2 Samuel 18
1599 Geneva Bible
18 2 David divideth his army into three parts. 9 Absalom is hanged, slain, and cast into a pit. 33 David lamenteth the death of Absalom.
1 Then David [a]numbered the people that were with him, and set over them captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds.
2 And David sent forth the third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and the third part under the hand of Abishai Joab’s brother, the son of Zeruiah: and the other third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the King said unto the people, I will go with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not regard us, neither will they pass for us, though half of us were slain: but thou art [b]now worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succor us out of the city.
4 Then the king said unto them, What seemeth you best, that I will do. So 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, Entreat the young man Absalom gently for my sake. And all the people heard when the King gave all the Captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 So the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle was in the [c]wood of Ephraim:
7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David: so there was a great slaughter that day, even of twenty thousand.
8 ¶ For the battle was scattered over all the country: and the wood devoured much more people that day than did the sword.
9 ¶ Now Absalom met the servants of David, and Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule came under a great thick oak: and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up [d]between the heaven and the earth: and the mule that was under him went away.
10 And one that saw it, told Joab, saying, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 Then Joab said unto the man that told him, And hast thou indeed seen? why then didst thou not there smite him to the ground, and I would have given thee ten (A)shekels of silver, and a girdle?
12 Then the man said unto Joab, Though I should [e]receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not lay mine hand upon the King’s son: for in our hearing the King charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Beware, lest any touch the young man Absalom.
13 If I had done it, it had been [f]the danger of my life: for nothing can be hid from the King: yea, thou thyself wouldest have been against me.
14 Then said Joab, I will not thus tarry with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them [g]through Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten servants that bare Joab’s armor, compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 Then Joab [h]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 [i]pit in the wood, and laid a mighty great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18 Now Absalom in his life time had taken and reared him up a pillar, which is in the (B)King’s dale: for he said, I have no [j]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, I pray thee, let me run and bear the King tidings that the Lord hath [k]delivered him out of the hand of his enemies.
20 And Joab said unto him, Thou [l]shalt not be the messenger today, but thou shalt bear tidings another time, but today thou shalt bear none: for 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 again to Joab, What, I pray thee, if I also run after Cushi? And Joab said, Wherefore now wilt thou run my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings to bring?
23 Yet what if I run? Then he said unto him, Run. So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overwent Cushi.
24 Now David sat between the two [m]gates. And the watchman went to the top of the gate upon the wall, and lift up his eyes, and saw, and behold, a man came running alone.
25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the King said, If he be alone, [n]he bringeth tidings. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called unto the potter, and said, Behold, another man runneth alone. And the King said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 And the watchman said, [o]Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. Then the King said, He is a [p]good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the King, Peace be with thee: and he fell down to the earth upon his face before the King, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath [q]shut up the men that lift up their hands 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 [r]servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what.
30 And the King said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here: so he turned aside and stood still.
31 And behold, Cushi came, and Cushi said, [s]Tidings, my lord the King: for the Lord hath delivered thee this day out of the hand of all that rose against thee.
32 Then 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 [t]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.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 18:1 For certain of the Reubenites, Gadites, and of the half tribe, could not bear the insolence of the son against the father, and therefore joined with David.
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Signifying, that a good governor ought to be so dear unto his people, that they will rather lose their lives, than that ought should come unto him.
- 2 Samuel 18:6 So called, because the Ephraimites (as some say) fed their cattle beyond Jordan in this wood.
- 2 Samuel 18:9 This is a terrible example of God’s vengeance against them that are rebels or disobedient to their parents.
- 2 Samuel 18:12 Hebrew, weigh upon mine hand.
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Hebrew, a lie against my soul.
- 2 Samuel 18:14 Hebrew, in the heart of Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 18:16 For he had pity of the people, which was seduced by Absalom’s flattery.
- 2 Samuel 18:17 Thus God turned his vain glory to shame.
- 2 Samuel 18:18 It seemed that God had punished him in taking away his children, 2 Sam. 14:27.
- 2 Samuel 18:19 Hebrew, judged.
- 2 Samuel 18:20 For Joab bare a good affection to Ahimaaz, and doubted how David would take the report of Absalom’s death.
- 2 Samuel 18:24 He sat in the gate of the city of Mahanaim.
- 2 Samuel 18:25 Hebrew, tidings are in his mouth.
- 2 Samuel 18:27 Hebrew, I see the running.
- 2 Samuel 18:27 He had experience of his fidelity, 2 Sam. 17:21.
- 2 Samuel 18:28 Or, delivered up.
- 2 Samuel 18:29 To wit, Cushi, who was an Ethiopian.
- 2 Samuel 18:31 Hebrew, tidings is brought.
- 2 Samuel 18:33 Because he considereth both the judgment of God against his sin, and could not otherwise hide his fatherly affection toward his son.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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