2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 18

Absalum’s Defeat and Death

1 Daud now mustered the men who were with him and appointed generals and captains to lead them. 

2 He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Yuab, one under Yuab’s brother Abishai son of Zaruyahu, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath. The king told his troops, “I am going out with you.”

3 But his men objected strongly. “You must not go,” they urged. “If we have to turn and run and even if half of us die, it will make no difference to Absalum’s troops; they will be looking only for you. You are worth ten thousand of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it.”

4 “If you think that’s the best plan, I will do it,” the king answered. So he stood alongside the gate of the town as all the troops marched out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.

5 And the king gave this command to Yuab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalum.” And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.

6 So the battle began in the forest of Aphraim, 

7 and the Yasharalym troops were beaten back by Daud’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and twenty thousand men laid down their lives. 

8 The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.

9 During the battle, Absalum happened to come upon some of Daud’s men, he tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree, his mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. 

10 One of Daud’s men saw what had happened and told Yuab, “I saw Absalum dangling from a great tree.”

11 So Yubab said to the man. “You saw Absalum there and did not kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!”

12 “I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver,” the man replied to Yuab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalum.’ 

13 And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son and the king would certainly find out who did it, you yourself would be the first to abandon me.”

14 “Enough of this nonsense,” Yuab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalum’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. 

15 Ten of Yuab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalum and killed him.

16 Then Yuab blew the ram’s horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Yashar'AL. 

17 They threw Absalum’s body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap of stones over it. And all Yashar'AL fled to their homes.

18 During his lifetime, Absalum had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” he named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalum’s Monument to this day.

Daud Mourns Absalum’s Death

19 Then Zaduk’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run to the king with the good news that  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has rescued him from his enemies.”

20 “No, Yuab told him, “it would not be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.”

21 Then Yuab said to a man from Athiupia, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The man bowed and ran off.

22 But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Yuab, “Whatever happens, please let me go, too. “Why should you go, my son?” Yuab replied. “There will be no reward for your news.”

23 “Yes, but let me go anyway,” he begged. Yuab finally said, “All right, go ahead.” So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Athiupian.

24 While Daud was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them. 

25 He shouted the news down to Daud, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.” As the messenger came closer, 

26 the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, “Here comes another one!” The king replied, “He also will have news.”

27 “The watchman said to King Daud; the first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zaduk,” and king Daud said to him; he is a good man, and he is coming with good news,”

28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “Everything is all right!” he bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Yadah (Praise) to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my master the king.”

29 “What about young Absalum?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?” Ahimaaz replied, “When Yuab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I did not know what was happening.”

30 “Wait here,” the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside.

31 Then the man from Athiupia arrived and said, “I have good news for my master the king. Today 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.”

32 “Kind Daud asked him; What about young Absalum?” is Absalum all right?” And the Athiupian replied, “May all of your enemies, my master the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!”

33 The king was overcome with emotion, he went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalum! My son, my son Absalum! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalum, my son, my son.”