2 Samuel, Chapter 18:

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Verses from 2 Samuel, Chapter 18 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.

2 Samuel - Old Testament — 2 Samuel – Old Testament

Absalom's death

1. David summoned the army and appointed commanders of battalions of a thousand and a hundred soldiers.
2. Then he divided the army into three groups: one under the command of Joab, another under the command of Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, and the third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. Then the king said to the army, “I will also march alongside you.”
3. But the men said, “Please don’t do this! If we have to retreat, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die in battle, they won't worry. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It’s better if you stay in the city to support us.”
4. Then the king agreed: “I will do whatever you think is best.” And the king stood by the gate while the army went out in groups of hundreds and thousands.
5. The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “For my sake, be kind to young Absalom.” And the whole army heard the king give this order about Absalom to each of the commanders.
6. The army went out onto the battlefield to confront Israel, and the fight took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7. The army of Israel was defeated by David's soldiers, and there was great slaughter that day, with the number of dead reaching twenty thousand.
8. The battle spread throughout the region, and that day the forest was deadlier than the sword.
9. During the battle, Absalom, riding his mule, met David's soldiers. As his mule passed under the branches of a large tree, Absalom became trapped by his hair in the branches of the tree. He hung between heaven and earth, and the mule kept going.
10. A man saw this and ran to tell Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging from a big tree.”
11. Joab asked the man, “Why didn’t you kill him right there? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a warrior's belt as a reward.”
12. The man replied, “Even if you gave me a thousand pieces of silver, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. For we heard when the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai: 'Protect young Absalom for my sake.'
13. Furthermore, if I had acted treacherously against his life, the king would have known about it, for nothing can be hidden from him, and you yourself would have opposed me.”
14. Then Joab said, “I won’t waste any more time on you.” He took three darts and plunged them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the tree.
15. Then ten of Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom and killed him.
16. Joab blew the trumpet to stop the army from pursuing Israel, for he knew the fighting was over.
17. They took Absalom's body, threw it into a large hole in the forest, and made a large pile of stones over it. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
18. When Absalom was still alive, he had built a monument in his own honor in the King's valley, as he had no sons to perpetuate his name. Therefore, he gave the monument his own name, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.

David mourns the death of Absalom

19. Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me run and report to the king that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.”
20. But Joab replied, “Today is not the right time for you to bring this news. Maybe another time. Not today, because the king’s son died.”
21. Then Joab said to an Ethiopian, “Go and tell the king what you saw.” The Ethiopian bowed to Joab and ran off to take the message to the king.
22. But Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Please let me also go with the Ethiopian.” And Joab answered, “Why are you so eager to go? You will not receive any reward for the news.”
23. But Ahimaaz insisted, “No matter what happens, I want to go.” Then Joab said, “Okay, go ahead!” And Ahimaaz ran along the path of the plain and passed in front of the Ethiopian.
24. David was sitting between the two gates of the city. When the sentry went up to the terrace of the wall door, he saw a man running alone.
25. The sentry shouted, warning the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, he must bring good news.” And the man approached.
26. The sentry saw another man running and shouted to the doorman: “Look, another man running alone!” And the king said, “This one must also bring good news.”
27. The watchman said, “It appears that the first man is Ahimaaz son of Zadok, by the way he runs.” Then the king said, “He is a good man and will bring good news.”
28. Ahimaaz approached the king and bowed down to him with his face to the ground. He said: “Blessed be the Lord your God! He delivered the king from all his enemies.”
29. The king asked, “Is young Absalom well?” And Ahimaaz answered, “I saw great confusion when Joab, the king's servant, was sending his servant. But I don’t know what happened.”
30. Then the king said, “Stand by and wait.” And Ahimaaz waited.
31. Soon after, the Ethiopian arrived and said: “O king, my lord, hear the good news! The Lord has delivered you from all those who rose up against you.”
32. The king asked the Ethiopian, “Is young Absalom well?” And the Ethiopian replied: “May all the enemies of the king, my lord, and all those who wish to harm him suffer the same fate as this young man!”
33. The king was shaken and went up to the room above the door, and there he wept. As he ascended, he said aloud: “Ah, my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Ah, Absalom, my son, my son!”