David's army defeats Absalom's forces in the forest of Ephraim. Absalom's hair is caught in an oak, and Joab kills him. David is overcome with grief and cries, O my son Absalom.
1 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And David sent forth a third part of the people 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 . And the king said unto the people , I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 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 .
4 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 .
5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai , saying , Deal gently for my sake with the young man , even with Absalom . And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom .
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel : and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ;
7 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.
8 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 .
9 And Absalom met the servants 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 .
10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab , and said , Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak .
11 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 .
12 And the man said unto Joab , Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand , yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son : for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai , saying , Beware that none touch the young man Absalom .
13 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.
14 Then said Joab , 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 .
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom , and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet , and the people returned from pursuing after Israel : for Joab held back the people .
17 And they took Absalom , and cast him into a great pit in the wood , and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent .
18 Now Absalom 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 .
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok , Let me now run , and bear the king tidings , how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies .
20 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 king's son is dead .
21 Then said Joab to Cushi , Go tell the king what thou hast seen . And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab , and ran .
22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab , 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 ?
23 But howsoever, said he, let me run . And he said unto him, Run . Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain , and overran Cushi .
24 And David 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.
25 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 .
26 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 .
27 And the watchman said , Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok . And the king said , He is a good man , and cometh with good tidings .
28 And Ahimaaz 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 .
29 And the king said , Is the young man Absalom safe ? And Ahimaaz answered , When Joab sent the king's servant , and me thy servant , I saw a great tumult , but I knew not what it was.
30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside , and stand here . And he turned aside , and stood still .
31 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.
32 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.
33 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 Absalom , my son , my son Absalom ! would God I had died for thee , O Absalom , my son , my son !