1And David numbered the people who 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 send us aid from the city. 4And the king said unto them, What seemeth to you best I will do. And the king stood beside {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 {part} gently, for my sake, with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders {charge} concerning Absalom.

6So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest {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 forest {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 firmly in {hold of} the oak, and he was suspended {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 hanging {hanged} in an oak. 11And Joab said unto the man who 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 belt {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 hidden 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 staves {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 who bore Joab's armor 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 forest {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.

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 the Cushite {Cushi}, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite {Cushi} bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 22Then said Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, yet again to Joab, But come what may {howsoever}, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why {Wherefore} wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? 23But come what may {howsoever}, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran {overran} the Cushite.

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, I think {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, Who 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, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Tidings, my lord the king; for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them who rose up against thee. 32And the king said unto the Cushite, Is the young man, Absalom, safe? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord, the king, and all who rise against thee to do thee harm {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!