2 Samuel 18:5-33

2 Samuel 18:5-33

[5] And the king  commanded  Joab  and Abishai  and Ittai,  saying,  Deal gently  for my sake with the young man,  even with Absalom.  And all the people  heard  when the king  gave all the captains  charge  concerning  Absalom.  [6] So the people  went out  into the field  against  Israel:  and the battle  was in the wood  of Ephraim;  [7] Where the people  of Israel  were slain  before  the servants  of David,  and there was there a great  slaughter  that day  of twenty  thousand  [8] For the battle  was there scattered  over the face  of all the country:  and the wood  devoured  more  people  that day  than the sword  devoured.  [9] And Absalom  met  the servants  of David.  And Absalom  rode  upon a mule,  went  under the thick boughs  of a great  oak,  and his head  caught hold  of the oak,  and he was taken up  between the heaven  and the earth;  and the mule  that was under him went away.  [10] And a certain  man  saw  it, and told  Joab,  and said,  Behold, I saw  Absalom  hanged  in an oak.  [11] And Joab  said  unto the man  that told  him, And, behold, thou sawest  him, and why didst thou not smite  him there to the ground?  and I would have given  thee ten  shekels of silver,  and a  girdle.  [12] And the man  said  unto Joab,  Though  I should receive  a thousand  shekels of silver  in mine hand,  yet would I not put forth  mine hand  against the king's  son:  for in our hearing  the king  charged  thee and Abishai  and Ittai,  saying,  Beware  that none touch the young man  Absalom.  [13] Otherwise  I should have wrought  falsehood  against mine own life:  for there is no matter  hid  from the king,  and thou thyself wouldest have set  thyself against me. [14] Then said  Joab,  I may not tarry  thus with thee.  And he took  three  darts  in his hand,  and thrust  them through the heart  of Absalom,  while he was yet alive  in the midst of the oak.  [15] And ten  young men  that bare  Joab's  armour  compassed about  and smote  Absalom,  and slew  [16] And Joab  blew  the trumpet,  and the people  returned  from pursuing  after  Israel:  for Joab  held back  the people.  [17] And they took  Absalom,  and cast  him into a great  pit  in the wood,  and laid  a very  great  heap  of stones  upon him: and all Israel  fled  every one  to his tent.  [18] Now Absalom  in his lifetime  had taken  and reared up  for himself a pillar,  which is in the king's  dale:  for he said,  I have no son  to keep my name  in remembrance:  and he called  the pillar  after his own name:  and it is called  unto this day,  Absalom's  place.  [19] Then said  Ahimaaz  the son  of Zadok,  Let me now run,  the king  tidings,  how that the LORD  hath avenged  him of his enemies.  [20] And Joab  said  unto him, Thou  shalt not bear tidings  this day,  but thou shalt bear tidings  another  day:  thou shalt bear no tidings,  because the king's  son  is dead.  [21] Then said  Joab  to Cushi,  tell  the king  what thou hast seen.  And Cushi  bowed  himself unto Joab,  and ran.  [22] Then said  Ahimaaz  the son  of Zadok  yet again  to Joab,  But howsoever,  let me, I pray thee, also run  after  Cushi.  And Joab  said,  Wherefore wilt thou run,  my son,  seeing that thou hast no tidings  ready?  [23] But howsoever, said he, let me run.  And he said  unto him, Run.  Then Ahimaaz  ran  by the way  of the plain,  and overran  Cushi.  [24] And David  sat  between the two  gates:  and the watchman  to the roof  over the gate  unto the wall,  and lifted up  his eyes,  and looked,  and behold a man  running  [25] And the watchman  cried,  and told  the king.  said,  If he be alone, there is tidings  in his mouth.  apace,  and drew near.  [26] And the watchman  saw  another  man  running:  and the watchman  called  unto the porter,  and said,  Behold another man  running  alone. And the king  said,  He also bringeth tidings.  [27] And the watchman  said,  Me thinketh  the running  of the foremost  is like the running  of Ahimaaz  the son  of Zadok.  And the king  said,  He is a good  man,  and cometh  with good  tidings.  [28] And Ahimaaz  called,  and said  unto the king,  All is well.  And he fell down  to the earth  upon his face  before the king,  and said,  Blessed  be the LORD  thy God,  which hath delivered up  that lifted up  their hand  against my lord  the king.  [29] And the king  said,  Is the young man  Absalom  safe?  And Ahimaaz  answered,  When Joab  sent  the king's  servant,  I saw  a great  tumult,  but I knew  [30] And the king  said  unto him, Turn aside,  and stand  here.  And he turned aside,  and stood still.  [31] And, behold, Cushi  came;  and Cushi  said,  Tidings,  my lord  the king:  for the LORD  hath avenged  thee this day  of all them  that rose up  against thee. [32] And the king  said  unto Cushi,  Is the young man  Absalom  safe?  And Cushi  answered,  The enemies  of my lord  the king,  and all that rise  against thee to do thee hurt,  be as that young man  is. [33] And the king  was much moved,  and went up  to the chamber  over the gate,  and wept:  thus he said,  O my son  Absalom,  my son,  Absalom!  would God I had died  for thee,  O Absalom,  my son,