1And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2And 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. 3But 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 . 4And 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 . 5And 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 . 6So the people went out into the field against Israel : and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ; 7Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David , and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men . 8For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country : and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured . 9And 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 . 10And a certain man saw it , and told Joab , and said , Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak . 11And 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 . 12And 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 . 13Otherwise 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 . 14Then 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 . 15And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom , and slew him. 16And Joab blew the trumpet , and the people returned from pursuing after Israel : for Joab held back the people . 17And 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 . 18Now 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 .
David's Grief
19Then 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 . 20And 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 . 21Then said Joab to Cushi , Go tell the king what thou hast seen . And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab , and ran . 22Then 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 ? 23But howsoever, said he , let me run . And he said unto him, Run . Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain , and overran Cushi . 24And 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. 25And 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 . 26And 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 . 27And 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 . 28And 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 . 29And 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 . 30And the king said unto him , Turn aside , and stand here . And he turned aside , and stood still . 31And, 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. 32And 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 . 33And 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 !