18:1 And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
18:2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Yo'av, and a third part under the hand of Avishai Ben Zeruyah, Yo'av'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.
18:3 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.
18:4 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.
18:5 And the king commanded Yo'av and Avishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Avishalom (אבישׁלום). And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Avishalom (אבישׁלום).
18:6 So the people went out into the field against Yisra'el: and the battle was in the wood of Efrayim;
18:7 Where the people of Yisra'el were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men].
18:8 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.
18:9 And Avishalom (אבישׁלום) met the servants of David. And Avishalom (אבישׁלום) 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.
18:10 And a certain man saw [it], and told Yo'av, and said, Behold, I saw Avishalom (אבישׁלום) hanged in an oak.
18:11 And Yo'av 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.
18:12 And the man said unto Yo'av, 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 Avishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none [touch] the young man Avishalom (אבישׁלום).
18:13 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].
18:14 Then said Yo'av, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Avishalom (אבישׁלום), while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak.
18:15 And ten young men that bare Yo'av's armour compassed about and smote Avishalom (אבישׁלום), and slew him.
18:16 And Yo'av blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Yisra'el: for Yo'av held back the people.
18:17 And they took Avishalom (אבישׁלום), and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Yisra'el fled every one to his tent.
18:18 Now Avishalom (אבישׁלום) 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, Avishalom (אבישׁלום)'s place.
18:19 Then said Ahimaaz Ben Tzadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that YHWH (יהוה) hath avenged him of his enemies.
18:20 And Yo'av 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.
18:21 Then said Yo'av to Kushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Kushi bowed himself unto Yo'av, and ran.
18:22 Then said Ahimaaz Ben Tzadok yet again to Yo'av, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Kushi. And Yo'av said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
18:23 But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Kushi.
18:24 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.
18:25 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.
18:26 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.
18:27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz Ben Tzadok. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
18:28 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] YHWH (יהוה) Eloheicha, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my adon (אדן ) the king.
18:29 And the king said, Is the young man Avishalom (אבישׁלום) safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Yo'av sent the king's servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].
18:30 And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
18:31 And, behold, Kushi came; and Kushi said, Tidings, my adon (אדן ) the king: for YHWH (יהוה) hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
18:32 And the king said unto Kushi, Is the young man Avishalom (אבישׁלום) safe? And Kushi answered, The enemies of my adon (אדן ) the king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is].
18:33 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 Avishalom (אבישׁלום), my son, my son Avishalom (אבישׁלום)! would Elohim (אלהים) I had died for thee, O Avishalom (אבישׁלום), my son, my son!