2Samuel:18

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* And David numbered the people that were with him , and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them . * And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab Yow #ab #, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah , Joabs brother , and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite . 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 (8675 ) 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 Joab and Abishai and Ittai , saying , Deal gently for my sake with the young man na #ar #, even with Absalom . And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom . * So the people went out into the field against Israel Yisra #el #: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ; * Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David , 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 sword devoured . * And Absalom met the servants paniym # of David . And Absalom 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 Joab Yow #ab #, and said , Behold , I saw Absalom hanged in an oak . * 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 . * And the man said unto Joab Yow #ab #, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand , yet would I not put forth mine hand against the kings son : for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai , saying , Beware that none touch the young man Absalom . * 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 Joab Yow #ab #, 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 . * And ten young men that bare Joabs armour compassed about and smote Absalom , and slew him . * And Joab blew the trumpet , and the people returned from pursuing after Israel Yisra #el #: for Joab held back the people . * And they took Absalom , and cast him into a great pit in the wood ya #ar #, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him : and all Israel fled every one to his tent . * Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar , which is in the kings 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 , Absaloms place . * Then said Ahimaaz #Achiyma #ats # the son of Zadok , Let me now run , and bear # the king tidings , how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies yad #. * And Joab said unto him , Thou shalt not bear tidings this day , but thou shalt bear tidings another day : but this day thou shalt bear no tidings , because the kings son is dead . * Then said Joab to Cushi , Go tell the king what thou hast seen . And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab Yow #ab #, and ran . * Then said Ahimaaz #Achiyma #ats # the son of Zadok yet again to Joab Yow #ab #, 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 ? * But howsoever , said he , let me run . And he said unto him , Run . Then Ahimaaz #Achiyma #ats # ran by the way of the plain , and overran Cushi . * And David sat between the two gates sha #ar #: 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 show #er #, 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 Ahimaaz #Achiyma #ats # the son of Zadok . And the king said , He is a good man , and cometh with good tidings . * And Ahimaaz #Achiyma #ats # 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 the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king . * And the king said , Is the young man Absalom safe ? And Ahimaaz #Achiyma #ats # answered , When Joab sent the kings 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 Cushi 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 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 . * And the king was much moved , and went up to the chamber over the gate sha #ar #, and wept : and as he went , thus he said , O my son Absalom , my son , my son Absalom ! would God I had died for thee , O Absalom , my son , my son !

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