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people are hungry and weary and thirsty in them through Absalom’s heart, while he was
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the wilderness.” still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. And
And David numbered the people who ten young men who bore Joab’s armor sur-
18 were with him, and set captains of thou- rounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.
sands and captains of hundreds over them. 16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people
2 Then David sent out one third of the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held
under the hand of Joab, one third under the back the people. And they took Absalom and
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hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid
brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai a very large heap of stones over him. Then all
the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I Israel fled, everyone to his tent.
also will surely go out with you myself.” 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and
3 But the people answered, “You shall not go set up a pillar for himself, which is in the
out! For if we flee away, they will not care about King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to
us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. keep my name in remembrance.” He called
But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For the pillar after his own name. And to this day
you are now more help to us in the city.” it is called Absalom’s Monument.
4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever 19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let
seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood me run now and take the news to the king, how
beside the gate, and all the people went out by the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
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hundreds and by thousands. Now the king had 20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take
commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, the news this day, for you shall take the news
“Deal gently for my sake with the young man another day. But today you shall take no news,
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Absalom.” And all the people heard when the because the king’s son is dead.” Then Joab
king gave all the captains orders concerning said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you
Absalom. have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to
6 So the people went out into the field of bat- Joab and ran.
tle against Israel. And the battle was in the 22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again
woods of Ephraim. The people of Israel were to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me
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overthrown there before the servants of Da- also run after the Cushite.”
vid, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son,
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took place there that day. For the battle there since you have no news ready?”
was scattered over the face of the whole coun- 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me
tryside, and the woods devoured more people run.”
that day than the sword devoured. So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran
9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under 24 Now David was sitting between the two
the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and gates. And the watchman went up to the roof
his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and
hanging between heaven and earth. And the looked, and there was a man, running alone.
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mule which was under him went on. Now a 25 Then the watchman cried out and told the
certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is
just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!” news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and
11 So Joab said to the man who told him, “You drew near.
just saw him! And why did you not strike him 26 Then the watchman saw another man run-
there to the ground? I would have given you ning, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper
ten shekels of silver and a belt.” and said, “There is another man, running alone!”
12 But the man said to Joab, “Though I were And the king said, “He also brings news.”
to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my 27 So the watchman said, “I think the running
hand, I would not raise my hand against the of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the
king’s son. For in our hearing the king com- son of Zadok.”
manded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Be- And the king said, “He is a good man, and
ware lest anyone touch the young man comes with good news.”
Absalom!’ Otherwise I would have dealt 28 So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king,
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falsely against my own life. For there is noth- “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his
ing hidden from the king, and you yourself face to the earth before the king, and said,
would have set yourself against me.” “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has deliv-
14 Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” ered up the men who raised their hand against
And he took three spears in his hand and thrust my lord the king!”

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