2 Samuel 18-19

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Absalom’s Defeat

18 David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and of thousands over them. 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.”

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.”

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. 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.

⁶ Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. ⁷ The people of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day—20,000 casualties. ⁸ The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.

Absalom’s Death

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] 10} One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

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!”

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) 13} If I had jeopardized my own^[g] life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”

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, ¹⁵ and 10 young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

¹⁶ Afterward, Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them. 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)

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.

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.”

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.” ²¹ Joab then said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.

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?”

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.

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. 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, 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.

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.

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.”

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.”

³⁰ The king said, “Move aside and stand here.” So he stood to one side.

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!”

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)

^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)

David’s Kingdom Restored

19 It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.” ² That day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, “The king is grieving over his son.” ³ So they returned to the city quietly that day like people come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. ⁴ But the king hid his face^(O) and cried out at the top of his voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed all your soldiers—those who rescued your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives, and your concubines. ⁶ You love your enemies and hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!^[i]

⁷ “Now get up! Go out and encourage^[j] your soldiers, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will remain with you tonight.^(P) This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!”

⁸ So the king got up and sat in the gate,^(Q) and all the people were told: “Look, the king is sitting in the gate.” Then they all came into the king’s presence.

Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.^{(R) 9} All the people among all the tribes of Israel were arguing: “The king delivered us from the grasp of our enemies,^(S) and he rescued us from the grasp of the Philistines,^(T) but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.^{(U) 10} But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

¹¹ King David sent word to the priests, Zadok and Abiathar:^(V) “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house. ¹² You are my brothers, my flesh and blood.^(W) So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ ¹³ And tell Amasa,^(X) ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of the army from now on instead of Joab!’”

¹⁴ So he won over^[k] all the men of Judah, and they sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.” ¹⁵ Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.

¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera,^(Y) a Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ There were 1,000 men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul,^(Z) with his 15 sons and 20 servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. ¹⁸ They forded the Jordan to bring the king’s household across and do whatever the king desired.^[l]

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king ¹⁹ and said to him, “My lord, don’t hold me guilty, and don’t remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.^(AA) May the king not take it to heart. ²⁰ For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

²¹ Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”^(AB)

²² David answered, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?^(AC) Have you become my adversary today? Should any man be killed in Israel today? Am I not aware that today I’m king over Israel?” ²³ So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” Then the king gave him his oath.^(AD)

²⁴ Mephibosheth,^(AE) Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. ²⁵ When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me?”

²⁶ “My lord the king,” he replied, “my servant Ziba betrayed me. Actually your servant said: ‘I’ll saddle the donkey for myself^[m] so that I may ride it and go with the king’—for your servant is lame.^{(AF) 27} Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king.^(AG) But my lord the king is like the Angel of God,^(AH) so do whatever you think best.^{[n] 28} For my grandfather’s entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table.^(AI) So what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king?”

²⁹ The king said to him, “Why keep on speaking about these matters of yours? I hereby declare: you and Ziba are to divide the land.”^(AJ)

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!”

³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite^(AK) had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king to the Jordan River to see him off at the Jordan. ³² Barzillai was a very old man—80 years old—and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.^(AL)

³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I’ll provide for you^[o] at my side in Jerusalem.”

³⁴ Barzillai replied to the king, “How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? ³⁵ I’m now 80 years old.^(AM) Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?^{(AN) 36} Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward? ³⁷ Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham:^(AO) let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you.”^[p]

³⁸ The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you,^[q] and whatever you desire from me I will do for you.” ³⁹ So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.

⁴⁰ The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel’s escorted the king. ⁴¹ Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David’s men?”

⁴² All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king’s or been honored at all?”^[r]

⁴³ The men of Israel answered the men of Judah: “We have 10 shares in the king,^(AP) so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to speak of restoring our king?”^(AQ) But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.