And Davidnumberedthe peoplethat were withhim, and setcaptainsof thousandsand captainsof hundredsoverthem. And Davidsent fortha third partof the peopleunder the handof Joab, and a third partunder the handof Abishaithe sonof Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third partunder the handof Ittaithe Gittite. And the kingsaiduntothe people, I will surely go forthwithyou myselfalso. But the peopleanswered, Thou shalt notgo forth: forifwe flee away, they will notcareforus; neitherifhalfof us die, will they careforus: butnow thou art worthtenthousandof us: therefore now it is betterthatthou succorus out of the city. And the kingsaiduntothem, Whatseemethyou bestI will do. And the kingstoodbythe gateside, and allthe peoplecame outby hundredsand by thousands. And the kingcommandedJoaband Abishaiand Ittai, saying, Deal gentlyfor my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And allthe peopleheardwhen the kinggave allthe captainschargeconcerningAbsalom. So the peoplewent outinto the fieldagainstIsrael: and the battlewasin the woodof Ephraim; Wherethe peopleof Israelwere slainbeforethe servantsof David, and there wastherea greatslaughterthatdayof twentythousand men . For the battlewastherescatteredoverthe faceof allthe country: and the wooddevouredmorepeoplethatdaythan the sworddevoured. And Absalommetthe servantsof David. And Absalomrodeupona mule, and the mulewentunderthe thick boughsof a greatoak, and his headcaught holdof the oak, and he was taken upbetweenthe heavenand the earth; and the mulethat was underhim went away. And a certainmansaw it , and toldJoab, and said, Behold, I sawAbsalomhangedin an oak. And Joabsaidunto the manthat toldhim, And, behold, thou sawest him , and whydidst thou notsmitehim thereto the ground? and I would have giventhee ten shekels of silver, and agirdle. And the mansaiduntoJoab, ThoughIshould receivea thousand shekels of silverinmine hand, yet would I notput forthmine handagainstthe king's son: forin our hearingthe kingchargedthee and Abishaiand Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young manAbsalom. OtherwiseI should have wroughtfalsehoodagainst mine own life: for there is no matterhidfromthe king, and thou thyselfwouldest have set thyselfagainst me . Then saidJoab, I may nottarrythuswiththee. And he tookthreedartsin his hand, and thrustthem through the heartof Absalom, whilehe was yet alivein the midstof the oak. And tenyoung menthat boreJoab's armorcompassed aboutand smoteAbsalom, and slewhim. And Joabblewthe trumpet, and the peoplereturnedfrom pursuingafterIsrael: forJoabheld backthe people. And they tookAbsalom, and casthim intoa greatpitin the wood, and laida verygreatheapof stonesuponhim: and allIsraelfledevery oneto his tent. Now Absalomin his lifetimehad takenand reared upfor himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: forhe said, I have nosontokeep my name in remembrance: and he calledthe pillarafterhis own name: and it is calleduntothisday, Absalom's place. Then saidAhimaazthe sonof Zadok, Let me nowrun, and bearthe kingtidings, how thatthe LORDhath avengedhim of his enemies. And Joabsaidunto him, Thoushalt notbear tidingsthisday, but thou shalt bear tidingsanotherday: but thisdaythou shalt bear no tidings, becausethe king's sonis dead. Then saidJoabto Cushi, Gotellthe kingwhatthou hast seen. And Cushibowed himselfunto Joab, and ran. Then saidAhimaazthe sonof ZadokyetagaintoJoab, But howsoever, let me, Ipraythee, alsorunafterCushi. And Joabsaid, Whereforewilt thourun, my son, seeing that thou hast notidingsready? But howsoever, said he , let me run. And he saidunto him, Run. Then Ahimaazranby the wayof the plain, and overranCushi. And Davidsatbetweenthe twogates: and the watchmanwent uptothe roofover the gateuntothe wall, and lifted uphis eyes, and looked, and beholda manrunningalone. And the watchmancried, and toldthe king. And the kingsaid, Ifhe be alone, there is tidingsin his mouth. And he cameapace, and drew near. And the watchmansawanothermanrunning: and the watchmancalleduntothe porter, and said, Behold another manrunningalone. And the kingsaid, Healsobringeth tidings. And the watchmansaid, Methinkeththe runningof the foremostis like the runningof Ahimaazthe sonof Zadok. And the kingsaid, He is a goodman, and comethwith goodtidings. And Ahimaazcalled, and saiduntothe king, All is well. And he fell downto the earthupon his facebefore the king, and said, Blessed be the LORDthy God, whichhath delivered upthe menthatlifted uptheir handagainst my lordthe king. And the kingsaid, Is the young manAbsalomsafe? And Ahimaazanswered, When Joabsentthe king's servant, and me thy servant, I sawa greattumult, but I knewnotwhat it was . And the kingsaid unto him , Turn aside, and standhere. And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, Cushicame; and Cushisaid, Tidings, my lordthe king: forthe LORDhath avengedthee this dayofallthem that rose upagainstthee. And the kingsaiduntoCushi, Is the young manAbsalomsafe? And Cushianswered, The enemiesof my lordthe king, and allthatriseagainstthee to do thee hurt, beas that young man is . And the kingwas much moved, and went uptothe chamberover the gate, and wept: and as he went, thushe said, O my sonAbsalom, my son, my sonAbsalom! would GodIhad diedforthee, O Absalom, my son, my son!