2 Samuel 18

And David mustered the people that were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

And David sent forth the people, a third under the hand of Joab, and a third under the hand of Abessa son of Sarouia, Joab's brother, and a third under the hand of Eththi the Gittite. And David said to the people, I will surely go out with you, I also.

But they said, You shall not go out; for if we flee in flight, they will not set their heart upon us; and if half of us die, they will not set their heart upon us; for you are as ten thousand of us. And now it is good that you be for us a help in the city, to help.

And the king said to them, Whatever is pleasing in your eyes I will do. And the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

And the king commanded Joab and Abessa and Eththi, saying, Spare for me the young man Abessalom. And all the people heard the king commanding all the rulers concerning Abessalom.

And all the people went out into the forest against Israel; and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.

And the people of Israel were struck down there before the servants of David; and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.

And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the land; and the forest devoured more of the people than the sword devoured among the people on that day.

And Abessalom met the servants of David; and Abessalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went in under the thicket of the great oak, and his head was caught in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, and the mule under him passed on.

And one man saw it and told Joab, and said, Behold, I have seen Abessalom hanging in the oak.

And Joab said to the man who reported it, And behold, you saw him; why then did you not strike him to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and one belt.

But the man said to Joab, Even if I were weighing out upon my hands a thousand shekels of silver, I would not put my hand upon the king's son; for in our ears the king commanded you and Abessa and Eththi, saying, Guard for me the young man Abessalom,

that no wrong be done against his life. And no matter is hidden from the king, and you yourself would stand aloof.

And Joab said, This I will begin; I will not wait thus before you. And Joab took three darts in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Abessalom while he was still alive in the heart of the oak.

And ten young men, the armour-bearers of Joab, surrounded and struck Abessalom and put him to death.

And Joab blew the horn, and the people turned back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab spared the people.

And he took Abessalom and threw him into a great chasm in the forest, into the great pit, and set up over him an exceedingly great heap of stones; and all Israel fled, each man to his tent.

And Abessalom, while yet alive, had set up for himself the pillar in which he was taken, and he set it up to take the pillar that is in the King's Valley; for he said, He has no son to bring his name to remembrance. And he called the pillar Cheir Abessalom to this day.

And Achimaas son of Sadok said, Let me run now and bring good news to the king, that the Lord has judged for him from the hand of his enemies.

And Joab said to him, You are not a man of good news this day; you shall bring good news on another day, but on this day you shall not bring good news, because the king's son has died.

And Joab said to Chousi, Go, tell the king what you have seen. And Chousi did obeisance to Joab and went out.

And Achimaas son of Sadok added again and said to Joab, Come what may, let me also run after Chousi. And Joab said, Why is this, that you run, my son? Come, there is no news for you that would bring profit in your going.

And he said, But what if I run? And Joab said to him, Run. And Achimaas ran by the way of the Kechar and passed by Chousi.

And David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone before him.

And the watchman cried out and reported to the king. And the king said, If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth. And he came on, going and drawing near.

And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called out toward the gate and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, This one also brings good news.

And the watchman said, I see the running of the first as the running of Achimaas son of Sadok. And the king said, This is a good man, and he comes with good news.

And Achimaas cried out and said to the king, Peace! And he did obeisance to the king with his face to the ground, and said, Blessed be the Lord your God, who has shut up the men that hated, their hand against my lord the king.

And the king said, Is it peace for the young man Abessalom? And Achimaas said, I saw the great multitude when Joab the king's servant sent your servant, and I did not know what was there.

And the king said, Turn aside, take your stand here. And he turned aside and stood.

And behold, Chousi arrived and said to the king, Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has judged for you today from the hand of all who rose up against you.

And the king said to Chousi, Is it peace for the young man Abessalom? And Chousi said, May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen against him for evil, be as that young man.