2 Samuel 18

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.

David took count of his followers, appointing leaders for every thousand and hundred among them, with a sense of responsibility and care.

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.

David divided his people into three groups, entrusting each to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. He then assured them, "I will certainly join you in this journey."

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.

The people responded, "You mustn't join the battle. If we run or even if half of us fall, they won't care. But you, you're worth more than ten thousand of us. It's best if you support us from within the city."

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.

The king assured them, "I'll do what you think is best." Standing by the gate, he watched as people poured out in hundreds and thousands.

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.

The king pleaded with Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Please, be kind to my son Absalom, for my sake." Everyone heard the king's heartfelt request for his son's safety.

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

The people bravely faced Israel on the battlefield, their conflict unfolding in the forest of Ephraim.

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.

In the tragic battlefield, the Israelites fell before David's men, a heartbreaking loss of twenty thousand lives that day.

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.

The battlefield was spread across the entire land, causing chaos everywhere. Yet, it was the treacherous forest that claimed more lives that day than the deadly sword.

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.

Absalom encountered David's men. He was riding a mule that wandered beneath a massive oak tree. Unexpectedly, his head got entangled in the tree's dense branches, leaving him suspended mid-air, caught between heaven and earth. Meanwhile, his mule simply trotted off.

And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

A man witnessed it, rushed to Joab, breathlessly exclaiming, "I saw Absalom, hanging from an oak tree!"

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.

Joab, in disbelief, asked the man who brought him the news, "You saw him and yet you didn't seize the chance to strike him down? I would've rewarded you with silver and a belt!"

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.

The man firmly told Joab, "Even if I were offered a fortune, I wouldn't harm the king's son. We all heard the king's warning to you, Abishai, and Ittai - no one is to harm young Absalom."

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.

If I had done such a treacherous thing, I would have been putting my own life on the line. Nothing is hidden from the king, and you yourself would have turned against me.

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.

Joab declared, "I can't waste time with you." With urgency, he grasped three spears and drove them through Absalom's heart while he was still hanging alive in the oak tree.

And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

Ten of Joab's young armour-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him down and killed him.

And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

Joab sounded the trumpet, and the people stopped chasing Israel, because Joab held them back.

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.

Absalom was thrown into a deep forest pit, buried under a massive pile of stones. Overwhelmed with fear, everyone in Israel ran for the safety of their homes.

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.

During his life, Absalom built a monument in the royal valley, feeling a deep sadness because he had no son to carry on his name. He named this monument after himself, and even today, it's known as Absalom's Place.

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.

Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, pleaded, "Allow me to rush to the king and share the joyful news that the Lord has triumphed over his foes."

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.

Joab told him, "Today is not the day for news, save it for another time. Today, we mourn, for the king's son is no more."

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

Joab instructed Cushi, "Share with the king your observations." Acknowledging Joab's command, Cushi respectfully nodded and hurried off.

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?

Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, pleaded with Joab once more, "Please, let me chase after Cushi." But Joab questioned, "Why would you run, my boy, when you have no news to deliver?"

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.

Regardless, he pleaded, let me race. "Go," he was told. So Ahimaaz sprinted across the flatlands, swiftly surpassing Cushi.

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.

David sat alone, nestled between two gates. The guard climbed to the rooftop, peering over the gate and onto the wall. His eyes widened as he spotted a solitary figure, sprinting in the distance.

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.

The guard shouted, alerting the king. The king reasoned, if he's alone, he brings news. Swiftly, he approached.

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.

The guard spotted another lone runner in the distance. Alerting the gatekeeper, he exclaimed, "Look, another man is rushing towards us!" The king, hearing this, said, "He too, must be carrying news."

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.

The guard observed, "The lead runner reminds me of Ahimaaz, Zadok's son." The king responded, "He's a good man, he must be bringing good news."

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.

Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "Everything is okay!" He then fell to his knees, his face touching the ground in reverence before the king. He exclaimed, "Praise be to your God, who has handed over to you the men who raised their hands against you, my king."

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.

The king anxiously asked, "Is young Absalom unharmed?" Ahimaaz replied, "When Joab sent us, your servants, I witnessed a massive chaos, but I couldn't understand what was happening."

And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

With a commanding voice, the king told him, "Step aside and stay there." He obeyed, stepping aside and standing motionless.

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.

Suddenly, Cushi arrived, breathless. He said to the king, "Good news, my lord! Today, God has delivered justice on your behalf against all who opposed you."

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.

The king anxiously asked Cushi, "Is young Absalom safe?" Cushi replied with a heavy heart, "May all who wish harm upon you, my lord, meet the same fate as that young man."

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!

Overwhelmed with grief, the king retreated to his private quarters above the gate. Tears streamed down his face as he cried out, "Oh, my dear son Absalom! If only I could have taken your place, my beloved Absalom!"