1 David|strong="H1732" counted|strong="H6485" his|strong="H5921" men|strong="H5971" and|strong="H3967" chose captains|strong="H8269" over|strong="H5921" 1000 and|strong="H3967" captains|strong="H8269" over|strong="H5921" 100 to|strong="H5921" lead them|strong="H0853".
2 He|strong="H1732" separated the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" into|strong="H0413" three|strong="H7992" groups|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" sent|strong="H7971" them|strong="H0413" out|strong="H3318". Joab|strong="H3097" led|strong="H3318" a|strong="H7971" third|strong="H7992" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H1121". Joab’s|strong="H3097" brother|strong="H0251", Abishai|strong="H0052" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zeruiah|strong="H6870", led|strong="H3318" another|strong="H0251" third|strong="H7992". And|strong="H1121" Ittai|strong="H0863" from|strong="H3318" Gath|strong="H1663" led|strong="H3318" the|strong="H0853" last third|strong="H7992".
3 But|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", “No|strong="H3808"! You|strong="H3588" must|strong="H4191" not|strong="H3808" go|strong="H3318" with|strong="H0413" us|strong="H0413". If|strong="H0518" we|strong="H3588" run|strong="H5127" away|strong="H5127" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" battle, Absalom’s men|strong="H5971" will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" care. No|strong="H3808", even|strong="H3588" if|strong="H0518" only|strong="H0518" half|strong="H2677" of|strong="H3820" us|strong="H0413" are|strong="H6235" killed|strong="H4191", Absalom’s men|strong="H5971" will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" care. But|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" are|strong="H6235" worth 10,000 of|strong="H3820" us|strong="H0413"! It|strong="H7760" is|strong="H3820" better|strong="H2896" for|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" to|strong="H0413" stay in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" city|strong="H5892". Then|strong="H1961", if|strong="H0518" we|strong="H3588" need help|strong="H5826", you|strong="H3588" can|strong="H0518" come|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" help|strong="H5826" us|strong="H0413".”
4 The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", “I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" think|strong="H5869" is|strong="H0834" best|strong="H3190".”
5 The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H6680" a|strong="H8085" command|strong="H6680" to|strong="H0559" Joab|strong="H3097", Abishai|strong="H0052", and|strong="H4428" Ittai|strong="H0863". He|strong="H0853" said|strong="H0559", “Do|strong="H6680" this|strong="H1697" for|strong="H5921" me|strong="H5921": Be|strong="H1697" gentle with|strong="H5921" young|strong="H5288" Absalom|strong="H0053"!” Everyone|strong="H3605" heard|strong="H8085" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" orders|strong="H6680" about|strong="H5921" Absalom|strong="H0053" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" captains|strong="H8269".
6 David’s army|strong="H5971" went|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" into|strong="H1961" the|strong="H1961" field|strong="H7704" against|strong="H7125" Absalom’s Israelites|strong="H3478". They|strong="H5971" fought in|strong="H3478" the|strong="H1961" forest|strong="H3293" of|strong="H7704" Ephraim|strong="H0669".
7 David’s|strong="H1732" army|strong="H5971" defeated|strong="H5062" the|strong="H6440" Israelites|strong="H3478". It|strong="H1931" was|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" great|strong="H1419" defeat|strong="H4046" because|strong="H6440" 20,000 men|strong="H5971" were|strong="H1961" killed that|strong="H3117" day|strong="H3117".
8 The|strong="H3605" battle|strong="H4421" spread|strong="H6327" throughout|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" country|strong="H0776", but|strong="H1961" more|strong="H7235" men|strong="H5971" died in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" forest|strong="H3293" than|strong="H5921" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" sword|strong="H2719".
9 It|strong="H5414" so|strong="H5414" happened|strong="H7122" that|strong="H0834" David’s|strong="H1732" officers|strong="H5650" found Absalom|strong="H0053". Absalom|strong="H0053" jumped on|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5414" mule|strong="H6505" and|strong="H0935" tried to|strong="H0935" escape, but|strong="H2388" the|strong="H6440" mule|strong="H6505" went|strong="H0935" under|strong="H8478" the|strong="H6440" branches|strong="H7730" of|strong="H0776" a|strong="H5414" large|strong="H1419" oak|strong="H0424" tree. The|strong="H6440" branches|strong="H7730" were|strong="H0834" thick|strong="H7730", and|strong="H0935" Absalom’s|strong="H0053" head|strong="H7218" got caught|strong="H2388" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" tree. His|strong="H5414" mule|strong="H6505" ran out|strong="H2388" from|strong="H0935" under|strong="H8478" him|strong="H5414", so|strong="H5414" Absalom|strong="H0053" was|strong="H0834" left|strong="H5414" hanging|strong="H5414" above|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" ground|strong="H0776".
10 Someone|strong="H0376" saw|strong="H7200" this|strong="H5046" happen and|strong="H0376" told|strong="H5046" Joab|strong="H3097", “I|strong="H2009" saw|strong="H7200" Absalom|strong="H0053" hanging|strong="H8518" in|strong="H0376" an|strong="H7200" oak|strong="H0424" tree.”
11 Joab|strong="H3097" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" man|strong="H0376", “Why|strong="H4069" didn’t|strong="H3808" you|strong="H5414" kill|strong="H5221" him|strong="H5414" and|strong="H0776" let|strong="H5414" him|strong="H5414" fall to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" ground|strong="H0776"? I|strong="H5414" would|strong="H0559" have|strong="H0376" given|strong="H5414" you|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" belt and|strong="H0776" ten|strong="H6235" pieces of|strong="H0776" silver|strong="H3701"!”
12 The|strong="H0853" man|strong="H0376" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097", “I|strong="H0595" would|strong="H3863" not|strong="H3808" try to|strong="H0413" hurt the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" son|strong="H1121" even|strong="H3588" if|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" gave|strong="H6680" me|strong="H0413" 1000 pieces of|strong="H1121" silver|strong="H3701". We|strong="H3588" heard|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" command|strong="H6680" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3588", Abishai|strong="H0052", and|strong="H1121" Ittai|strong="H0863". The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559", ‘Be|strong="H3808" careful|strong="H8104" not|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0413" hurt young|strong="H5288" Absalom|strong="H0053".’
13 If|strong="H0176" I|strong="H1697" had|strong="H4428" killed Absalom, the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" himself|strong="H5315" would|strong="H5315" find out|strong="H4480", and|strong="H4428" you|strong="H0859" would|strong="H5315" punish me|strong="H5315".”
14 Joab|strong="H3097" said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H3651" will|strong="H3820" not|strong="H3808" waste|strong="H3176" my|strong="H3947" time|strong="H3820" here|strong="H3651" with|strong="H3651" you|strong="H6440"!”
15 Ten|strong="H6235" of|strong="H3627" Joab’s|strong="H3097" young|strong="H5288" helpers gathered|strong="H5437" around|strong="H5437" Absalom|strong="H0053" and|strong="H3097" killed|strong="H5221" him|strong="H0853".
16 Joab|strong="H3097" blew|strong="H8628" the|strong="H0853" trumpet|strong="H7782" and|strong="H3478" called the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" to|strong="H7725" stop|strong="H0310" chasing|strong="H0310" Israelites|strong="H3478".
17 Then|strong="H3947" Joab’s men|strong="H0376" took|strong="H3947" Absalom’s|strong="H0053" body and|strong="H3478" threw|strong="H7993" it|strong="H5921" into|strong="H0413" a|strong="H3947" large|strong="H1419" hole in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" forest|strong="H3293" and|strong="H3478" covered it|strong="H5921" with|strong="H0413" stones|strong="H0068".
18 While|strong="H5704" Absalom|strong="H0053" was|strong="H8034" alive|strong="H2416" he|strong="H0834" put|strong="H3947" up|strong="H5704" a|strong="H3947" memorial|strong="H3027" stone|strong="H0834" in|strong="H5921" King’s|strong="H4428" Valley|strong="H6010". He|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" no|strong="H0369" son|strong="H1121" to|strong="H0559" keep|strong="H2142" my|strong="H5921" name|strong="H8034" alive|strong="H2416".” So|strong="H3947" he|strong="H0834" named|strong="H8034" that|strong="H0834" monument|strong="H3027" after|strong="H5921" himself|strong="H3027". It|strong="H5921" is|strong="H0369" called|strong="H7121" “Absalom’s|strong="H0053" Monument|strong="H3027"” even|strong="H5704" today|strong="H3117".
19 Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" the|strong="H0853" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zadok|strong="H6659" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Joab|strong="H0559", “May|strong="H4994" I|strong="H3588" run|strong="H7323" and|strong="H1121" take the|strong="H0853" news|strong="H1319" to|strong="H0559" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H3027"? I’ll tell|strong="H0559" him|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" has|strong="H3068" destroyed the|strong="H0853" enemy|strong="H0341" for|strong="H3588" him|strong="H0853".”
20 Joab|strong="H3097" answered|strong="H0559" Ahimaaz, “No|strong="H3808", you|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" not|strong="H3808" carry|strong="H1319" the|strong="H0559" message today|strong="H3117". You|strong="H0859" can|strong="H1121" do|strong="H2088" it|strong="H5921" some|strong="H0376" other|strong="H0312" time|strong="H3117", but|strong="H3588" not|strong="H3808" today|strong="H3117" because|strong="H3588" it|strong="H5921" is|strong="H2088" the|strong="H0559" king’s|strong="H4428" son|strong="H1121" who|strong="H0376" is|strong="H2088" dead|strong="H4191".”
21 Then|strong="H0559" Joab|strong="H3097" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" a|strong="H7200" man|strong="H7200" from|strong="H7200" Ethiopia|strong="H3569", “Go, tell|strong="H5046" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" what|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" seen|strong="H7200".”
22 But|strong="H1961" Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zadok|strong="H6659" begged Joab|strong="H3097" again|strong="H5750", “No|strong="H0369" matter what|strong="H4100" happens|strong="H1961", please|strong="H4994" let|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" also|strong="H1571" run|strong="H7323" after|strong="H0310" the|strong="H0559" Ethiopian|strong="H3569"!”
23 Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" answered|strong="H0559", “No matter what|strong="H4100" happens|strong="H1961", I|strong="H0559" will|strong="H1961" run|strong="H7323" to|strong="H0559" David.”
24 David|strong="H1732" was|strong="H1732" sitting|strong="H3427" between|strong="H0996" the|strong="H0853" two|strong="H8147" gates|strong="H8179" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H8179". The|strong="H0853" watchman|strong="H6822" went|strong="H0413" up|strong="H5375" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" roof|strong="H1406" over|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" gate|strong="H8179" walls|strong="H2346" and|strong="H0376" saw|strong="H7200" a|strong="H7200" man|strong="H0376" running|strong="H7323" alone|strong="H0905".
25 The|strong="H0559" watchman|strong="H6822" shouted|strong="H7121" to|strong="H0559" tell|strong="H5046" King|strong="H4428" David.
26 But|strong="H7200" then|strong="H2009" the|strong="H0559" watchman|strong="H6822" saw|strong="H7200" another|strong="H0312" man|strong="H0376" running|strong="H7323". He|strong="H0376" called|strong="H7121" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" gatekeeper|strong="H7778", “Look|strong="H2009"! Another|strong="H0312" man|strong="H0376" is|strong="H2088" running|strong="H7323" alone|strong="H0905".”
27 The|strong="H0853" watchman|strong="H6822" said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H0589" think|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" first|strong="H7223" man|strong="H0376" runs|strong="H0935" like|strong="H0376" Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zadok|strong="H6659".”
28 Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" called|strong="H7121" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428", “All|strong="H0376" is|strong="H0834" well|strong="H7965"!” Ahimaaz|strong="H0290" bowed|strong="H7812" with|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3068" face|strong="H0639" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" ground|strong="H0776" in|strong="H0413" front of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559", “Praise|strong="H1288" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430"! The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" has|strong="H3068" defeated the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" against|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834", my|strong="H3068" lord|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4428".”
29 The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" asked|strong="H0559", “Is|strong="H4100" young|strong="H5288" Absalom|strong="H0053" all|strong="H3045" right?”
30 Then|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559", “Step over|strong="H5437" here|strong="H3541" and|strong="H4428" wait|strong="H5975".” Ahimaaz went|strong="H5437" there|strong="H5975" and|strong="H4428" stood|strong="H5975" waiting.
31 The|strong="H3605" Ethiopian|strong="H3569" arrived|strong="H0935" and|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559", “News|strong="H1319" for|strong="H3588" my|strong="H3605" lord|strong="H3068" and|strong="H0935" king|strong="H4428". Today|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" has|strong="H3068" punished all|strong="H3605" those|strong="H3605" who|strong="H3605" were|strong="H3117" against|strong="H5921" you|strong="H3588"!”
32 The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" asked|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" Ethiopian|strong="H3569", “Is|strong="H0834" young|strong="H5288" Absalom|strong="H0053" all|strong="H3605" right?”
33 So the king knew Absalom was dead and he became very upset. He went upstairs to the room over the gate, crying, “O my son Absalom! My son Absalom, I wish I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son!”