1David counted the people with him and appointed commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds over them.
2David sent out the people: a third under Joab, a third under Abishai son of Zeruiah (Joab’s brother), and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the people, “I will definitely go out with you myself.”
3But the people replied, “You must not go out with us! For if we flee, they won't care about us. And if half of us die, they won't care about us either. But you are worth ten thousand of us! So it's better for you to be ready to help us from inside the city.”
4The king told them, “I will do what seems best to you.” Then the king stood by the gate, and all the people marched out in groups of hundreds and thousands.
5The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “For my sake, deal gently with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king gave this command to all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field to fight against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7David’s servants defeated the people of Israel there. It was a great slaughter that day, with twenty thousand men killed.
8The battle was spread across the entire countryside, and the forest killed more people that day than the sword did.
9Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak tree. His head got caught in the oak, and he was left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule he was riding kept going.
10Someone saw this and told Joab, "Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree."
11Joab said to the man who told him, "You saw it, so why didn’t you strike him down right there? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt."
12The man replied to Joab, "Even if I were to receive a thousand pieces of silver, I would not lift a hand against the king’s son. We all heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘Be careful not to harm young Absalom.’
13Otherwise, if I had betrayed his life (and nothing is hidden from the king), you yourself would have been against me."
14Then Joab said, "I won't waste time with you like this." He took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.
15Ten young men who carried Joab’s weapons surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from chasing Israel, because Joab stopped the people.
17They took Absalom and threw him into the large pit in the forest, then piled a very large heap of stones over him. Then all of Israel fled, each person returning to their own tent.
18During his lifetime, Absalom had set up and built a monument for himself in the king’s valley, because he said, "I have no son to keep my name alive." He named the monument after himself. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.
19Then Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, said, "Please let me run now and take the news to the king that Yahweh has avenged him against his enemies."
20Joab said to him, "You are not to be the messenger today. You can carry news another day. But today you must not carry any news, because the king’s son is dead."
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen!" The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.
22Then Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, said to Joab again, "No matter what, please let me run after the Cushite too." Joab said, "Why do you want to run, my son? You will get no reward for this news."
23He replied, "No matter what, I will run." Joab said to him, "Run!" Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the Plain and outran the Cushite.
24Now David was sitting between the two gates. The watchman went up to the roof of the gate tower on the wall, looked up, and saw a man running alone.
25The watchman shouted and told the king. The king said, "If he is alone, he has news." The man came closer and closer.
26The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper, saying, "Look, another man is running alone!" The king said, "He also brings news."
27The watchman said, "I think the first man’s running style looks like Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son." The king said, "He is a good man and brings good news."
28Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well." He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, "May Yahweh your God be praised, who has handed over the men who rebelled against my lord the king!"
29The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom well?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent your servant, me, I saw a great commotion, but I don't know what it was."
30The king said, "Step aside and stand here." He stepped aside and stood still.
31Then the Cushite arrived. The Cushite said, "Good news for my lord the king! Yahweh has rescued you today from all those who rebelled against you."
32The king asked the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom well?" The Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to harm you, end up like that young man."
33The king was deeply distressed. He went up to the room above the gate and wept. As he went, he cried, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"