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Absalom’s Defeat
18 David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and of thousands over them. 2 He then sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, “I will also march out with you.”
3 “You must not go!”(A) the people pleaded. “If we have to flee, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth[a] 10,000 of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city.”
4 “I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands. 5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the people heard the king’s orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
6 Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day—20,000 casualties. 8 The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
Absalom’s Death
9 Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.[b] 10 One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11 “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed.[c] “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you 10 silver pieces[d] and a belt!”
12 The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of 1,000 pieces of silver[e] in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’[f](B) 13 If I had jeopardized my own[g] life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”
14 Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you!” He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the oak tree, 15 and 10 young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16 Afterward, Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them. 17 They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him.(C) And all Israel fled, each to his tent.(D)
18 When he was alive, Absalom had set up a pillar(E) for himself in the King’s Valley,(F) for he had said, “I have no son(G) to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.
19 Ahimaaz son of Zadok(H) said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.”
20 Joab replied to him, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren’t taking good news, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Joab then said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
22 However, Ahimaaz son of Zadok persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!”
Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to run since you won’t get a reward?”
23 “No matter what, I want to run!”
“Then run!” Joab said to him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
24 David was sitting between the two gates(I) when the watchman went up to the roof of the gate and over to the wall.(J) The watchman looked out and saw a man running alone. 25 He called out and told the king.
The king said, “If he’s alone, he bears good news.”
As the first runner came closer, 26 the watchman saw another man running. He called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”
“This one is also bringing good news,” said the king.
27 The watchman said, “The way the first man runs looks to me like the way Ahimaaz son of Zadok runs.”(K)
“This is a good man; he comes with good news,”(L) the king commented.
28 Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well,” and then bowed down to the king with his face to the ground. He continued, “May the Lord your God be praised! He delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king.”
29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”
Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a big disturbance, but I don’t know what it was.”
30 The king said, “Move aside and stand here.” So he stood to one side.
31 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: today the Lord has delivered you from all those rising up against you!”
32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”
The Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you with evil intent.”(M)
33 [h]The king was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”(N)
David’s Kingdom Restored
19 It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.” 2 That day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, “The king is grieving over his son.” 3 So they returned to the city quietly that day like people come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. 4 But the king hid his face(O) and cried out at the top of his voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
5 Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed all your soldiers—those who rescued your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives, and your concubines. 6 You love your enemies and hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you![i]
7 “Now get up! Go out and encourage[j] your soldiers, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will remain with you tonight.(P) This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!”
8 So the king got up and sat in the gate,(Q) and all the people were told: “Look, the king is sitting in the gate.” Then they all came into the king’s presence.
Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.(R) 9 All the people among all the tribes of Israel were arguing: “The king delivered us from the grasp of our enemies,(S) and he rescued us from the grasp of the Philistines,(T) but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.(U) 10 But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
The Empty Tomb
20 On(A) the first day of the week(B) Mary Magdalene(C) came to the tomb(D) early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone(E) had been removed[a] from the tomb. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter(F) and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,(G) and we don’t know where they have put Him!”
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths(H) lying there, yet he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping(I) that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths(J) but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. 9 For they still did not understand the Scripture(K) that He must rise(L) from the dead.(M) 10 Then the disciples went home again.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
11 But(N) Mary stood outside facing the tomb,(O) crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels(P) in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body(Q) had been lying. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,”(R) she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.(S)
15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”
16 Jesus said, “Mary.”
Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”[b]—which means “Teacher.”(T)
17 “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended(U) to the Father.(V) But go to My brothers(W) and tell them that I am ascending to My Father(X) and your Father—to My God(Y) and your God.”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”(Z) And she told them what[c] He had said to her.
The Disciples Commissioned
19 In the evening of that first day of the week,(AA) the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”(AB)
20 Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side.(AC) So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me,(AD) I also send you.”(AE) 22 After saying this, He breathed on them(AF) and said,[d] “Receive the Holy Spirit.(AG) 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”(AH)
Thomas Sees and Believes
24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas(AI) (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails,(AJ) and put my hand into His side,(AK) I will never believe!”(AL)
26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”(AM)
28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.[e] Those who believe without seeing(AN) are blessed.”
The Purpose of This Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs(AO) in the presence of His disciples that are not written(AP) in this book.(AQ) 31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah,(AR) the Son(AS) of God,[f](AT) and by believing you may have life in His name.(AU)
ר Resh
153 Consider my affliction and rescue me,(A)
for I have not forgotten Your instruction.(B)
154 Defend my cause and redeem me;(C)
give me life as You promised.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked
because they do not seek Your statutes.(D)
156 Your compassions are many, Lord;(E)
give me life according to Your judgments.
157 My persecutors and foes are many.(F)
I have not turned from Your decrees.(G)
158 I have seen the disloyal(H) and feel disgust(I)
because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Lord, give me life according to Your faithful love.(J)
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.(K)
שׂ Sin/ שׁ Shin
161 Princes have persecuted me without cause,
but my heart fears only Your word.(L)
162 I rejoice over Your promise(M)
like one who finds vast treasure.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood,(N)
but I love Your instruction.(O)
164 I praise You seven times a day
for Your righteous judgments.(P)
165 Abundant peace belongs to those(Q)
who love Your instruction;
nothing makes them stumble.(R)
166 Lord, I hope for Your salvation(S)
and carry out Your commands.
167 I obey Your decrees
and love them greatly.(T)
168 I obey Your precepts and decrees,
for all my ways are before You.(U)
ת Tav
169 Let my cry reach You, Lord;(V)
give me understanding according to Your word.(W)
170 Let my plea reach You;(X)
rescue me according to Your promise.(Y)
171 My lips pour out praise,(Z)
for You teach me Your statutes.(AA)
172 My tongue sings about Your promise,(AB)
for all Your commands are righteous.(AC)
173 May Your hand be ready to help me,(AD)
for I have chosen Your precepts.(AE)
174 I long for Your salvation, Lord,
and Your instruction is my delight.(AF)
175 Let me live, and I will praise You;(AG)
may Your judgments help me.
176 I wander like a lost sheep;(AH)
seek Your servant,(AI)
for I do not forget Your commands.(AJ)
14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it.(A)
15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
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