1David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2David sent out his troops, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”
3But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten thousand of us.18:3 Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts care; for now there are ten thousand like us It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”
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.
9Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
10When one of the men saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
11Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels18:11 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams of silver and a warrior’s belt.”
12But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels18:12 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms 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.18:12 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts may be translated Absalom, whoever you may be.’ 13And if I had put my life in jeopardy18:13 Or Otherwise, if I had acted treacherously toward him—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.
16Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them. 17They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
18During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, “I have no son to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Mourns
19Now Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me run and take the news to the king that the Lord has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies.”
20“You are not the one to take the news today,” Joab told him. “You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21Then Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed down before Joab and ran off.
22Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.”
But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.”
23He said, “Come what may, I want to run.”
So Joab said, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain18:23 That is, the plain of the Jordan and outran the Cushite.
24While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. 25The watchman called out to the king and reported it.
The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer.
26Then the watchman saw another runner, and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!”
The king said, “He must be bringing good news, too.”
27The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”
“He’s a good man,” the king said. “He comes with good news.”
28Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
29The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
Ahimaaz answered, “I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.”
30The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.
31Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”
32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”
33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”18:33 In Hebrew texts this verse (18:33) is numbered 19:1.
Wọ́n pàdé ogun ní igbó Efraimu
1Dafidi sì ka àwọn ènìyàn tí ń bẹ lọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀, ó sì mú wọn jẹ balógun ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún, àti balógun ọ̀rọ̀ọ̀rún lórí wọn. 2Dafidi sì fi ìdámẹ́ta àwọn ènìyàn náà lé Joabu lọ́wọ́, ó sì rán wọn lọ, àti ìdámẹ́ta lé Abiṣai ọmọ Seruiah àbúrò Joabu lọ́wọ́ àti ìdámẹ́ta lè Ittai ará Gitti lọ́wọ́, ọba sì wí fún àwọn ènìyàn náà pé, “Nítòótọ́ èmi tìkára mi yóò sì bá yín lọ pẹ̀lú.”
3Àwọn ènìyàn náà sì wí pé, “Ìwọ kì yóò bá wa lọ: nítorí pé bí àwa bá sá, wọn kì yóò náání wa, tàbí bí ó tilẹ̀ ṣe pé ìdajì wa kú, wọn kì yóò náání wa, nítorí pé ìwọ nìkan tó ẹgbàárùn-ún wa: nítorí náà, ó sì dára kí ìwọ máa ràn wá lọ́wọ́ láti ìlú wá.”
4Ọba sì wí fún wọn pé, “Èyí tí ó bá tọ́ lójú yin ni èmi ó ṣe.”
Ọba sì dúró ní apá kan ẹnu odi, gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn náà sì jáde ní ọ̀rọ̀ọ̀rún àti ní ẹgbẹẹgbẹ̀rún. 5Ọba sì pàṣẹ fún Joabu àti Abiṣai àti Ittai pé, “Ẹ tọ́jú ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin náà Absalomu fún mi.” Gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn náà sì gbọ́ nígbà tí ọba pàṣẹ fún gbogbo àwọn balógun nítorí Absalomu.
6Àwọn ènìyàn náà sì jáde láti pàdé Israẹli ní pápá; ní igbó Efraimu ni wọ́n gbé pàdé ìjà náà. 7Níbẹ̀ ni a gbé pa àwọn ènìyàn Israẹli níwájú àwọn ìránṣẹ́ Dafidi, ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ènìyàn ni ó ṣubú lọ́jọ́ náà, àní ẹgbàáwàá ènìyàn. 8Ogun náà sì fọ́n káàkiri lórí gbogbo ilẹ̀ náà: igbó náà sì pa ọ̀pọ̀ ènìyàn ju èyí tí idà pa lọ lọ́jọ́ náà.
Joabu sì kọlu Absalomu
9Absalomu sì pàdé àwọn ìránṣẹ́ Dafidi. Absalomu sì gun orí ìbáaka kan, ìbáaka náà sì gba abẹ́ ẹ̀ka ńlá igi óákù kan tí ó tóbi lọ, orí rẹ̀ sì kọ́ igi óákù náà òun sì rọ̀ sókè ní agbede-méjì ọ̀run àti ilẹ̀; ìbáaka náà tí ó wà lábẹ́ rẹ̀ sì lọ kúrò.
10Ọkùnrin kan sì rí i, ó sì wí fún Joabu pé, “Wò ó, èmi rí Absalomu so rọ̀ láàrín igi óákù kan.”
11Joabu sì wí fún ọkùnrin náà tí ó sọ fún un pé, “Sá wò ó, ìwọ rí i, èéha ti ṣe tí ìwọ kò fi lù ú bolẹ̀ níbẹ̀? Èmi ìbá sì fún ọ ní ṣékélì fàdákà mẹ́wàá, àti àmùrè kan.”
12Ọkùnrin náà sì wí fún Joabu pé, “Bí èmi tilẹ̀ gba ẹgbẹ̀rún ṣékélì fàdákà sí ọwọ́ mí, èmi kì yóò fi ọwọ́ mi kan ọmọ ọba: nítorí pé àwa gbọ́ nígbà tí ọba kìlọ̀ fún ìwọ àti Abiṣai, àti Ittai, pé, ‘Ẹ kíyèsi i, kí ẹnikẹ́ni má ṣe fi ọwọ́ kan ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin náà Absalomu.’ 13Bí ó bá ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀ èmi ìbá ṣe sí ara mi: nítorí pé kò sí ọ̀ràn kan tí ó pamọ́ fún ọba, ìwọ tìkára rẹ̀ ìbá sì kọjú ìjà sí mi pẹ̀lú.”
14Joabu sì wí pé, “Èmi kì yóò dúró bẹ́ẹ̀ níwájú rẹ.” Ó sì mú ọ̀kọ̀ mẹ́ta lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀, ó sì fi wọ́n gún Absalomu ní ọkàn, nígbà tí ó sì wà láààyè ní agbede-méjì igi óákù náà. 15Àwọn ọ̀dọ́mọdékùnrin mẹ́wàá tí ó máa ń ru ìhámọ́ra Joabu sì yí Absalomu ká, wọ́n sì kọlù ú, wọ́n sì pa á.
16Joabu sì fun ìpè, àwọn ènìyàn náà sì yípadà láti máa lépa Israẹli: nítorí Joabu ti pe àwọn ènìyàn náà padà. 17Wọ́n sì gbé Absalomu, wọ́n sì sọ ọ́ sínú ihò ńlá kan ní igbó náà, wọ́n sì kó òkúta púpọ̀ jọ sí i lórí, gbogbo Israẹli sì sá, olúkúlùkù sí inú àgọ́ rẹ̀.
18Absalomu ní ìgbà ayé rẹ̀, sì mọ ọ̀wọ́n kan fún ara rẹ̀, tí ń bẹ ní Àfonífojì Ọba: nítorí tí ó wí pé, Èmi kò ní ọmọkùnrin tí yóò pa orúkọ mi mọ́ ní ìrántí: òun sì pe ọ̀wọ́n náà nípa orúkọ rẹ̀: a sì ń pè é títí di òní, ní ọ̀wọ́n Absalomu.
Dafidi ṣọ̀fọ̀
19Ahimasi ọmọ Sadoku sì wí pé, “Jẹ́ kí èmi ó súré nísinsin yìí, kí èmi sì mú ìròyìn tọ ọba lọ, bí Olúwa ti gbẹ̀san rẹ̀ lára àwọn ọ̀tá rẹ̀.”
20Joabu sì wí fún un pé, “Ìwọ kì yóò mù ìròyìn lọ lónìí, ṣùgbọ́n ìwọ ó mú lọ ní ọjọ́ mìíràn: ṣùgbọ́n lónìí yìí ìwọ kì yóò mú ìròyìn kan lọ, nítorí tí ọmọ ọba ṣe aláìsí.”
21Joabu sì wí fún Kuṣi pé, “Lọ, kí ìwọ ro ohun tí ìwọ rí fún ọba.” Kuṣi sì wólẹ̀ fún Joabu ó sì sáré.
22Ahimasi ọmọ Sadoku sì tún wí fún Joabu pé, “Jọ̀wọ́, bí ó ti wù kí ó rí, èmi ó sáré tọ Kuṣi lẹ́yìn.”
Joabu sì bi í pé, “Nítorí kín ni ìwọ ó ṣe sáré, ọmọ mi, ìwọ kò ri pé kò sí ìròyìn rere kan tí ìwọ ó mú lọ.”
23Ó sì wí pé, “Bí ó ti wù kí ó rí, èmi ó sáré.”
Ó sì wí fún un pé, “Sáré!” Ahimasi sì sáré ní ọ̀nà pẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀, ó sì sáré kọjá Kuṣi.
24Dafidi sì jókòó lẹ́nu odi láàrín ìlẹ̀kùn méjì: Alóre sì gòkè òrùlé bodè lórí odi, ó sì gbé ojú rẹ̀ sókè, ó sì wò, wò ó, ọkùnrin kan ń sáré òun nìkan. 25Alóre náà sì kígbe, ó sì wí fún ọba.
Ọba sì wí pé, “Bí ó bá ṣe òun nìkan ni, ìròyìn rere ń bẹ lẹ́nu rẹ̀.” Òun sì ń súnmọ́ tòsí.
26Alóre náà sì rí ọkùnrin mìíràn tí ń sáré: Alóre sì kọ sí ẹni tí ń ṣọ́ bodè, ó sì wí pe, “Wò ó, ọkùnrin kan ń sáré òun nìkan.”
Ọba sì wí pé, “Èyí náà pẹ̀lú ń mú ìròyìn rere wá.”
27Alóre náà sì wí pé, “Èmi wo ìsáré ẹni tí ó wà níwájú ó dàbí ìsáré Ahimasi ọmọ Sadoku.”
Ọba sì wí pé, “Ènìyàn re ni, ó sì ń mú ìhìnrere wá!”
28Ahimasi sì dé, ó sì wí fún ọba pé, “Àlàáfíà!” Ó sì wólẹ̀ fún ọba, ó dojúbolẹ̀ ó sì wí pé, “Alábùkún fún ni Olúwa Ọlọ́run rẹ, ẹni tí ó fi àwọn ọkùnrin tí ó gbé ọwọ́ wọn sókè sí olúwa mi ọba lé ọ lọ́wọ́.”
29Ọba sì béèrè pé, “Àlàáfíà ha wà fún Absalomu, ọmọdékùnrin náà bí?”
Ahimasi sì dáhùn pé, “Nígbà tí Joabu rán ìránṣẹ́ ọba, àti èmi ìránṣẹ́ rẹ̀, mo rí ọ̀pọ̀ ènìyàn, ṣùgbọ́n èmi kò mọ ìdí rẹ̀.”
30Ọba sì wí fún un pé, “Yípadà kí o sì dúró níhìn-ín.” Òun sì yípadà, ó sì dúró jẹ́ẹ́.
31Sì wò ó, Kuṣi sì wí pé, “Ìhìnrere fún olúwa mi ọba: nítorí tí Olúwa ti gbẹ̀san rẹ lónìí lára gbogbo àwọn tí ó dìde sí ọ.”
32Ọba sì bi Kuṣi pé, “Àlàáfíà kọ́ Absalomu ọ̀dọ́mọdékùnrin náà wá bí?”
Kuṣi sì dáhùn pe, “Kí àwọn ọ̀tá olúwa mi ọba, àti gbogbo àwọn tí ó dìde sí ọ ní ibi, rí bí ọ̀dọ́mọdékùnrin náà.”
33Ọba sì kẹ́dùn púpọ̀ ó sì gòkè lọ, sí yàrá tí ó wà lórí òkè ibodè, ó sì sọkún; báyìí ni ó sì ń wí bí ó ti ń lọ, “Ọmọ mi Absalomu! Ọmọ mi! Ọmọ mí Absalomu! Á à! Ìbá ṣe pé èmi ni ó kú ní ipò rẹ̀! Absalomu ọmọ mi, ọmọ mi!”
