And Davidsentforth a thirdpart of the peopleunder the hand of Joab, and a thirdpartunder the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’sbrother, and a thirdpartunder the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the kingsaidunto the people, I willsurely go forthwith you myselfalso.
But the peopleanswered, Thoushalt not go forth: for if we fleeaway, theywill not care for us; neither if half of us die, willtheycare for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is betterthatthousuccour us out of the city.
And the kingcommandedJoab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Dealgently for my sakewith the young man, evenwithAbsalom. And all the peopleheardwhen the kinggave all the captainschargeconcerningAbsalom.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalomrodeupon a mule, and the mulewentunder the thickboughs of a great oak, and his headcaughthold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mulethat was under him wentaway.
And Joabsaidunto the man thattold him, And, behold, thousawest him, and why didstthou not smite him there to the ground? And I wouldhavegiventhee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
And the man saiduntoJoab, Though I shouldreceive a thousandshekels of silver in minehand, yet would I not put forthminehandagainst the king’s son: for in our hearing the kingchargedthee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Bewarethatnonetouch the young man Absalom.
Otherwise I shouldhavewroughtfalsehoodagainstmine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thouthyselfwouldesthave set thyselfagainst me.
ThensaidJoab, I may not tarrythuswiththee. And he tookthreedarts in his hand, and thrustthemthrough the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’sdale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillarafter his own name: and it is calleduntothis day, Absalom’splace.
And Joabsaidunto him, Thoushalt not beartidingsthis day, but thoushaltbeartidingsanother day: but this day thoushaltbear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
ThensaidAhimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I praythee, also run afterCushi. And Joabsaid, Whereforewiltthou run, my son, seeingthatthouhast no tidingsready?
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchmanwent up to the roofover the gateunto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man runningalone.
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchmancalledunto the porter, and said, Beholdanother man runningalone. And the kingsaid, He alsobringethtidings.
And the watchmansaid, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the kingsaid, He is a good man, and comethwithgoodtidings.
And Ahimaazcalled, and saidunto the king, All is well. And he felldown to the earthupon his facebefore the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, whichhathdelivered up the men thatlifted up theirhandagainst my lord the king.
And the kingsaid, Is the young man Absalomsafe? And Ahimaazanswered, WhenJoabsent the king’sservant, and me thy servant, I saw a greattumult, but I knew not what it was.
And the kingsaiduntoCushi, Is the young man Absalomsafe? And Cushianswered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all thatriseagainstthee to do theehurt, be as thatyoung man is.
And the king was muchmoved, and went up to the chamberover 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!