Absalom Dies In Battle
1 David numbered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
1 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
1 Then David (a)numbered the people who were with him and (A)set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
1 David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and of thousands over them.
1 David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies.
2 Then David sent the (a)army out, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the (b)men, “I myself will certainly go out [to fight] with you.”
2 And 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.
2 David sent the people out, (B)one third under the (b)command of Joab, one third under the (c)command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the (d)command of (C)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.”
2 He then sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, “I will also march out with you.”
2 Dividing his forces into three groups, he set Joab as commander of one third of his army, Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother, as commander of another third, and Ittai from Gath as commander of another third. The king informed the army, "I'm going out to battle with you, too."
3 But the men said, “You should not go out [to battle with us]. For if in fact we retreat, they will not care about us; even 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 be ready to help us from the city [of Mahanaim].”
3 But 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.
3 But the people said, “(D)You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But (e)you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”
3 “You must not go!”(A) the people pleaded. “If we have to flee, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth(a) 10,000 of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city.”
3 "No way!" his army responded. "If we have to retreat from the battle, Absalom's men won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. The best thing you can do for us is to remain in the city."
4 Then the king said to them, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” So the king stood beside the gate [of Mahanaim], and all the army went out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.
4 And 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.
4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So (E)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.
4 “I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.
4 So David responded, "I'll do what you think best." Then he stood alongside the city gate as the army went out in battle array by hundreds and thousands.
5 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the men heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
5 And 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.
5 The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And (F)all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.
5 The 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.
5 As they were going out, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat young Absalom gently for my sake." Everyone heard what the king had ordered his commanders about Absalom.
6 So the men went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
6 Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in (G)the forest of Ephraim.
6 Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.
6 David's army left for the battlefield to fight Absalom and his Israeli followers, and they also fought in the Ephraim forest,
7 The men of Israel [who supported Absalom] were defeated there by the (c)men of David, and a great slaughter took place there that day, 20,000 men.
7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
7 The people of Israel were (f)defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men.
7 The people of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day—20,000 casualties.
7 where David's army of servants defeated the Israelis. Many died that day 20,000 men.
8 For the battle there was spread out over the surface of the entire countryside, and the [hazards of the] forest devoured more men that day than did the sword.
8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
8 The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
8 The battle spread throughout the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more casualties that day than did the sword fighting.
Absalom's Death
9 Now Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a massive tree, and his (d)head was caught in [the thick branches of] the tree; and he was left hanging [in midair] between heaven and earth, while the mule that had been under him kept going.
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.
9 Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And (H)his head caught fast in the oak, so he was (g)left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.
9 Absalom 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.(b)
9 Absalom happened to run into David's soldiers. While Absalom was trying to get away on his mule, it ran under the thick branches of a giant oak tree, and Absalom's head got caught in the tree! As his mule ran out from under him, Absalom was left hanging above the ground.
10 A certain man saw it and informed Joab, saying, “I saw Absalom hanging in a tree.”
10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
10 When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
10 One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
10 When one of the soldiers saw what had happened, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom stuck in an oak tree!"
11 Joab said to the man who informed him, “You saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? (e)I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
11 And 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.
11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
11 “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed.(c) “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you 10 silver pieces(d) and a belt!”
11 Joab asked the man who was reporting to him, "What! You saw him? Why didn't you kill him right then and there? I would've given you ten pieces of silver and a warrior's sash!"
12 The man told Joab, “Even if I were to feel the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hands, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for (f)we all heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect the young man Absalom, for my sake.’
12 And 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.
12 The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for (I)in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘(h)Protect for me the young man Absalom!’
12 The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of 1,000 pieces of silver(e) 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.’(f)(B)
12 But the soldier replied to Joab, "I wouldn't have touched the king's son even if you dropped 1,000 pieces of silver right into my hands, because we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, "Watch how you treat the young man Absalom!'
13 Otherwise, if I had acted treacherously against his life (for nothing is hidden from the king) you yourself would have (g)taken sides against me.”
13 Otherwise 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.
13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and (J)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”
13 If I had jeopardized my own(g) life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”
13 If I had taken his life, the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!"
14 Joab said, “I will not waste time with you.” So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive [and caught] in the midst of the tree.
14 Then 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.
14 Then Joab said, “I will not (i)waste time here with you.” (K)So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the (j)midst of the oak.
14 Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you!” He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the oak tree,
14 "There's no reason to wait for you!" Joab retorted. Then he took three spears in his hand and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive, dangling from the branches of the oak tree.
15 And ten young men, Joab’s armor bearers, surrounded and struck Absalom and killed him.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
15 and 10 young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
15 Ten young men who served as Joab's personal assistants then surrounded Absalom, striking him repeatedly and killing him.
16 Then Joab blew the trumpet [to signal the end of the combat], and the men returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab held them back.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
16 Then (L)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
16 Afterward, Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.
16 At this, Joab sounded his battle trumpet and his troops stopped pursuing the other Israelis.
17 They took [down the body of] Absalom and threw him into a deep pit in the forest and set up a huge mound of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his own tent.
17 And 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.
17 They took Absalom and cast him into (k)a deep pit in the forest and (M)erected over him a very great heap of stones. And (N)all Israel fled, each to his tent.
17 They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him.(C) And all Israel fled, each to his tent.(D)
17 Meanwhile, Joab's army grabbed Absalom's body, tossed it into a large pit in the forest, and filled it up with a huge pile of rocks. Then the Israelis ran away back to their homes.
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a memorial pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have (h)no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He named the memorial pillar after himself, and to this day it is called (i)Absalom’s Monument.
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.
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and (O)set up for himself a pillar which is in (P)the King’s Valley, for he said, “(Q)I have no son (l)to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
18 When he was alive, Absalom had set up a pillar(E) for himself in the King’s Valley,(F) for he had said, “I have no son(G) to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.
18 While Absalom had been living, he had erected a pillar as a monument to himself in King's Valley because he had been telling himself, "I don't have a son to carry on my family name." So he named the pillar after himself it's called Absalom's Monument even today.
David Hears Of Absalom's Death
19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, said, “Let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has vindicated him by rescuing him from [the power of] his enemies.”
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.
19 Then (R)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news (S)that the Lord has (m)freed him from the hand of his enemies.”
19 Ahimaaz son of Zadok(H) said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.”
19 Zadok's son Ahimaaz told Joab, "Let me run over to King David and take him the news. I'll mention that the LORD has delivered him from his enemies."
20 But Joab told him, “You are not the man to carry news [to King David] today, but you shall carry news another day. On this day you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
20 And 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.
20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.”
20 Joab replied to him, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren’t taking good news, because the king’s son is dead.”
20 But Joab answered Ahimaaz, "You're not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not today, because the king's son is dead."
21 Then Joab said to the Cushite (Ethiopian), “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.
21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.
21 Joab then said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
21 So Joab ordered a man from Ethiopia, "Go tell the king what you've seen." So the Ethiopian saluted Joab and then ran to tell David.
22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why should you run, my son, seeing you will have no messenger’s reward for going [because you have only bad news]?”
22 Then 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?
22 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since (T)you will have no reward for going?”
22 However, Ahimaaz son of Zadok persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!”Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to run since you won’t get a reward?”
22 "Please," Zadok's son Ahimaaz continued, "No matter what happens, let me follow the Ethiopian!" Joab asked him, "Why this request to run, my son? There's no reward in it for you."
23 “But whatever happens, Let me run.” So Joab said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain [of the Jordan River] and outran the Cushite.
23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.
23 “No matter what, I want to run!”“Then run!” Joab said to him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
23 "No matter what, I'm running," Ahimaaz replied. So Joab told Ahimaaz, "Run!" And Ahimaaz ran, taking the Jordan Valley road, passing the Ethiopian.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the lookout went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he raised his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.
24 And 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.
24 Now (U)David was sitting between the two gates; and (V)the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself.
24 David was sitting between the two gates(I) when the watchman went up to the roof of the gate and over to the wall.(J) The watchman looked out and saw a man running alone.
24 Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself!
25 The lookout called down and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, he has good news to tell.” And he came nearer and nearer.
25 And 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.
25 The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer.
25 He called out and told the king.The king said, “If he’s alone, he bears good news.”As the first runner came closer,
25 So the watchman called out his news to the king.
26 Then the lookout saw another man running, and he called to the gatekeeper and said, “Look, another man running alone.” The king said, “He also is bringing good news.”
26 And 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.
26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.”
26 the watchman saw another man running. He called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”“This one is also bringing good news,” said the king.
26 The king responded, "If he's alone, he's bringing some news to report." As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace, the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, "There's another man running by himself!" The king replied, "He's also bringing some news to report!"
27 The lookout said, “I think the man in front runs like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man and is coming with good news.”
27 And 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.
27 The watchman said, “I (n)think the running of the first one (W)is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “(X)This is a good man and comes with good news.”
27 The watchman said, “The way the first man runs looks to me like the way Ahimaaz son of Zadok runs.”(K)“This is a good man; he comes with good news,”(L) the king commented.
27 Then the watchman observed, "It looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadok's son Ahimaaz!" The king replied, "This is a good man bearing good news!"
28 And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “(j)All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has handed over the men who lifted up their hands [to fight] against my lord the king.”
28 And 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.
28 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “(o)All is well.” And (Y)he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “(Z)Blessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
28 Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well,” and then bowed down to the king with his face to the ground. He continued, “May the Lord your God be praised! He delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king.”
28 "Everything's fine!" Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground before the king and said, "Praise be to the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty the king."
29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great turmoil, but I do not know what it was about.”
29 And 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.
29 The king said, “(AA)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but (AB)I did not know what it was.”
29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a big disturbance, but I don’t know what it was.”
29 "Are things fine with respect to the young man Absalom?" the king asked. Ahimaaz answered, "I saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the king's courier and me, your servant, but I'm not sure what was going on."
30 The king told him, “Step aside; stand here.” And he stepped aside and stood still.
30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
30 The king said, “Move aside and stand here.” So he stood to one side.
30 The king replied, "Stand here at attention and wait." So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting.
David's Grief
31 Behold, the Cushite (Ethiopian) arrived, and said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has vindicated you today by rescuing you from the hand (power) of all those who stood against you.”
31 And, 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.
31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (AC)the Lord has (p)freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”
31 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: today the Lord has delivered you from all those rising up against you!”
31 Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He reported, "Good news, your majesty the king! The LORD has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!"
32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom [my son] safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all those who rise against you to do evil, be [dead] like that young man is.”
32 And 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.
32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(AD)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(AE)Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”The Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you with evil intent.”(M)
32 The king asked the Ethiopian, "Is the young man safe?" The Ethiopian answered, "May the enemies of your majesty the king including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you become like that young man"."
33 (k)The king was deeply moved and went to the upper room over the gate and wept [in sorrow]. And this is what he said as he walked: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (l)How I wish that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
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!
33 (q)The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “(AF)O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (AG)Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
33 (h)The king was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”(N)
33 Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, "My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!"