pader at itinaas ang kaniyang mata. Habang nakatingin siya, nakakita siya ng isang taong papalapit, mag-isang tumatakbo.
David was sitting between the outer gate and the inner gate [of the city]. The watchman/lookout went up on top of the city wall and stood on the roof over the gates. He looked out and saw one man running alone.
25 Sumigaw ang bantay at sinabihan ang hari. Pagkatapos sinabi ng hari, “Kung nag-iisa siya, may balita sa kaniyang bibig.” Dumating ang mananakbo at lumapit sa lugnsod.
The watchman called down and reported it to the king. The king said, “If he is alone, [that indicates/means that] he is bringing [good] news.” The man who was running continued to come closer.
26 Pagkatapos napansin ng bantay ang isa pang taong tumatakbo at tinawag ng bantay ang bantay ng tarangkahan; sinabi niya, “Tingnan mo, may isa pang lalaking mag-isang tumatakbo.” Sinabi ng hari, “Nagdadala rin siya ng balita.”
Then the watchman saw another man running. So he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look! There is another man running!” And the king said, “He also is bringing [some good] news.”
27 Kaya sinabi ng bantay, “Sa palagay ko ang pagtakbo ng lalaking nasa harapan ay katulad ng pagtakbo ni Ahimaaz anak na lalaki ni Zadok.” Sinabi ng hari, “Mabuti siyang tao at parating siya na may mabuting balita.”
The watchman said, “I think the first man [must be Ahimaaz, because he] is running like Ahimaaz runs.” The king said, “He is a good man, and [I am sure] he is coming with good news.”
28 Pagkatapos sumigaw si Ahimaaz at sinabi sa hari, “Mabuti ang lahat.” At iniyukod niya ang kaniyang sarili sa harapan ng hari na nakadikit ang kaniyang mukha sa lupa at sinabing, “Pagpalain si Yahweh na iyong Diyos, na siyang nagbigay sa mga lalaking nagtaas ng kanilang kamay laban sa aking panginoong hari.”
[When] Ahimaaz [reached the king, he] called out “I hope/desire that things will go well with you!” Then he prostrated himself on the ground in front of the king and said, “Your Majesty, praise Yahweh our God, who has rescued you from the men who were rebelling against you!”
29 Kaya sumagot ang hari, “Nasa mabuting kalagayan ba ang binatang si Absalom? Sumagot si Ahimaaz, “Nang pinadala ako ni Joab, ang lingkod ng hari, sa iyo, hari, nakita ko ang isang malaking kabalisahan, pero hindi ko alam kung ano ito.”
The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe/all right?” Ahimaaz [did not want to answer that question, so he] replied, “When Joab sent me, I saw that there was a lot of confusion, but I do not know what it was about.”
30 Pagkatapos sinabi ng hari, “Lumihis at tumayo rito.” Kaya lumihis si Ahimaaz, at nanatiling nakatayo.
Then the king said, “Stand aside.” So Ahimaaz stepped aside and stood there.
31 Pagkatapos kaagad namang dumating ang Cusita at sinabing, “May mabuting balita para sa aking panginoong hari, dahil ipinaghiganti ka ni Yahweh sa araw na ito mula sa lahat ng nag-alsa laban sa iyo.”
Suddenly the man from Ethiopia arrived, and said, “Your Majesty, I have good news for you! Yahweh has enabled your soldiers to defeat all those who rebelled against you!”
32 Pagkatapos sinabi ng hari sa Cusita, “Nasa mabuting kalagayan ba ang binatang si Absalom?” Sumagot ang Cusita, “Ang mga kaaway ng aking panginoong hari at ang lahat nang nag-alsa laban sa iyo, ay dapat matulad pinsala na nangyari sa binatang iyon.”
The king said to him, “Is the young man Absalom safe/all right?” And the man from Ethiopia replied, “Sir, I wish/desire that what happened to him would happen to all of your enemies and to all those who rebel against you!”
33 Pagkatapos kinabahan nang matindi ang hari at umakyat siya sa silid sa itaas ng tarangkahan at umiyak. Habang lumalakad nagdalamhati siya, “Absalom anak ko, anak ko, anak kong si Absalom! Ako nalang sana ang namatay sa halip na ikaw, Absalom, anak ko, anak ko!”
The king [realized that he meant that Absalom was dead, so he] became (extremely distressed/overcome with grief), and he went up to the room above the gateway and cried. While he was going up, he kept crying out, “O, my son Absalom! My son! O, my son Absalom, I desire/wish that I had died instead of you!”
