1Then David mustered the people who were with him, and he set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
2And David sent out the people—a third under the hand of Joab, a third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you as well.”
3But the people said, “You must not go out. For if we should indeed flee, they will pay no attention to us; and if half of us die, they will pay no attention to us; but you are worth ten thousand of us. So now it is better that you be a help to us from the city.”
4The king said to them, “Whatever seems good in your eyes I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, while all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5And the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7There the people of Israel were struck down before the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day—twenty thousand.
8For the battle spread out there over the face of all the land, and the forest devoured more of the people that day than the sword devoured.
9Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of the great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
10A certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
11Joab said to the man who told him, “Look here, you saw him! Why did you not strike him there to the ground? Then it would have been my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
12But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to weigh out a thousand pieces of silver into my palms, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Whoever you are, take care of the young man Absalom.’
13Or if I had dealt treacherously against his life—and nothing is hidden from the king—then you yourself would have stood aloof.”
14Then Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the heart of the oak.
15And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
16Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the people turned back from pursuing Israel, for Joab held the people back.
17They took Absalom and threw him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
18Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the Valley of the King, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” So he called the pillar by his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me run and bring the king the good news, that Yahweh has vindicated him from the hand of his enemies.”
20But Joab said to him, “You are not a man of good news this day; you may bring good news another day, but this day you shall not bring good news, because the king’s son is dead.”
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.
22But Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me too run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, seeing that you have no news that will bring reward?”
23“But come what may, I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
24Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.
25The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth.” And he came steadily on and drew near.
26Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running alone!” And the king said, “This one also brings news.”
27The watchman said, “I see the running of the first one as the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”
28Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “Peace!” And he bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hand against my lord the king.”
29The king said, “Is it well with the young man, with Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a great commotion when Joab sent off the king’s servant and your servant, but I do not know what it was.”
30And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for Yahweh has vindicated you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.”
32And the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man, with Absalom?” And the Cushite said, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rose up against you for evil, be like that young man.”
33The king trembled and went up to the upper chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said this: “My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died in your place, Absalom, my son, my son!”
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