And David{H1732} numbered{H6485} the people{H5971} that were with him, and set{H7760} captains{H8269} of thousands{H505} and captains{H8269} of hundreds{H3967} over them.

And David{H1732} sent forth{H7971} the people,{H5971} a third part{H7992} under the hand{H3027} of Joab,{H3097} and a third part{H7992} under the hand{H3027} of Abishai{H52} the son{H1121} of Zeruiah,{H6870} Joab's{H3097} brother,{H251} and a third part{H7992} under the hand{H3027} of Ittai{H863} the Gittite.{H1663} And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto the people,{H5971} I will surely{H3318} go forth{H3318} with you myself{H589} also.

But the people{H5971} said,{H559} Thou shalt not go forth:{H3318} for if we flee{H5127} away,{H5127} they will not care{H7760} for us; neither if half{H2677} of us die,{H4191} will they care{H7760} for us: but thou art worth{H3644} ten{H6235} thousand{H505} of us; therefore now it is better{H2896} that thou be ready to succor{H5826} us out of the city.{H5892}

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto them, What seemeth{H5869} you best{H3190} I will do.{H6213} And the king{H4428} stood{H5975} by the gate-side,{H8179} {H3027} and all the people{H5971} went out{H3318} by hundreds{H3967} and by thousands.{H505}

And the king{H4428} commanded{H6680} Joab{H3097} and Abishai{H52} and Ittai,{H863} saying,{H559} Deal gently{H328} for my sake with the young man,{H5288} even with Absalom.{H53} And all the people{H5971} heard{H8085} when the king{H4428} gave all the captains{H8269} charge{H6680} concerning{H1697} Absalom.{H53}

So the people{H5971} went out{H3318} into the field{H7704} against{H7125} Israel:{H3478} and the battle{H4421} was in the forest{H3293} of Ephraim.{H669}

And the people{H5971} of Israel{H3478} were smitten{H5062} there before{H6440} the servants{H5650} of David,{H1732} and there was a great{H1419} slaughter{H4046} there that day{H3117} of twenty{H6242} thousand{H505} men.

For the battle{H4421} was there spread{H6327} over the face{H6440} of all the country;{H776} and the forest{H3293} devoured{H398} more{H7235} people{H5971} that day{H3117} than the sword{H2719} devoured.{H398}

And Absalom{H53} chanced to meet{H7122} the servants{H6440} of David.{H1732} And Absalom{H53} was riding{H7392} upon his mule,{H6505} and the mule{H6505} went{H935} under the thick boughs{H7730} of a great{H1419} oak,{H424} and his head{H7218} caught hold{H2388} of the oak,{H424} and he was taken up{H5414} between heaven{H8064} and earth;{H776} and the mule{H6505} that was under him went on.{H5674}

And a certain{H259} man{H376} saw{H7200} it, and told{H5046} Joab,{H3097} and said,{H559} Behold, I saw{H7200} Absalom{H53} hanging{H8518} in an oak.{H424}

And Joab{H3097} said{H559} unto the man{H376} that told{H5046} him, And, behold, thou sawest{H7200} it, and why didst thou not smite{H5221} him there to the ground?{H776} and I would have given{H5414} thee ten{H6235} [pieces of] silver,{H3701} and a{H259} girdle.{H2290}

And the man{H376} said{H559} unto Joab,{H3097} Though{H3863} I should receive{H8254} a thousand{H505} [pieces of] silver{H3701} in my hand,{H3709} yet would I not put forth{H7971} my hand{H3027} against the king's{H4428} son;{H1121} for in our hearing{H241} the king{H4428} charged{H6680} thee and Abishai{H52} and Ittai,{H863} saying,{H559} Beware{H8104} that none touch the young man{H5288} Absalom.{H53}

Otherwise{H176} if I had dealt{H6213} falsely{H8267} against his life{H5315} (and there is no matter{H1697} hid{H3582} from the king),{H4428} then thou thyself wouldest have set{H3320} thyself against [me].

Then said{H559} Joab,{H3097} I may not tarry{H3176} thus with thee.{H6440} And he took{H3947} three{H7969} darts{H7626} in his hand,{H3709} and thrust{H8628} them through the heart{H3820} of Absalom,{H53} while he was yet alive{H2416} in the midst of the oak.{H424}

And ten{H6235} young men{H5288} that bare{H5375} Joab's{H3097} armor{H3627} compassed about{H5437} and smote{H5221} Absalom,{H53} and slew{H4191} him.

And Joab{H3097} blew{H8628} the trumpet,{H7782} and the people{H5971} returned{H7725} from pursuing{H7291} after{H310} Israel;{H3478} for Joab{H3097} held back{H2820} the people.{H5971}

And they took{H3947} Absalom,{H53} and cast{H7993} him into the great{H1419} pit{H6354} in the forest,{H3293} and raised{H5324} over him a very{H3966} great{H1419} heap{H1530} of stones:{H68} and all Israel{H3478} fled{H5127} every one{H376} to his tent.{H168}

Now Absalom{H53} in his lifetime{H2416} had taken{H3947} and reared up{H5324} for himself the pillar,{H4678} which is in the king's{H4428} dale;{H6010} for he said,{H559} I have no son{H1121} to keep my name{H8034} in remembrance:{H2142} and he called{H7121} the pillar{H4678} after his own name;{H8034} and it is called{H7121} Absalom's{H53} monument,{H3027} unto this day.{H3117}

Then said{H559} Ahimaaz{H290} the son{H1121} of Zadok,{H6659} Let me now run,{H7323} and bear{H1319} the king{H4428} tidings,{H1319} how that Jehovah{H3068} hath avenged{H8199} him of his enemies.{H3027}

And Joab{H3097} said{H559} unto him, Thou{H376} shalt not be the bearer of tidings{H1309} this day,{H3117} but thou shalt bear tidings{H1319} another{H312} day;{H3117} but this day{H3117} thou shalt bear no tidings,{H1319} because the king's{H4428} son{H1121} is dead.{H4191}

Then said{H559} Joab{H3097} to the Cushite,{H3569} Go,{H3212} tell{H5046} the king{H4428} what thou hast seen.{H7200} And the Cushite{H3569} bowed{H7812} himself unto Joab,{H3097} and ran.{H7323}

Then said{H559} Ahimaaz{H290} the son{H1121} of Zadok{H6659} yet again{H3254} to Joab,{H3097} But come what may,{H4100} let me, I pray thee, also run{H7323} after{H310} the Cushite.{H3569} And Joab{H3097} said,{H559} Wherefore wilt thou run,{H7323} my son,{H1121} seeing that thou wilt have no reward{H4672} for the tidings?{H1309}

But come what may, [said]{H559} [he], I will run.{H7323} And he said{H559} unto him, Run.{H7323} Then Ahimaaz{H290} ran{H7323} by the way{H1870} of the Plain,{H3603} and outran the Cushite.{H3569}

Now David{H1732} was sitting{H3427} between the two{H8147} gates:{H8179} and the watchman{H6822} went up{H3212} to the roof{H1406} of the gate{H8179} unto the wall,{H2346} and lifted up{H5375} his eyes,{H5869} and looked,{H7200} and, behold, a man{H376} running{H7323} alone.

And the watchman{H6822} cried,{H7121} and told{H5046} the king.{H4428} And the king{H4428} said,{H559} If he be alone, there is tidings{H1309} in his mouth.{H6310} And he came{H3212} apace,{H1980} and drew near.{H7131}

And the watchman{H6822} saw{H7200} another{H312} man{H376} running;{H7323} and the watchman{H6822} called{H7121} unto the porter,{H7778} and said,{H559} Behold, [another] man{H376} running{H7323} alone. And the king{H4428} said,{H559} He also bringeth tidings.{H1319}

And the watchman{H6822} said,{H559} I think{H7200} the running{H4794} of the foremost{H7223} is like the running{H4794} of Ahimaaz{H290} the son{H1121} of Zadok.{H6659} And the king{H4428} said,{H559} He is a good{H2896} man,{H376} and cometh{H935} with good{H2896} tidings.{H1309}

And Ahimaaz{H290} called,{H7121} and said{H559} unto the king,{H4428} All is well.{H7965} And he bowed{H7812} himself before the king{H4428} with his face{H639} to the earth,{H776} and said,{H559} Blessed{H1288} be Jehovah{H3068} thy God,{H430} who hath delivered up{H5462} the men{H582} that lifted up{H5462} their hand{H3027} against my lord{H113} the king.{H4428}

And the king{H4428} said,{H559} Is it well{H7965} with the young man{H5288} Absalom?{H53} And Ahimaaz{H290} answered,{H559} When Joab{H3097} sent{H7971} the king's{H4428} servant,{H5650} even me thy servant,{H5650} I saw{H7200} a great{H1419} tumult,{H1995} but I knew{H3045} not what it was.

And the king{H4428} said,{H559} Turn aside,{H5437} and stand{H3320} here.{H3541} And he turned aside,{H5437} and stood still.{H5975}

And, behold, the Cushite{H3569} came;{H935} and the Cushite{H3569} said,{H559} Tidings{H1319} for my lord{H113} the king;{H4428} for Jehovah{H3068} hath avenged{H8199} thee this day{H3117} of all them{H3027} that rose up{H6965} against thee.

And the king{H4428} said{H559} unto the Cushite,{H3569} Is it well{H7965} with the young man{H5288} Absalom?{H53} And the Cushite{H3569} answered,{H559} The enemies{H341} of my lord{H113} the king,{H4428} and all that rise{H6965} up against thee to do thee hurt,{H7451} be as that young man{H5288} is.

And the king{H4428} was much moved,{H7264} and went up{H5927} to the chamber{H5944} over the gate,{H8179} and wept:{H1058} and as he went,{H3212} thus he said,{H559} O my son{H1121} Absalom,{H53} my son,{H1121} my son{H1121} Absalom!{H53} would I had died{H4191} for thee,{H5414} O Absalom,{H53} my son,{H1121} my son!{H1121}