¹ And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.

² 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 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 succor us out of the city.

⁴ 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 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 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

⁷ 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 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 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 a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

¹¹ 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 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 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 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 ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

¹⁶ 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 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 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 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 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 Then said Joab to Cushy, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushy bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

²² Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushy. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

²³ But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushy.

²⁴ 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 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 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 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 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 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 the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

³¹ And, behold, Cushy came; and Cushy said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

³² And the king said unto Cushy, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushy 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 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!

---

¹ 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.

² And David ^H1732 sent forth ^H7971 a third part ^H7992 of the people ^H5971 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.

³ But the people ^H5971 answered, ^H559 Thou shalt not go forth: ^H3318 for if we flee ^H5127 away, ^H5127 they will not care ^{H7760 H3820} for us; neither if half ^H2677 of us die, ^H4191 will they care ^{H7760 H3820} for us: but now thou art worth ^H3644 ten ^H6235 thousand ^H505 of us: therefore now it is better ^H2896 that thou succour ^{H5826 H5826} us out of the city. ^H5892

⁴ 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 ^H8179 side, ^H3027 and all the people ^H5971 came out ^H3318 by hundreds ^H3967 and by thousands. ^H505

⁵ 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

⁶ So the people ^H5971 went out ^H3318 into the field ^H7704 against ^H7125 Israel: ^H3478 and the battle ^H4421 was in the wood ^H3293 of Ephraim; ^H669

⁷ Where the people ^H5971 of Israel ^H3478 were slain ^H5062 before ^H6440 the servants ^H5650 of David, ^H1732 and there was there a great ^H1419 slaughter ^H4046 that day ^H3117 of twenty ^H6242 thousand ^H505 men.

⁸ For the battle ^H4421 was there scattered ^H6327 over the face ^H6440 of all the country: ^H776 and the wood ^H3293 devoured ^H398 more ^H7235 people ^H5971 that day ^H3117 than the sword ^H2719 devoured. ^H398

⁹ And Absalom ^H53 met ^H7122 the servants ^{H6440 H5650} of David. ^H1732 And Absalom ^H53 rode ^H7392 upon a 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 the heaven ^H8064 and the earth; ^H776 and the mule ^H6505 that was under him went away. ^H5674

¹⁰ And a certain ^H259 man ^H376 saw ^H7200 it, and told ^H5046 Joab, ^H3097 and said, ^H559 Behold, I saw ^H7200 Absalom ^H53 hanged ^H8518 in an oak. ^H424

¹¹ And Joab ^H3097 said ^H559 unto the man ^H376 that told ^H5046 him, And, behold, thou sawest ^H7200 him, and why didst thou not smite ^H5221 him there to the ground? ^H776 and I would have given ^H5414 thee ten ^H6235 shekels of silver, ^H3701 and a ^H259 girdle. ^H2290

¹² And the man ^H376 said ^H559 unto Joab, ^H3097 Though ^H3863 I should receive ^H8254 a thousand ^H505 shekels of silver ^H3701 in mine hand, ^H3709 yet would I not put forth ^H7971 mine 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

¹³ Otherwise ^H176 I should have wrought ^H6213 falsehood ^H8267 against mine own life: ^H5315 for there is no matter ^H1697 hid ^H3582 from the king, ^H4428 and thou thyself wouldest have set ^H3320 thyself against me.

¹⁴ 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

¹⁵ And ten ^H6235 young men ^H5288 that bare ^H5375 Joab's ^H3097 armour ^H3627 compassed about ^H5437 and smote ^H5221 Absalom, ^H53 and slew ^H4191 him.

¹⁶ 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

¹⁷ And they took ^H3947 Absalom, ^H53 and cast ^H7993 him into a great ^H1419 pit ^H6354 in the wood, ^H3293 and laid ^H5324 a very ^H3966 great ^H1419 heap ^H1530 of stones ^H68 upon him: and all Israel ^H3478 fled ^H5127 every one ^H376 to his tent. ^H168

¹⁸ Now Absalom ^H53 in his lifetime ^H2416 had taken ^H3947 and reared up ^H5324 for himself a 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 unto this day, ^H3117 Absalom's ^H53 place. ^H3027

¹⁹ 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 the LORD ^H3068 hath avenged ^H8199 him of his enemies. ^{H3027 H341}

²⁰ And Joab ^H3097 said ^H559 unto him, Thou ^H376 shalt not bear 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

²¹ Then said ^H559 Joab ^H3097 to Cushi, ^H3569 Go ^H3212 tell ^H5046 the king ^H4428 what thou hast seen. ^H7200 And Cushi ^H3569 bowed ^H7812 himself unto Joab, ^H3097 and ran. ^H7323

²² Then said ^H559 Ahimaaz ^H290 the son ^H1121 of Zadok ^H6659 yet again ^H3254 to Joab, ^H3097 But howsoever, ^H4100 let me, I pray thee, also run ^H7323 after ^H310 Cushi. ^H3569 And Joab ^H3097 said, ^H559 Wherefore wilt thou run, ^H7323 my son, ^H1121 seeing that thou hast no tidings ^H1309 ready? ^H4672

²³ But howsoever, said he, let me run. ^H7323 And he said ^H559 unto him, Run. ^H7323 Then Ahimaaz ^H290 ran ^H7323 by the way ^H1870 of the plain, ^H3603 and overran ^H5674 Cushi. ^H3569

²⁴ And David ^H1732 sat ^H3427 between the two ^H8147 gates: ^H8179 and the watchman ^H6822 went up ^H3212 to the roof ^H1406 over 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.

²⁵ 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

²⁶ 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

²⁷ And the watchman ^H6822 said, ^H559 Me thinketh ^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

²⁸ And Ahimaaz ^H290 called, ^H7121 and said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 All is well. ^H7965 And he fell down ^H7812 to the earth ^H776 upon his face ^H639 before the king, ^H4428 and said, ^H559 Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD ^H3068 thy God, ^H430 which hath delivered up ^H5462 the men ^H582 that lifted up ^H5375 their hand ^H3027 against my lord ^H113 the king. ^H4428

²⁹ And the king ^H4428 said, ^H559 Is the young man ^H5288 Absalom ^H53 safe? ^H7965 And Ahimaaz ^H290 answered, ^H559 When Joab ^H3097 sent ^H7971 the king's ^H4428 servant, ^H5650 and me thy servant, ^H5650 I saw ^H7200 a great ^H1419 tumult, ^H1995 but I knew ^H3045 not what it was.

³⁰ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto him, Turn aside, ^H5437 and stand ^H3320 here. ^H3541 And he turned aside, ^H5437 and stood still. ^H5975

³¹ And, behold, Cushi ^H3569 came; ^H935 and Cushi ^H3569 said, ^H559 Tidings, ^H1319 my lord ^H113 the king: ^H4428 for the LORD ^H3068 hath avenged ^H8199 thee this day ^H3117 of all them ^H3027 that rose up ^H6965 against thee.

³² And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto Cushi, ^H3569 Is the young man ^H5288 Absalom ^H53 safe? ^H7965 And Cushi ^H3569 answered, ^H559 The enemies ^H341 of my lord ^H113 the king, ^H4428 and all that rise ^H6965 against thee to do thee hurt, ^H7451 be as that young man ^H5288 is.

³³ 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 God I had died ^H4191 for thee, ^H5414 O Absalom, ^H53 my son, ^H1121 my son! ^H1121

---

¹ And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

² 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 unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

³ But the people said, 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 thou art worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succor us out of the city.

⁴ 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 went out by hundreds and by thousands.

⁵ 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 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

⁷ 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 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 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 heaven and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.

¹⁰ And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.

¹¹ And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest it, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten `pieces of' silver, and a girdle.

¹² And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand `pieces of' silver in my hand, yet would I 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 Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against `me'.

¹⁴ 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 ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

¹⁶ 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 cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

¹⁸ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the 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 Absalom's monument, unto this day.

¹⁹ Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that Jehovah hath avenged him of his enemies.

²⁰ And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not be the bearer of 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 Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

²² Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou wilt have no reward for the tidings?

²³ But come what may, `said he', I will run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.

²⁴ Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.

²⁵ 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 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 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 cometh with good tidings.

²⁸ And Ahimaaz called, and said unto 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 hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

²⁹ 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 the king said, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

³¹ And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Tidings for my lord the king; for Jehovah hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

³² And the king said unto the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

³³ 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!

---

¹ And David inspecteth the people who `are' with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,

² and David sendeth the third of the people by the hand of Joab, and the third by the hand of Abishai, son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and the third by the hand of Ittai the Gittite, and the king saith unto the people, `I certainly go out -- I also -- with you.'

³ And the people say, `Thou dost not go out, for if we utterly flee, they do not set `their' heart upon us; and if half of us die, they do not set `their' heart unto us -- for now like us `are' ten thousand; and now, better that thou be to us from the city for an helper.'

⁴ And the king saith unto them, `That which is good in your eyes I do;' and the king standeth at the side of the gate, and all the people have gone out by hundreds and by thousands,

⁵ and the king chargeth Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, `Gently -- for me, for the youth, for Absalom;' and all the people heard in the king's charging all the heads concerning Absalom.

⁶ And the people goeth out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle is in a forest of Ephraim;

⁷ and smitten there are the people of Israel before the servants of David, and the smiting there is great on that day -- twenty thousand;

⁸ and the battle is there scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest multiplieth to devour among the people more than those whom the sword hath devoured in that day.

⁹ And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding on the mule, and the mule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great oak, and his head taketh hold on the oak, and he is placed between the heavens and the earth, and the mule that `is' under him hath passed on.

¹⁰ And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, `Lo, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.'

¹¹ And Joab saith to the man who is declaring `it' to him, `And lo, thou hast seen -- and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth -- and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one girdle?'

¹² And the man saith unto Joab, `Yea, though I am weighing on my hand a thousand silverlings, I do not put forth my hand unto the son of the king; for in our ears hath the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Observe ye who `is' against the youth -- against Absalom;

¹³ or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou -- thou dost station thyself over-against.'

¹⁴ And Joab saith, `Not right -- I tarry before thee;' and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he `is' alive, in the midst of the oak.

¹⁵ And they go round -- ten youths bearing weapons of Joab -- and smite Absalom, and put him to death.

¹⁶ And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and the people turneth back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab hath kept back the people;

¹⁷ and they take Absalom and cast him in the forest unto the great pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones, and all Israel have fled -- each to his tent.

¹⁸ And Absalom hath taken, and setteth up for himself in his life, the standing-pillar that `is' in the king's valley, for he said, `I have no son to cause my name to be remembered;' and he calleth the standing-pillar by his own name, and it is called `The monument of Absalom' unto this day.

¹⁹ And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, `Let me run, I pray thee, and I bear the king tidings, for Jehovah hath delivered him out of the hand of his enemies;'

²⁰ and Joab saith to him, `Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear tidings, because the king's son `is' dead.'

²¹ And Joab saith to Cushi, `Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;' and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.

²² And Ahimaaz son of Zadok addeth again, and saith unto Joab, `And whatever it be, let me run, I pray thee, I also, after the Cushite.' And Joab saith, `Why `is' this -- thou art running, my son, and for thee there are no tidings found?' --

²³ `And, whatever it be, `said he,' let me run.' And he saith to him, `Run;' and Ahimaaz runneth the way of the circuit, and passeth by the Cushite.

²⁴ And David is sitting between the two gates, and the watchman goeth unto the roof of the gate, unto the wall, and lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a man running by himself.

²⁵ And the watchman calleth, and declareth to the king, and the king saith, `If by himself, tidings `are' in his mouth;' and he cometh, coming on and drawing near.

²⁶ And the watchman seeth another man running, and the watchman calleth unto the gatekeeper, and saith, `Lo, a man running by himself;' and the king saith, `Also this one is bearing tidings.'

²⁷ And the watchman saith, `I see the running of the first as the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' And the king saith, `This `is' a good man, and with good tidings he cometh.'

²⁸ And Ahimaaz calleth and saith unto the king, `Peace;' and he boweth himself to the king, on his face, to the earth, and saith, `Blessed `is' Jehovah thy God who hath shut up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.'

²⁹ And the king saith, `Peace to the youth -- to Absalom?' And Ahimaaz saith, `I saw the great multitude, at the sending away of the servant of the king, even thy servant `by' Joab, and I have not known what `it is'.'

³⁰ And the king saith, `Turn round, station thyself here;' and he turneth round and standeth still.

³¹ And lo, the Cushite hath come, and the Cushite saith, `Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for Jehovah hath delivered thee to-day out of the hand of all those rising up against thee.'

³² And the king saith unto the Cushite, `Peace to the youth -- to Absalom?' And the Cushite saith, `Let them be -- as the youth -- the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen up against thee for evil.'

³³ And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, `My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.'

---

¹ And David marshalled the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

² 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 But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth, for if we should in any case flee, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; for *thou* art worth ten thousand of us; and now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

⁴ And the king said to them, I will do what is good in your sight. And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

⁵ And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

⁶ And the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

⁷ And the people of Israel were routed before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day: twenty thousand men.

⁸ And the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

⁹ And Absalom found himself in the presence of David's servants. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of the great terebinth, and his head caught in the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

¹⁰ And a man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.

¹¹ And Joab said to 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 silver pieces and a girdle.

¹² And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand silver pieces in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Take care, whoever it be [of you], of the young man Absalom.

¹³ Or I should have acted falsely against mine own life, for there is no matter concealed from the king, and thou wouldest have set thyself against [me].

¹⁴ Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's body, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth.

¹⁵ And ten young men that bore Joab's armour surrounded and smote Absalom, and killed him.

¹⁶ And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab kept back the people.

¹⁷ And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and raised a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled every one to his tent.

¹⁸ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a monument, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he called the monument after his own name; and it is called unto this day, Absalom's memorial.

¹⁹ And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me run, I pray, and carry the king the news that Jehovah has avenged him of his enemies.

²⁰ And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not be a bearer of news to-day, but thou shalt carry the news another day; but to-day thou shalt carry no news, because the king's son is dead.

²¹ Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

²² And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, Come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that there is no news suited [to thee]?

²³ -- But, come what may, let me run. And he said to him, Run. And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outstripped the Cushite.

²⁴ And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, on to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.

²⁵ And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came on and drew near.

²⁶ And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter and said, Behold a man running alone. And the king said, He also is a bearer of news.

²⁷ And the watchman said, I see the running of the foremost 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 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, Peace! And he fell down to the earth on his face before the king, and said, Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

²⁹ And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz said, I saw a great tumult when Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant; but I knew not what it was.

³⁰ And the king said, Turn aside [and] stand here. And he turned aside and stood still.

³¹ And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Let my lord the king receive good tidings, for Jehovah has avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

³² And the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite said, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee for evil, be as that young man.

³³ And the king was much moved, and went up to the upper chamber of the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said thus: O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died in thy stead, O Absalom, my son, my son!

---

¹ David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

² 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. The king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

³ But the people said, You 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 you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.

⁴ The king said to them, What seems you best I will do. The king stood by the gate-side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

⁵ The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. All the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

⁶ So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

⁷ The people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.

⁸ For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

⁹ Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on 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 the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.

¹⁰ A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.

¹¹ Joab said to the man who told him, Behold, you saw it, and why didn't you strike him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten [pieces of] silver, and a sash.

¹² The man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in my hand, I still wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

¹³ Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against [me].

¹⁴ Then said Joab, I may not wait thus with you. 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 Ten young men who bore Joab's armor compassed about and struck Absalom, and killed him.

¹⁶ Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people.

¹⁷ 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 everyone to his tent.

¹⁸ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in memory: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument, to this day.

¹⁹ Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.

²⁰ Joab said to him, You shall not be the bearer of news this day, but you shall bear news another day; but this day you shall bear no news, because the king's son is dead.

²¹ Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have seen. The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

²² Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, Please let me also run after the Cushite. Joab said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?

²³ But come what may, [said he], I will run. He said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.

²⁴ 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 The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. He came apace, and drew near.

²⁶ The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold, [another] man running alone. The king said, He also brings news.

²⁷ The watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. The king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news.

²⁸ Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

²⁹ The king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don't know what it was.

³⁰ The king said, Turn aside, and stand here. He turned aside, and stood still.

³¹ Behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, News for my lord the king; for Yahweh has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.

³² The king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? The Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is.

³³ The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!

---

¹ And David had the people who were with him numbered, and he put over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

² And David sent the people out, a third of them under the orders of Joab, and a third under the orders of Abishai, son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, And I myself will certainly go out with you.

³ But the people said, It is better for you not to go out: for if we are put to flight, they will not give a thought to us, and if death overtakes half of us, it will be nothing to them: but you are of more value than ten thousand of us: so it is better for you to be ready to come to our help from this town.

⁴ And the king said to them, I will do whatever seems best to you. So the king took his place by the door of the town, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

⁵ And the king gave orders to Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Because of me, be gentle to the young man Absalom. And this order about Absalom was given in the hearing of all the people.

⁶ So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the fight took place in the woods of Ephraim.

⁷ And the people of Israel were overcome there by the servants of David, and there was a great destruction that day, and twenty thousand men were put to the sword.

⁸ And the fighting went on over all the face of the country: and the woods were responsible for more deaths than the sword.

⁹ And Absalom came across some of David's men. And Absalom was seated on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great tree, and his head became fixed in the tree and he was lifted up between earth and heaven, and the beast under him went on.

¹⁰ And a certain man saw it and said to Joab, I saw Absalom hanging in a tree.

¹¹ And Joab said to the man who had given him the news, If you saw this, why did you not put your sword through him, and I would have given you ten bits of silver and a band for your robe?

¹² And the man said to Joab, Even if you gave me a thousand bits of silver, I would not put out my hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king gave orders to you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Take care that the young man Absalom is not touched.

¹³ And if I had falsely put him to death (and nothing may be kept secret from the king), you would have had nothing to do with me.

¹⁴ Then Joab said, I would have made it safe for you. And he took three spears in his hand, and put them through Absalom's heart, while he was still living, in the branches of the tree.

¹⁵ And ten young men, servants of Joab, came round Absalom and put an end to him.

¹⁶ And Joab had the horn sounded, and the people came back from going after Israel, for Joab kept them back.

¹⁷ And they took Absalom's body and put it into a great hole in the wood, and put a great mass of stones over it: and every man of Israel went in flight to his tent.

¹⁸ Now Absalom, before his death, had put up for himself a pillar in the king's valley, naming it after himself; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in memory: and to this day it is named Absalom's pillar.

¹⁹ Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, Let me go and give the king news of how the Lord has done right in his cause against those who took up arms against him.

²⁰ And Joab said, You will take no news today; another day you may give him the news, but you will take no news today, because the king's son is dead.

²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, Go and give the king word of what you have seen. And the Cushite, making a sign of respect to Joab, went off running.

²² Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab again, Whatever may come of it, let me go after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why have you a desire to go, my son, seeing that you will get no reward for your news?

²³ Whatever may come of it, he said, I will go. Then he said to him, Go. So Ahimaaz went running by the lowland road and overtook the Cushite.

²⁴ Now David was seated between the two town doors; and the watchman went up to the roof of the doorways, on the wall, and, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running by himself.

²⁵ And the watchman gave news of it to the king. And the king said, If he is coming by himself, then he has news. And the man was travelling quickly, and came near.

²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running: and crying out in the direction of the door he said, Here is another man running by himself. And the king said, He, like the other, comes with news.

²⁷ And the watchman said, It seems to me that the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and his news will be good.

²⁸ And Ahimaaz, crying out to the king, said, It is well. And falling down before the king, with his face to the earth, he said, May the Lord your God be praised, who has given up the men who took up arms against my lord the king!

²⁹ And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz said in answer, When Joab sent me, your servant, I saw a great outcry going on, but I had no knowledge of what it was.

³⁰ And the king said, Get back and take your place here. So turning to one side, he took his place there.

³¹ And then the Cushite came and said, I have news for my lord the king: today the Lord has done right in your cause against all those who took up arms against you.

³² And the king said to the Cushite, Is the young man Absalom safe? And the Cushite said in answer, May all the king's haters and those who do evil against the king, be as that young man is!

³³ Then the king was much moved, and went up into the room over the door, weeping, and saying, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! if only my life might have been given for yours, O Absalom, my son, my son!