1And David [beloved] numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2And David [beloved] sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Yo’av [Yehovah is father], and a third part under the hand of Avishai [my father is a gift] the son of Tz’ruyah [balsam], Yo’av [Yehovah is father]'s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai [with me] the Gitti [belonging to Gat (winepress)]. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. 3But the people answered, youⁱ shall 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 [youⁱ are] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that youⁱ help (aid) us out of the city. 4And the king said unto them, What seems 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 Yo’av [Yehovah is father] and Avishai [my father is a gift] and Ittai [with me], saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Avshalom [my father is peace]. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Avshalom [my father is peace].

6So the people went out into the field against Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God]: and the battle was in the wood of Efrayim [Doubly Fruitful]; 7Where the people of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] were slain before the servants of David [beloved], 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.

9And Avshalom [my father is peace] met the servants of David [beloved]. And Avshalom [my father is peace] 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 Yo’av [Yehovah is father], and said, Behold, I saw Avshalom [my father is peace] hanged in an oak. 11And Yo’av [Yehovah is father] said unto the man that told him, And, behold, youⁱ saw [him], and why did youⁱ not strike him there to the ground? and I would have given youⁱ ten [shekels] of silver, and a belt. 12And the man said unto Yo’av [Yehovah is father], Though I should receive a thousand [shekels] of silver in my hand, [yet] would I not put forth my hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged youⁱ and Avishai [my father is a gift] and Ittai [with me], saying, Beware that none [touch] the young man Avshalom [my father is peace]. 13Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and youⁱ yourself would have set yourself against [me]. 14Then said Yo’av [Yehovah is father], I may not wait thus with youⁱ. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Avshalom [my father is peace], while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak. 15And ten young men that bore Yo’av [Yehovah is father]'s armour compassed about and struck Avshalom [my father is peace], and killed him.

16And Yo’av [Yehovah is father] blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God]: for Yo’av [Yehovah is father] held back the people. 17And they took Avshalom [my father is peace], and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] fled everyone to his tent. 18Now Avshalom [my father is peace] 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, Avshalom [my father is peace]'s place.

19Then said Achima’atz [my brother is anger (wrath)] the son of Tzadok [righteous], Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has avenged him of his enemies. 20And Yo’av [Yehovah is father] said unto him, youⁱ shall not bear tidings this day, but youⁱ shall bear tidings another day: but this day youⁱ shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead. 21Then said Yo’av [Yehovah is father] to Kushi [their blackness], Go tell the king what youⁱ have seen. And Kushi [their blackness] bowed himself unto Yo’av [Yehovah is father], and ran. 22Then said Achima’atz [my brother is anger (wrath)] the son of Tzadok [righteous] yet again to Yo’av [Yehovah is father], But howsoever, let me, I pray youⁱ, also run after Kushi [their blackness]. And Yo’av [Yehovah is father] said, For what reason will youⁱ run, my son, seeing that youⁱ have no tidings ready? 23But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Achima’atz [my brother is anger (wrath)] ran by the way of the plain, and overran Kushi [their blackness].

24And David [beloved] 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 (at a quick pace; quickly), 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 brings tidings. 27And the watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Achima’atz [my brother is anger (wrath)] the son of Tzadok [righteous]. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and comes with good tidings.

28And Achima’atz [my brother is anger (wrath)] 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 (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [be] the LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) youⁱ God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], which has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 29And the king said, Is the young man Avshalom [my father is peace] safe? And Achima’atz [my brother is anger (wrath)] answered, When Yo’av [Yehovah is father] sent the king's servant, and [me] youⁱ servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was]. 30And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31And, behold, Kushi [their blackness] came; and Kushi [their blackness] said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD-Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) has avenged youⁱ this day of all them that rose up against youⁱ. 32And the king said unto Kushi [their blackness], Is the young man Avshalom [my father is peace] safe? And Kushi [their blackness] answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against youⁱ to do [youⁱ] hurt, be as [that] young man [is].

33And 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 Avshalom [my father is peace], my son, my son Avshalom [my father is peace]! would God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] I had died for youⁱ, O Avshalom [my father is peace], my son, my son!