押沙龙之死
1大卫召集军队，设立了千夫长和百夫长率领他们。 2他兵分三队，一队由约押率领，一队由洗鲁雅的儿子、约押的兄弟亚比筛率领，一队由迦特人以太率领。大卫对部下说：“我必与你们一同出战”。 3他们却说：“请我王不要出战。因为如果我们败逃，敌方不会放在心上；即使我们一半人阵亡，敌方也不会放在心上。你一人比我们一万人更宝贵。你还是留在城中支援我们吧。” 4王说：“你们认为怎样好，我就怎样做。”于是，大卫王站在城门旁边，军兵百人一队、千人一队地按次序出城了。 5大卫王吩咐约押、亚比筛和以太说：“你们要看在我的份上对年轻的押沙龙手下留情。”全体的军兵都听见了大卫吩咐众将领的话。
6大卫的军队在以法莲的树林里跟以色列人交战。 7以色列人被大卫的部下打败，伤亡惨重，有两万人阵亡。 8战事蔓延到整个郊野，那天死在树林里的人比死在刀下的人还多。 9押沙龙碰巧遇见大卫的部下。他骑着骡子逃走，骡子从一棵大橡树的茂密枝条下经过，押沙龙的头发被树枝缠住，整个人吊在半空中，胯下的骡子也跑了。 10大卫的一个部下看见，就向约押禀告说：“我看见押沙龙正吊在橡树上。” 11约押对那报信的说：“什么！你看见他吊在树上，为什么不把他杀掉呢？要是你把他杀了，我会赏你十块银子和一条腰带。” 12他却答道：“就是你赏我一千块银子，我也不敢加害王的儿子啊！我们曾听见王吩咐你、亚比筛和以太不可伤害年轻的押沙龙。 13如果我胆敢杀死押沙龙，王迟早会查出真相，到时你就撒手不管了。” 14约押说：“我不跟你浪费时间。”趁着押沙龙还吊在橡树上，他拿起三杆矛枪剌入了他的心脏。 15十个为约押拿兵器的年轻人围上去将押沙龙杀死。 16随后，约押吹起收兵的号角，部下便停止追赶以色列人。 17他们把押沙龙的尸体丢在林中的一个坑里，在上面堆了一大堆石头。以色列人都各自逃回家去了。 18押沙龙生前没有儿子为他留名，所以他曾在王谷立了一根石柱，以自己的名字命名，称为“押沙龙柱”，沿用至今。
19撒督的儿子亚希玛斯对约押说：“请让我跑回去向王禀告，让王知道耶和华已从仇敌手中救了他。” 20但约押对他说：“你今天不要去报信，改天再报吧。你不要今天去，因为王的儿子死了。” 21约押吩咐一个古示人：“你去把所看见的禀报给王。”那人就拜别了约押，马上跑回去报信。 22撒督的儿子亚希玛斯再次对约押说：“求你让我与古示人一同去吧！”约押说：“我的孩子，你何必要去呢？你报这个消息是不会得到赏赐的。” 23他说：“无论怎样，我想跑去报信。”约押答应了。亚希玛斯沿平原的路跑，跑到了古示人的前面。
24那时，大卫王正坐在内城门和外城门中间。有一个守卫爬上城门楼顶观望，看见一个人独自跑来。 25守卫就大声向大卫禀告。王说：“如果他是单独一个人，他带来的一定是好消息。”那人越来越近了。 26这时候，守卫又看见另一个人跑来，就大声对守城门的说：“又有一个人独自跑来了！”王说：“他也一定是传好消息的。” 27守卫又说：“从跑的姿势看，那跑在前面的人好像撒督的儿子亚希玛斯。”王说：“他是个好人，他一定带来了好消息。”
28亚希玛斯高声对王说：“一切都好！”他在王面前俯伏叩拜，说：“你的上帝耶和华当受称颂，祂已经消灭了那些攻击我主我王的敌人。” 29王问道：“年轻的押沙龙平安吗？”亚希玛斯答道：“约押派仆人来的时候，仆人看见一阵大骚动，但不知道是什么事。” 30王说：“你先退到一边去。”亚希玛斯就退下，站在一边。
31这时，古示人也到了，他说：“我有好消息向我主我王禀告，今日耶和华已经从一切反叛之人手中救了我主我王。” 32王问古示人：“年轻的押沙龙平安吗？”古示人答道：“愿我主我王的仇敌和一切要加害我王的人，下场都与那青年一样。” 33王听了十分难过，就走上城门楼去痛哭，边走边说：“我儿押沙龙啊！我儿，我儿押沙龙啊！我恨不得可以替你死！押沙龙，我儿啊！我儿！”
1And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’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. 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.18.3 care…: Heb. set their heart on us18.3 worth…: Heb. as ten thousand of us18.3 succour: Heb. be to succour or help 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.
6¶ So 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.18.8 devoured: Heb. multiplied to devour
9¶ And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom 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. 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.18.12 receive: Heb. weigh upon mine hand18.12 Beware…: Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, etc 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.18.14 with…: Heb. before thee18.14 midst: Heb. heart 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.
18¶ Now 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.
19¶ Then 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.18.19 avenged…: Heb. judged him from the hand, etc 20And Joab 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.18.20 bear tidings this: Heb. be a man of tidings, etc 21Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 22Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?18.22 howsoever: Heb. be what may18.22 ready: or, convenient 23But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 24And 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. 25And 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. 26And 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. 27And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.18.27 Me…: Heb. I see the running 28And 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 the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.18.28 All…: or, Peace be to thee: Heb. Peace18.28 delivered…: Heb. shut up 29And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.18.29 Is…: Heb. Is there peace? 30And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. 31And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.18.31 Tidings: Heb. Tidings is brought 32And 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 much 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!
