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Chapter 18
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1
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And David numbered the people that were with him, and
set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over
them. |
2
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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
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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 succor us out of the city. |
4
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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
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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
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So the people went out into the field against Israel:
and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; |
7
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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
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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
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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
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And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold,
I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. |
11
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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
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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
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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
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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
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And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about
and smote Absalom, and slew him. |
16
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And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from
pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. |
17
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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. |
18
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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. |
19
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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. |
20
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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. |
21
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Then said Joab to Cushy, Go tell the king what thou hast
seen. And Cushy bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. |
22
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Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab,
But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushy.
And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing
that thou hast no tidings ready? |
23
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But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto
him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and
overran Cushy. |
24
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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. |
25
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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. |
26
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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. |
27
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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. |
28
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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. |
29
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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. |
30
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And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here.
And he turned aside, and stood still. |
31
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And, behold, Cushy came; and Cushy said, Tidings, my
lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day
of all them that rose up against thee. |
32
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And the king said unto Cushy, Is the young man Absalom
safe? And Cushy answered, The enemies of my lord the king,
and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that
young man is. |
33
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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! |
