18:1 David mustered the army that was with him. He put over them leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds. 18:2 David then sent out the army—a third under the leadership of Joab and a third under the leadership of Abishai the son of Zeruiah brother of Joab, and a third under the leadership of of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the army, “I too will indeed go out with you.”

18:3 But the army said, “You should not go forth. For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they won’t be too concerned about us.¹ Even if half of us should die, they won’t be too concerned about us. But you² are like ten thousand! So it is better for us if you remain in the city for support.” 18:4 So the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.”

So the king stayed beside the gate, and all the army went forth by hundreds and by thousands. 18:5 The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai as follows: “For my sake deal gently with the youth Absalom.” Now all the army was listening when the king gave orders to all the leaders about Absalom.

18:6 Then the army went forth to the field in order to go up against Israel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. The army of Israel was defeated there by the servants of David. 18:7 The slaughter there was great in that day—20,000 soldiers. 18:8 The battle there was spread out over all that terrain. But the forest consumed more soldiers than the sword devoured that day.

18:9 Then Absalom happened to come on the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding on his³ donkey, and as the donkey went under the branches of a large oak tree, his head was caught in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth as the donkey on which he was riding continued on.

18:10 When one⁴ of the men saw this, he reported it to Joab saying, “I saw Absalom suspended in a oak tree.

18:11 Joab replied to the man who was relating this to him, “What! You saw this? Why didn’t you strike him dead to the ground there? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a commemorative belt!”

18:12 The man replied to Joab, “Even if⁵ I were weighing out in my hand a thousand pieces of silver, I would not stretch out my hand against the son of the king! In our very presence⁶ the king gave orders to you, Abishai, and Ittai saying, ‘Be protective of the youth Absalom for my sake.’⁷ 18:13 If I had acted at risk of my own life⁸—and nothing is kept back from the king!—you would then have stood aloof from me.”

18:14 Joab replied, “I will not keep waiting around like this for you!” He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the oak tree.⁹ 18:15 Then ten soldiers who were armour-bearers for Joab struck Absalom and put him to death.

18:16 Then Joab blew the horn,¹⁰ and the army turned back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab had called a halt for the army. 18:17 Then they took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest. After they had stacked a very large pile of stones on him, all Israel fled each to his own home.¹¹

18:18 Now while he was still alive, Absalom had set up a pillar and dedicated it to himself in the King’s Valley, reasoning “I have no son who will continue my name.” He gave his own name to the pillar, and to this very day it is known as Absalom’s Memorial.

18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “I will run and announce to the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him from the hand of his enemies. 18:20 But Joab said to him, “It is not you who will be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but today you will not bear good news. For it is the king’s son that is dead.”

18:21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go and convey to the king what you have seen.”

After bowing to Joab, the Cushite ran off. 18:22 Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab, “Whatever happens, let it be I who runs after the Cushite.” But Joab said, “Why is it that you want to run, my son? You have no good news that will secure a reward for you.” 18:23 But he said,¹² “Whatever happens, I want to run!” So he said to him, “Then run!” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordanian plain, and he passed the Cushite.

18:24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall. When he looked, he saw a man running by himself. 18:25 So the watchman called and informed the king. The king said, “If he is by himself, he brings good news.”¹³ He came ever closer.

18:26 Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called out to the gate-keeper, “There is another man running by himself.” The king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 18:27 The watchman said, “It appears to me that the first runner is running like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “This is a good man, and he comes with good news.”

18:28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “Greetings!” He bowed prostrate to the ground before the king and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God who has shut out the men who lifted their hand against my lord the king!”

18:29 The king replied, “How is it with the youth Absalom?” Ahimaaz replied, “I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me your servant, but I don’t know what it was all about.” 18:30 The king said, “Turn aside and take your place here.” So he turned aside and waited.

18:31 Then the Cushite came and said,¹⁴ “Let my lord the king now receive the good news. The LORD has avenged you this day from the hand of all those who were rising up against you!” 18:32 The king asked the Cushite, “How is it with the youth Absalom?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all those who have risen up against you with evil intention be like this youth!”