2 Samuel 18:2-19
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 18
2And David sent the people out, a third under the command of Joab, a third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, 'I myself will certainly go out with you also.' 3But the people said, 'You should not go out; for if in fact we flee, they will not care about us; and if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you will be ready to help us from the city.' 4Then the king said to them, 'Whatever seems best to you I will do.' So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.' And all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.
6Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7The people of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men.
8For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9Now Absalom encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then his head caught firmly in the oak, and he was left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.
10When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, 'Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.'
11Then Joab said to the man who had informed him, 'So behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And it would have been my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.'
12But the man said to Joab, 'Even if I were to receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘ Protect the young man Absalom for me!’
13Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have avoided me.'
14Then Joab said, 'I will not waste time here with you.' So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.
15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
17And they took Absalom and threw him into a deep pit in the forest, and erected over him a very large pile of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, 'I have no son to continue my name.' So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
King James Version
3But 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.
4And 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.
5And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
10And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11And Joab 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.
12And the man said unto Joab, 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 Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13Otherwise 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.
14Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18Now Absalom 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, Absalom's place.
19Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
Christian Standard Bible
4"I will do whatever you think is best," the king replied to them. So he stood beside the city gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.
5The 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.
6Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7Israel’s army was defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day—twenty thousand dead.
8The battle spread over the entire area, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
9Absalom 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.
10One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, "I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"
12The man replied to Joab, "Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver 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.’
13If I had jeopardized my own life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me."
14Joab said, "I’m not going to waste time with you!" He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree,
15ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.
17They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and raised up a huge mound of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
New Living Translation
6So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim,
7and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives.
8The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.
9During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air.
10One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, 'I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.'
12I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver, ' the man replied to Joab. 'We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’
13And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son — and the king would certainly find out who did it — you yourself would be the first to abandon me.'
14Enough of this nonsense,' Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree.
15Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.
English Standard Version
Chapter 18
2And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab 's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, "I myself will also go out with you." 3But the men said, "You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you send us help from the city." 4The king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 5And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
6So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
7And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.
8The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
9And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
10And a certain man saw it and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
11Joab said to the man who told him, "What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt."
12But the man said to Joab, "Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king 's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’
13On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof."
14Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak.
15And ten young men, Joab 's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
17And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King 's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom 's monument to this day.
New International Version
4The king answered, "I will do whatever seems best to you." So the king stood beside the gate while all his men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands.
5The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
6David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men.
8The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.
12But the man replied, "Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake. ’
13And if I had put my life in jeopardy —and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have kept your distance from me."
14Joab said, "I’m not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.
15And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
New King James Version
4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “ Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim.
7The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day.
8For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.
10Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”
12But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’
13Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
14Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
15And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.
