1And David mustered the people who were with him, and appointed commanders over thousands and captains over hundreds of them. 2And David sent a third of the men under the command of Joab, a third under Abishai, son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third under Ittai, the Gittite. And King David told the people, “I will go out with you.” 3But the people answered, “You shall not go out; for if we are forced to flee, they will not care; even if half of us die, they will not care. But now you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore, it will be better if you stay in the city (Mahanaim – east of the Jordan near the Jabbok river) and give us support only if we need it.” 4And David replied, “What seems best to you, I will do.” And the king stood beside the city gate, as all the men marched out by hundreds and thousands. 5And David commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently, for my sake, with the young man, Absalom.” And all the troops heard the king give orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.

6So David’s men marched out to fight Absalom’s Israelite army; and the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, 7Where twenty thousand of Absalom’s men were killed by David’s men - a great slaughter that day. 8The battle spread out all over the countryside; and the forest claimed more casualties that day than the sword did.

9And Absalom happened to encounter David’s men as he was riding a mule, and the mule ran under the thick boughs of a great oak; and the hair of Absalom’s head caught fast in the branches of oak, and his mule ran out from under him, leaving him suspended between heaven and earth; 10And one of David’s men saw it, and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11And Joab said, “What! You saw him? Then why did you not kill him right there? I would have rewarded you with ten shekels of silver, and a belt.” 12But the man told Joab, “Even if I received a thousand shekels of silver, I would not raise my hand against the king's son! We all heard the king’s order to you, Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 13If I had betrayed the king, I would have put my own life at risk - for there is no matter hidden from the king - and you, yourself, would have been the first to abandon me.” 14Then Joab retorted, “I cannot waste my time with you.” And he took three staves (darts) in his hand, and went and plunged them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet hanging alive in the oak. 15And then ten young armor bearers of Joab surrounded, struck and killed Absalom. 16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and ended their pursuit of Absalom’s army. 17And they took Absalom, and threw him into a big pit in the forest, and piled a very large heap of stones upon him; and all the Israelites fled to their own tents. 18During his lifetime, Absalom had erected a pillar, as a monument to himself, in the King's Valley; for he thought, “I have no son to carry on the memory of my name; and so he called it “Absalom’s Pillar”; and it is still called, “Absalom's place” unto this day.

19Then Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, said, “Let me run and take news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.” 20And Joab said to him, “You shall not carry this news today. You may carry news on some other day - but not today, because the king's son is dead.” 21Then Joab said to the Cushite (Cushi), “Go tell the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. 22Then Ahimaaz again said to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since you have no new news to bring for a reward?” 23But he asked a third time, “Come what may, let me run.” And Joab said, “All right: go ahead and run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and he outran the Cushite.

24And David was sitting between the inner and outer city gates; and the watchman on the top of the gate wall saw a man running alone. 25And he cried and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, he is bringing news.” And he continued running, and drew near. 26Then the watchman saw a second man running; and he called to the gatekeeper, “I see a second man running alone.” And the king said, “He also brings news.” 27And the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like that of Ahimaaz, son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and brings good news.” 28And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” And he fell down upon his face before the king, and said, “Blessed be the LORD, your God, Who has delivered up the men that raised their hand against my lord, the king.” 29And the king asked, “Is the young man, Absalom, safe?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king's servant, and me, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I did not know what it was.” 30And the king said to him, “Turn aside, and stand here.” So he stepped aside, and stood there. 31And then the Cushite arrived; and said, “I have good news, my lord the king; for the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.” 32And the king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man, Absalom, safe?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord, the king, and all who rise against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.”

33And the king was shaken, and went up to the room above the gate, and wept; and 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!”