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.
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. 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. 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. 6 So
the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the
wood of Ephraim; 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. 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.
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. 10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw
Absalom hanged in an oak. 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. 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. 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. 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. 15 And ten
young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew
him. 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after
Israel: for Joab held back the people. 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.