2Sa 18 | ABEn | STEP | And David numbered all the people with him. And he placed over them commanders of thousands, and commanders of hundreds.

‏ 2 Samuel 18

CHAPTER 18 Leaders of David's Forces

1 And David numbered all the people with him. And he placed over them commanders of thousands, and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent away the people, a third under the hand of Joab, and another third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and other third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And [³said ¹the ²king] to the people, In going forth, I shall go forth even indeed I myself with you. 3 And [³said ¹the ²people], You shall not go forth; for if [²into exile ¹we should flee], they shall not put us to heart. And if [³should die ¹half ²of us] they shall not put us to heart. For you are as of us ten thousand. And now it is good that you will be with us in the city for our helper. 4 And [³said ⁴to ⁵them ¹the ²king], The pleasing thing before you I will do. And [³stood ¹the ²king] by the side of the gate, and all the people went forth by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And [³gave charge ¹the ²king] to Joab and to Abishai and to Ittai, saying, Spare for me the young man Absalom! And all the people heard [³giving charge ¹the ²king] to all the rulers concerning Absalom. 6 And [⁴went forth ¹all ²the ³people] into the field for meeting Israel. And [³happened ¹the ²battle] in the grove of Ephraim. 7 And [⁴failed ⁵there ¹the ²people ³of Israel] before the children of David. And there became [²devastation ¹a great] in that day -- twenty thousand men. 8 And it came to pass there the war dispersed over the face of all the land. And [³was superabundant ¹the ²forest] in devouring of the people above what [³devoured ¹the ²sword] among the people in that day. 9 And Absalom met before the servants of David. And Absalom was mounted upon the mule, and [³was entering ¹the ²mule] under the thicket of the [²oak ¹great]. And [²was twisted ¹his head] in the oak, and he hung between the heaven and between the earth, and the mule underneath him went on. 10 And [³saw it ²man ¹one], and announced to Joab. And said, Behold, I have seen Absalom hanging in the oak. 11 And Joab said to the man announcing to him, And behold, you saw it? And why is it that you did not strike him there to the ground, and I would have given to you ten shekels of silver, and [²sash ¹one]? 12 [⁴said ¹And ²the ³man] to Joab, And if you rendered unto my hands a thousand shekels of silver, in no way would I put my hand against the son of the king. For in our ears [³gave charge ¹the ²king] to you, and to Abishai, and to Ittai, saying, Guard for me the young man Absalom, 13 to not do [²against ³his life ¹anything injust]! And all the matter will not be kept unaware from the king, and you shall set yourself right opposite me.

Joab Kills Absalom

14 And Joab said, This I begin; not thus shall I abide before you. And Joab took three arrows in his hand, and he stuck them in the heart of Absalom while yet he was living, in the heart of the oak. 15 And there encircled ten young men lifting the weapons of Joab, and they struck Absalom, and killed him. 16 And Joab trumped with the trumpet, and [³returned ¹the ²people] to not pursue after Israel, for Joab spared the people. 17 And Joab took Absalom, and he tossed him into [²chasm ¹a great] in the grove, into the [²pit ¹great], and they set over him a heap [³stones ²great ¹of exceedingly]. And all Israel fled each to his tent. 18 And Absalom while still living took and set for himself a monument in the valley of the king. For he said, There is not to me a son calling to mind my name. And he called the monument by his name. And he named it Hand of Absalom, until this day. 19 And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, Running indeed, I will announce good news to the king, that [²passed judgment ³to him ¹the lord] on the hand of his enemies. 20 And [²said ³to him ¹Joab], [³not ⁴a man ⁵of good news ²are ¹You] in this day, but you shall announce good news in [²day ¹another]. But in this day you shall not announce good news, for a son of the king has died. 21 And Joab said to Cushi, Go, announce to the king what you have seen! And Cushi did obeisance to Joab, and he ran. 22 And [⁴added ⁵still ¹Ahimaaz ²son ³of Zadok], and he said to Joab, Also let it be that I run also indeed myself after Cushi! And Joab said, Why do you run, my young one? There is not [²to you ¹good news] for benefit in going. 23 And Ahimaaz said, For what if I shall run? And [²said ³to him ¹Joab], Run! And Ahimaaz ran by the way of Kechar, and he surpassed Cushi. 24 And David was sitting between the two gates, and [³went ¹the ²watchman] onto the roof of the gate house, unto the wall; and he lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, there was a man running alone before him. 25 And [³yelled out ¹the ²watchman], and reported to the king. And [³said ¹the ²king], If he is alone good news is in his mouth. And he went along, coming and approaching. 26 And [³saw ¹the ²watchman ⁵man ⁴another] running. And [³yelled out ¹the ²watchman] at the gate, and said, Behold, [²man ¹another] is running alone. And [³said ¹the ²king], Also this one [²announcing good news ¹is]. 27 And [³said ¹the ²watchman], I see the racing of the first as the racing of Ahimaaz son of Zadok. And [³said ¹the ²king], [³man ²a good ¹This is], and indeed for [²news ¹good] he shall come. 28 And Ahimaaz yelled and said to the king, Peace. And he did obeisance to the king upon his face upon the ground. And he said, Blessed be the lord your God, who shut up the men, the ones lifting their hand against my master the king. 29 And [³said ¹the ²king], Is there peace to the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz said, I saw the [²multitude ¹great] being gladdened in the sending Joab the servant of the king, and your servant, and I do not know what happened there. 30 And [³said ¹the ²king], Turn aside and stand by here! And he turned aside and stood. 31 And behold, Cushi came. And Cushi said to the king, Let there be good news announced, O my master the king! for [²passed judgment ³for you ¹the lord] today of the hand of all the ones rousing against you. 32 And [³said ¹the ²king] to Cushi, How is the peace to the young man Absalom? And Cushi said, Let be as that young man, the enemies of my master the king! and all as many as rise up against you for evils. 33 And [³was disturbed ¹the ²king], and he ascended into the upper room of the gate and wept. And so he said as he wept, O My son, Absalom. O my son!, O my son, Absalom. What that I couldn't give my death for you, I instead of you, Absalom, O my son! O my son.