Absalom Killed
And David mustered the people who were with him, and he set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
And David sent out the people — a third under the hand of Joab, and a third under the hand of Abishai the 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.”
But the people said: “You shall not go out. For if we flee at all, they will not set their heart on us; and if half of us die, they will not set their heart on us — for now you are like ten thousand of us. So now it is better that you be a help to us from the city.”
And the king said to them, “What is good in your eyes, I will do.” And the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.
And the people went out into the field to meet Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
And the people of Israel were beaten there before the servants of David; and the slaughter there was great on that day — twenty thousand.
And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the land; and the forest devoured more among the people than the sword devoured on that day.
And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding on the mule, and the mule came under the tangled branches of the great terebinth, and his head caught fast in the terebinth, and he was left hanging between the heavens and the earth — and the mule that was under him passed on.
And one man saw it and told Joab, and said, “Look — I saw Absalom hanging in the terebinth.”
And Joab said to the man who told him: “Look — you saw him! And why did you not strike him down to the ground there? It would have been on me to give you ten pieces of silver and one belt.”
And the man said to Joab: “Even if I were weighing on my palms a thousand pieces of silver, I would not stretch out my hand against the son of the king — for in our ears the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Take care, whoever you are, of the young man, of Absalom.’
Or if I had dealt treacherously against his life — and nothing is hidden from the king — then you yourself would have stood aloof.”
And Joab said, “I will not wait like this before you.” And he took three spears in his palm and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the heart of the terebinth.
And ten young men, Joab’s weapon-bearers, surrounded him, and struck Absalom and put him to death.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people turned back from pursuing after Israel — for Joab held the people back.
And they 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 tents.
Now 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.” And he called the pillar by his own name; and it is called the Monument of Absalom to this day.
David Mourns for Absalom
And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run, please, and carry the news to the king — that the LORD has vindicated him from the hand of his enemies.”
And Joab said to him: “You are not the man to carry news this day. You shall carry news on another day; but this day you shall not carry news — because the son of the king is dead.”
And Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite prostrated himself to Joab, and ran.
And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok spoke yet again to Joab, “Come what may, let me run too, please, after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why is it you would run, my son, when there is no news that will bring you a reward?”
“Come what may — I will run.” And he said to him, “Run.” And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and passed the Cushite.
Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, onto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked — and look, a man running alone.
And the watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he kept coming, drawing nearer.
And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Look — a man running alone.” And the king said, “This one also carries news.”
And the watchman said, “I see the running of the first — it is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “This is a good man; he comes with good news.”
And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “Peace!” And he prostrated himself to the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has shut up the men who lifted their hand against my lord the king.”
And the king said, “Is it peace with the young man, with Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said, “I saw a great commotion when Joab sent the king’s servant, and me your servant — and I do not know what it was.”
And the king said, “Turn aside; stand here.” And he turned aside and stood.
And look — the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive the news — that the LORD has vindicated you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.”
And the king said to the Cushite, “Is it peace with the young man, with Absalom?” And the Cushite said, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you for evil, be like that young man.”
And the king trembled, and went up to the upper room of the gate and wept; and thus he said as he went: “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died in your place — Absalom, my son, my son!”