2 Samuel 18

David Organizes the Army

1David counted the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2David sent out the people, one third under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3But the people said, “You will not go out, for if we flee, they will not set their heart upon us, and if half of us die, they will not set their heart upon us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. So now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4The king said to them, “Whatever is good in your eyes I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

Deal Gently with Absalom

5The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.

Absalom’s Army Is Defeated

6The people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. 7There the people of Israel were struck before the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand. 8The battle spread there over the face of all the land, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

Absalom Is Caught in the Tree

9Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great terebinth, and his head caught fast in the terebinth. He was left hanging between the heavens and the earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 10One man saw it and told Joab and said, “Look, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.” 11Joab said to the man who told him, “And look, you saw him? Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12The man said to Joab, “Even if I weighed in my hand a thousand pieces of silver, I would not stretch out my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Guard whoever touches the young man Absalom.’ 13Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life—and no matter is hidden from the king—and you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14Joab said, “I will not wait like this before you.” He took three staffs in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the heart of the terebinth. 15Then ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom and struck him and put him to death.

Absalom Is Buried

16Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab held back the people. 17They took Absalom and threw him into a 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 a pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to cause my name to be remembered.” He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

Ahimaaz Wants to Carry the News

19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king good news that the LORD has judged him from the hand of his enemies.” 20Joab said to him, “You will not be a man of good news this day. You may bring good news another day, but this day you will 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 down to Joab and ran. 22Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why should you run, my son, when there is no reward for the news?” 23“Whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and passed the Cushite.

David Waits for News

24David was sitting between the two gates. The watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, lifted his eyes, and looked, and look, a man running alone. 25The watchman called and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He kept coming nearer and nearer. 26Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Look, another man is running alone.” The king said, “This one also is bringing news.” 27The watchman said, “I see the running of the first like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”

Ahimaaz Reports Victory but Avoids Absalom’s Death

28Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “Peace!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed be the LORD 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 Absalom?” Ahimaaz said, “I saw a great tumult when Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, but I do not know what it was.” 30The king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood.

The Cushite Tells David Absalom Is Dead

31And look, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has judged for you this day from the hand of everyone who rose against you.” 32The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite said, “May the enemies of my lord the king and everyone who rise against you for evil be like the young man!”

David Weeps for Absalom

33The king trembled. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went, thus he said:

“My son Absalom!
My son, my son Absalom!
If only I had died instead of you,
Absalom, my son,
my son!”