1And David mustered the people who were with him, and appointed commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds over them. 2David divided the army into three, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, "I will surely go forth with you myself also." 3But they said, "You must not go out, for if we retreat, no one will care about us. If half of us die, no one will care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. So it is better for you to be in the city to help." 4The king said to them, "I will do what seems best to you." The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5The king gave this order to Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Be gentle for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people were listening when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.

6So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7And the people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter took place that day of twenty thousand men. 8For the battle spread over the entire region, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. And he was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head got caught in the oak, and he was left suspended in midair, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10And someone saw it and told Joab, and said, "Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak." 11Then Joab said to the man who reported it, "Look, you saw this. So why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver, and a belt." 12But the man said to Joab, "Even if I could feel in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn't lay a hand on the king's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Be gentle for my sake with the young man Absalom.' 13Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have dissociated yourself from me." 14Then Joab said, "I'm not going to waste time with you." So he took three sharp sticks in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the midst of the oak. 15Then ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded and struck Absalom and killed him.

16Then Joab blew the trumpet and the people turned back from pursuing Israel, for Joab had called for the people to halt. 17And they took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest, and heaped up over him a huge pile of stones. Then all Israel fled, each one to his tent. 18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the King's Valley; for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in memory." He called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument, to this day.

19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run, let me carry the king news how that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies." 20But Joab said, "You are not to bring the news today, but you may bring news another day. But today you are to bring no news.” For it was because the king's son was dead." 21Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed before Joab and departed. 22Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Whatever happens, please let me go after the Cushite." But Joab said, "Why do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?" 23But he said, "But whatever happens, I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall and raised his eyes and looked, and there was a man running alone towards him. 25Then the watchman shouted and informed the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth." And he kept coming nearer. 26Then the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman above the gate called out, and said, "Look, another man running alone." And the king said, "He also brings good news." 27Then the watchman said, "I think the first runner is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and comes with good news."

28And Ahimaaz came near and said to the king, "All is well." Then he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground, and said, "Blessed is the LORD your God, who has defeated the men who opposed my lord the king." 29And the king asked, Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab, the king's servant, sent your servant off, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was." 30Then the king said, "Step aside and stand here." So he stepped aside and waited.

31Then look, the Cushite arrived, and he said, "Good news for my lord the king, for the LORD has delivered you today from all those who rose up against you." 32Then the king asked the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite replied, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you with evil intent be like that young man."

33And the king was shaken, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he wept he said, “My son Absalom. My son, my son Absalom. If only I had died in your place, Absalom, my son, my son."