<vn='1'>And <sn="1732">David</s><sn="6485">numbered</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="834">that</s> were <sn="854">with</s> him, and <sn="7760">set</s><sn="8269">captains</s> of <sn="505">thousands</s> and <sn="8269">captains</s> of <sn="3967">hundreds</s><sn="5921">over</s> them. </v>
<vn='2'>And <sn="1732">David</s> sent <sn="7971">forth</s> a third <sn="7992">part</s> of <sn="*853"></s> the <sn="5971">people</s> under the <sn="3027">hand</s> of <sn="3097">Joab</s>, and a third <sn="7992">part</s> under the <sn="3027">hand</s> of <sn="52">Abishai</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="6870">Zeruiah</s>, <sn="3097">Joab</s> 's <sn="251">brother</s>, and a third <sn="7992">part</s> under the <sn="3027">hand</s> of <sn="863">Ittai</s> the <sn="1663">Gittite</s>. And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s><sn="413">unto</s> the <sn="5971">people</s>, I will surely go <sn="3318 3318">forth</s><sn="5973">with</s> you <sn="589">myself</s><sn="1571">also</s>. </v>
<vn='3'>But the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="559">answered</s>, Thou shalt <sn="3808">not</s> go <sn="3318">forth</s>: <sn="3588">for</s><sn="518">if</s> we flee <sn="5127 5127">away</s>, they will <sn="3808">not</s><sn="7760 3820">care</s><sn="413">for</s> us; <sn="3808">neither</s><sn="518">if</s><sn="2677">half</s> of us <sn="4191">die</s>, will they <sn="7760 3820">care</s><sn="413">for</s> us: <sn="3588">but</s><sn="6258">now</s> thou art <sn="3644">worth</s><sn="6235">ten</s><sn="505">thousand</s> of us: therefore <sn="6258">now</s> it is <sn="2896">better</s><sn="3588">that</s> thou <sn="5826">succor</s> us out of the <sn="4480 5892">city</s>. </v>
<vn='4'>And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s><sn="413">unto</s> them, <sn="834">What</s><sn="5869">seemeth</s> you <sn="3190">best</s> I will <sn="6213">do</s>. And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="5975">stood</s><sn="413">by</s> the <sn="8179">gate</s><sn="3027">side</s>, and <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s> came <sn="3318">out</s> by <sn="3967">hundreds</s> and by <sn="505">thousands</s>. </v>
<vn='5'>And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="6680">commanded</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="3097">Joab</s> and <sn="52">Abishai</s> and <sn="863">Ittai</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, Deal <sn="328">gently</s> for my sake with the young <sn="5288">man</s>, even with <sn="53">Absalom</s>. And <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="8085">heard</s> when the <sn="4428">king</s> gave <sn="*853"></s><sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="8269">captains</s><sn="6680">charge</s><sn="5921 1697">concerning</s><sn="53">Absalom</s>. </v>
<vn='6'>So the <sn="5971">people</s> went <sn="3318">out</s> into the <sn="7704">field</s><sn="7125">against</s><sn="3478">Israel</s>: and the <sn="4421">battle</s><sn="1961">was</s> in the <sn="3293">wood</s> of <sn="669">Ephraim</s>; </v>
<vn='7'><sn="8033">Where</s> the <sn="5971">people</s> of <sn="3478">Israel</s> were <sn="5062">slain</s><sn="6440">before</s> the <sn="5650">servants</s> of <sn="1732">David</s>, and there <sn="1961">was</s><sn="8033">there</s> a <sn="1419">great</s><sn="4046">slaughter</s><sn="1931">that</s><sn="3117">day</s> of <sn="6242">twenty</s><sn="505">thousand</s> men. </v>
<vn='8'>For the <sn="4421">battle</s><sn="1961">was</s><sn="8033">there</s><sn="6327">scattered</s><sn="5921">over</s> the <sn="6440">face</s> of <sn="3605">all</s> the <sn="776">country</s>: and the <sn="3293">wood</s><sn="398">devoured</s><sn="7235">more</s><sn="5971">people</s><sn="1931">that</s><sn="3117">day</s> than the <sn="2719">sword</s><sn="398">devoured</s>. </v>
<vn='9'>And <sn="53">Absalom</s><sn="7122">met</s> the <sn="5650">servants</s> of <sn="1732">David</s>. And <sn="53">Absalom</s><sn="7392">rode</s><sn="5921">upon</s> a <sn="6505">mule</s>, and the <sn="6505">mule</s><sn="935">went</s><sn="8478">under</s> the thick <sn="7730">boughs</s> of a <sn="1419">great</s><sn="424">oak</s>, and his <sn="7218">head</s> caught <sn="2388">hold</s> of the <sn="424">oak</s>, and he was taken <sn="5414">up</s><sn="996">between</s> the <sn="8064">heaven</s> and the <sn="776">earth</s>; and the <sn="6505">mule</s><sn="834">that</s> was <sn="8478">under</s> him went <sn="5674">away</s>. </v>
<vn='10'>And a <sn="259">certain</s><sn="376">man</s><sn="7200">saw</s> it, and <sn="5046">told</s><sn="3097">Joab</s>, and <sn="559">said</s>, <sn="2009">Behold</s>, I <sn="7200">saw</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="53">Absalom</s><sn="8518">hanged</s> in an <sn="424">oak</s>. </v>
<vn='11'>And <sn="3097">Joab</s><sn="559">said</s> unto the <sn="376">man</s> that <sn="5046">told</s> him, And, <sn="2009">behold</s>, thou <sn="7200">sawest</s> him, and <sn="4069">why</s> didst thou <sn="3808">not</s><sn="5221">smite</s> him <sn="8033">there</s> to the <sn="776">ground</s>? and I would have <sn="5414">given</s> thee <sn="6235">ten</s> shekels of <sn="3701">silver</s>, and <sn="259">a</s><sn="2290">girdle</s>. </v>
<vn='12'>And the <sn="376">man</s><sn="559">said</s><sn="413">unto</s><sn="3097">Joab</s>, <sn="3863">Though</s><sn="595">I</s> should <sn="8254">receive</s> a <sn="505">thousand</s> shekels of <sn="3701">silver</s><sn="5921">in</s> mine <sn="3709">hand</s>, yet would I <sn="3808">not</s> put <sn="7971">forth</s> mine <sn="3027">hand</s><sn="413">against</s> the <sn="4428">king</s> 's <sn="1121">son</s>: <sn="3588">for</s> in our <sn="241">hearing</s> the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="6680">charged</s> thee and <sn="52">Abishai</s> and <sn="863">Ittai</s>, <sn="559">saying</s>, Beware that <sn="8104 4130">none</s> touch the young <sn="5288">man</s><sn="53">Absalom</s>. </v>
<vn='13'><sn="176">Otherwise</s> I should have <sn="6213">wrought</s><sn="8267">falsehood</s> against mine own <sn="5315">life</s>: for there is no <sn="3808 3605 1697">matter</s><sn="3582">hid</s><sn="4480">from</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>, and thou <sn="859">thyself</s> wouldest have set <sn="3320">thyself</s><sn="4480 5048">against</s> me. </v>
<vn='14'>Then <sn="559">said</s><sn="3097">Joab</s>, I may <sn="3808">not</s><sn="3176">tarry</s><sn="3651">thus</s><sn="6440">with</s> thee. And he <sn="3947">took</s><sn="7969">three</s><sn="7626">darts</s> in his <sn="3709">hand</s>, and <sn="8628">thrust</s> them through the <sn="3820">heart</s> of <sn="53">Absalom</s>, <sn="5750">while</s> he was yet <sn="2416">alive</s> in the <sn="3820">midst</s> of the <sn="424">oak</s>. </v>
<vn='15'>And <sn="6235">ten</s> young <sn="5288">men</s> that <sn="5375">bore</s><sn="3097">Joab</s> 's <sn="3627">armor</s> compassed <sn="5437">about</s> and <sn="5221">smote</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="53">Absalom</s>, and <sn="4191">slew</s> him. </v>
<vn='16'>And <sn="3097">Joab</s><sn="8628">blew</s> the <sn="7782">trumpet</s>, and the <sn="5971">people</s><sn="7725">returned</s> from <sn="4480 7291">pursuing</s><sn="310">after</s><sn="3478">Israel</s>: <sn="3588">for</s><sn="3097">Joab</s> held <sn="2820">back</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="5971">people</s>. </v>
<vn='17'>And they <sn="3947">took</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="53">Absalom</s>, and <sn="7993">cast</s> him <sn="413">into</s> a <sn="1419">great</s><sn="6354">pit</s> in the <sn="3293">wood</s>, and <sn="5324">laid</s> a <sn="3966">very</s><sn="1419">great</s><sn="1530">heap</s> of <sn="68">stones</s><sn="5921">upon</s> him: and <sn="3605">all</s><sn="3478">Israel</s><sn="5127">fled</s> every <sn="376">one</s> to his <sn="168">tent</s>. </v>
<vn='18'>Now <sn="53">Absalom</s> in his <sn="2416">lifetime</s> had <sn="3947">taken</s> and reared <sn="5324">up</s> for himself <sn="*853"></s> a <sn="4678">pillar</s>, <sn="834">which</s> is in the <sn="4428">king</s> 's <sn="6010">dale</s>: <sn="3588">for</s> he <sn="559">said</s>, I have <sn="369">no</s><sn="1121">son</s><sn="5668">to</s> keep my name in <sn="2142 8034">remembrance</s>: and he <sn="7121">called</s> the <sn="4678">pillar</s><sn="5921">after</s> his own <sn="8034">name</s>: and it is <sn="7121">called</s><sn="5704">unto</s><sn="2088">this</s><sn="3117">day</s>, <sn="53">Absalom</s> 's <sn="3027">place</s>. </v>
<vn='19'>Then <sn="559">said</s><sn="290">Ahimaaz</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="6659">Zadok</s>, Let me <sn="4994">now</s><sn="7323">run</s>, and <sn="1319">bear</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="4428">king</s> tidings, how <sn="3588">that</s> the <sn="3068">LORD</s> hath <sn="8199">avenged</s> him of his <sn="341">enemies</s>. </v>
<vn='20'>And <sn="3097">Joab</s><sn="559">said</s> unto him, <sn="859">Thou</s> shalt <sn="3808">not</s> bear <sn="376 1309">tidings</s><sn="2088">this</s><sn="3117">day</s>, but thou shalt bear <sn="1319">tidings</s><sn="312">another</s><sn="3117">day</s>: but <sn="2088">this</s><sn="3117">day</s> thou shalt bear no <sn="1319 3808">tidings</s>, <sn="3588 5921">because</s> the <sn="4428">king</s> 's <sn="1121">son</s> is <sn="4191">dead</s>. </v>
<vn='21'>Then <sn="559">said</s><sn="3097">Joab</s> to <sn="3569">Cushi</s>, <sn="1980">Go</s><sn="5046">tell</s> the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="834">what</s> thou hast <sn="7200">seen</s>. And <sn="3569">Cushi</s> bowed <sn="7812">himself</s> unto <sn="3097">Joab</s>, and <sn="7323">ran</s>. </v>
<vn='22'>Then <sn="559">said</s><sn="290">Ahimaaz</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="6659">Zadok</s><sn="5750">yet</s><sn="3254">again</s><sn="413">to</s><sn="3097">Joab</s>, But <sn="1961 4100">howsoever</s>, let me, <sn="589">I</s><sn="4994">pray</s> thee, <sn="1571">also</s><sn="7323">run</s><sn="310">after</s><sn="3569">Cushi</s>. And <sn="3097">Joab</s><sn="559">said</s>, <sn="4100 2088">Wherefore</s> wilt <sn="859">thou</s><sn="7323">run</s>, my <sn="1121">son</s>, seeing that thou hast <sn="369">no</s><sn="1309">tidings</s><sn="4672">ready</s>? </v>
<vn='23'>But <sn="1961 4100">howsoever</s>, said he, let me <sn="7323">run</s>. And he <sn="559">said</s> unto him, <sn="7323">Run</s>. Then <sn="290">Ahimaaz</s><sn="7323">ran</s> by the <sn="1870">way</s> of the <sn="3603">plain</s>, and <sn="5674">overran</s><sn="*853"></s><sn="3569">Cushi</s>. </v>
<vn='24'>And <sn="1732">David</s><sn="3427">sat</s><sn="996">between</s> the <sn="8147">two</s><sn="8179">gates</s>: and the <sn="6822">watchman</s> went <sn="1980">up</s><sn="413">to</s> the <sn="1406">roof</s> over the <sn="8179">gate</s><sn="413">unto</s> the <sn="2346">wall</s>, and lifted <sn="5375">up</s><sn="*853"></s> his <sn="5869">eyes</s>, and <sn="7200">looked</s>, and <sn="2009">behold</s> a <sn="376">man</s><sn="7323">running</s><sn="905">alone</s>. </v>
<vn='25'>And the <sn="6822">watchman</s><sn="7121">cried</s>, and <sn="5046">told</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>. And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s>, <sn="518">If</s> he be <sn="905">alone</s>, there is <sn="1309">tidings</s> in his <sn="6310">mouth</s>. And he <sn="1980">came</s><sn="1980">apace</s>, and drew <sn="7131">near</s>. </v>
<vn='26'>And the <sn="6822">watchman</s><sn="7200">saw</s><sn="312">another</s><sn="376">man</s><sn="7323">running</s>: and the <sn="6822">watchman</s><sn="7121">called</s><sn="413">unto</s> the <sn="7778">porter</s>, and <sn="559">said</s>, <sn="2009">Behold</s> another <sn="376">man</s><sn="7323">running</s><sn="905">alone</s>. And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s>, <sn="2088">He</s><sn="1571">also</s> bringeth <sn="1319">tidings</s>. </v>
<vn='27'>And the <sn="6822">watchman</s><sn="559">said</s>, <sn="589">Me</s><sn="7200">thinketh</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="4794">running</s> of the <sn="7223">foremost</s> is like the <sn="4794">running</s> of <sn="290">Ahimaaz</s> the <sn="1121">son</s> of <sn="6659">Zadok</s>. And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s>, <sn="2088">He</s> is a <sn="2896">good</s><sn="376">man</s>, and <sn="935">cometh</s> with <sn="2896">good</s><sn="1309">tidings</s>. </v>
<vn='28'>And <sn="290">Ahimaaz</s><sn="7121">called</s>, and <sn="559">said</s><sn="413">unto</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>, All is <sn="7965">well</s>. And he fell <sn="7821">down</s> to the <sn="776">earth</s> upon his <sn="639">face</s> before the <sn="4428">king</s>, and <sn="559">said</s>, <sn="1288">Blessed</s> be the <sn="3068">LORD</s> thy <sn="430">God</s>, <sn="834">which</s> hath delivered <sn="5462">up</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="376">men</s><sn="834">that</s> lifted <sn="5375">up</s><sn="*853"></s> their <sn="3027">hand</s> against my <sn="113">lord</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>. </v>
<vn='29'>And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s>, Is the young <sn="5288">man</s><sn="53">Absalom</s><sn="7965">safe</s>? And <sn="290">Ahimaaz</s><sn="559">answered</s>, When <sn="3097">Joab</s><sn="7971">sent</s><sn="*853"></s> the <sn="4428">king</s> 's <sn="5650">servant</s>, and me thy <sn="5650">servant</s>, I <sn="7200">saw</s> a <sn="1419">great</s><sn="1995">tumult</s>, but I <sn="3045">knew</s><sn="3808">not</s><sn="4100">what</s> it was. </v>
<vn='30'>And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s> unto him, Turn <sn="5437">aside</s>, and <sn="3320">stand</s><sn="3541">here</s>. And he turned <sn="5437">aside</s>, and stood <sn="5975">still</s>. </v>
<vn='31'>And, <sn="2009">behold</s>, <sn="3569">Cushi</s><sn="935">came</s>; and <sn="3569">Cushi</s><sn="559">said</s>, <sn="1319">Tidings</s>, my <sn="113">lord</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>: <sn="3588">for</s> the <sn="3068">LORD</s> hath <sn="8199">avenged</s> thee this <sn="3117">day</s><sn="4480 3027">of</s><sn="3605">all</s> them that rose <sn="6965">up</s><sn="5921">against</s> thee. </v>
<vn='32'>And the <sn="4428">king</s><sn="559">said</s><sn="413">unto</s><sn="3569">Cushi</s>, Is the young <sn="5288">man</s><sn="53">Absalom</s><sn="7965">safe</s>? And <sn="3569">Cushi</s><sn="559">answered</s>, The <sn="341">enemies</s> of my <sn="113">lord</s> the <sn="4428">king</s>, and <sn="3605">all</s><sn="834">that</s><sn="6965">rise</s><sn="5921">against</s> thee to do thee <sn="7451">hurt</s>, <sn="1961">be</s> as that young <sn="5288">man</s> is. </v>
<vn='33'>And the <sn="4428">king</s> was much <sn="7264">moved</s>, and went <sn="5927">up</s><sn="5921">to</s> the <sn="5944">chamber</s> over the <sn="8179">gate</s>, and <sn="1058">wept</s>: and as he <sn="1980">went</s>, <sn="3541">thus</s> he <sn="559">said</s>, O my <sn="1121">son</s><sn="53">Absalom</s>, my <sn="1121">son</s>, my <sn="1121">son</s><sn="53">Absalom</s>! would <sn="4310 5414">God</s><sn="589">I</s> had <sn="4191">died</s><sn="8478">for</s> thee, O <sn="53">Absalom</s>, my <sn="1121">son</s>, my <sn="1121">son</s>! </v>