10_2SA_18_01 And David numbered the people that [ were ] with him , And set captains of thousands And captains of hundreds over them .
10_2SA_18_02 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 .
10_2SA_18_03 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 .
10_2SA_18_04 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 .
10_2SA_18_05 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 .
10_2SA_18_06 So the people went out into the field against Israel : And the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ;
10_2SA_18_07 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 ] .
10_2SA_18_08 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 .
10_2SA_18_09 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_2SA_18_10 And A certain man saw [ it ] , And told Joab , And said , behold , I saw Absalom hanged in an oak .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 ] .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about And smote Absalom , And slew him .
10_2SA_18_16 And Joab blew the trumpet , And the people returned from pursuing after Israel : for Joab held back the people .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_21 Then said Joab to Cushi , go tell the king what thou hast seen . And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab , And ran .
10_2SA_18_22 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 ?
10_2SA_18_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 Cushi .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 .
10_2SA_18_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 ] .
10_2SA_18_30 And the king said [ unto him ] , turn aside , [ And ] stand here . And he turned aside , And stood still .
10_2SA_18_31 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 .
10_2SA_18_32 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 ] .
10_2SA_18_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 !