2 Samuel
2 Samuel 18
King James Version · tap any highlighted word for context
2 Samuel 18 — Scripture text (King James Version)
And numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of , and a third part under the hand of the son of , Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of the . And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded and and , saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with . And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning . So the people went out into the field against : and the battle was in the wood of ; Where the people of were slain before the servants of , and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the devoured. And met the servants of . And rode upon a mule, and the 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. And a certain man saw it, and told , and said, Behold, I saw hanged in an oak. And 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 of silver, and a girdle. And the man said unto , Though I should receive a thousand of silver in mine hand, yet would I not forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and and , saying, Beware that none touch the young man . 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. Then said , I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of , while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare ’s armour compassed about and smote , and slew him. And blew the , and the people returned from pursuing after : for held back the people. And they took , and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all fled every one to his tent. Now 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. Then said the son of , Let me now run, and the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. And said unto him, Thou shalt not tidings this day, but thou shalt tidings another day: but this day thou shalt no tidings, because the king’s son is dead. Then said to , Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And bowed himself unto , and ran. Then said the son of yet again to , But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after . And said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then ran by the way of the plain, and overran . And sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. 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. And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of the son of . And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. And called, and said unto the king, All is . 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 the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king said, Is the young man safe? And answered, When sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, Cushi came; and said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. And the king said unto , Is the young man safe? And answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son , my son, my son ! would God I had died for thee, O , my son, my son!