2 Samuel 18
New American Standard Bible
Absalom Killed
18 Then David [a]took a count of the people who were with him and (A)appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent the people out, (B)a third [b]under the command of Joab, a third [c]under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third [d]under the command of (C)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will certainly go out with you also.” 3 But the people said, “(D)You should not go out; for if in fact we flee, they will not care about us; and if half of us die, they will not care about us. But [e]you are [f]worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you will be ready to help us from the city.” 4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So (E)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5 But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And (F)all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.
6 Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in (G)the forest of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were [g]defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Now Absalom encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then (H)his head caught firmly in the oak, and he was [h]left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had informed him, “So behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And it would have been [i]my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to [j]receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for (I)in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘[k]Protect the young man Absalom for me!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against [l]his life (and (J)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have [m]avoided me.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not [n]waste time here with you.” (K)So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the [o]midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
16 Then (L)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 And they took Absalom and threw him into [p]a deep pit in the forest, and (M)erected over him a very large pile of stones. And (N)all Israel fled, each to his own tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and (O)set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in (P)the King’s Valley, for he said, “(Q)I have no son to [q]continue my name.” So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Is Grief-stricken
19 Then (R)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news (S)that the Lord has [r]freed him from the hand of his enemies!” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to bring news this day, but you shall bring news another day; however, you shall bring no news this day, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 However, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since (T)you will have no messenger’s reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed by the Cushite.
24 Now (U)David was sitting between the two gates; and (V)the watchman went to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked; and behold, a man was running by himself. 25 So the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man is running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The watchman said, “I [s]think the running form of the first one (W)is like the running form of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “(X)This is a good man, and he is coming with good news.”
28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “[t]All is well.” And (Y)he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “(Z)Blessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 29 But the king said, “(AA)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great commotion, but (AB)I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (AC)the Lord has [u]freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(AD)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(AE)May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man!”
33 [v]Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “(AF)My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (AG)If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 18:1 Lit mustered
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
- 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
- 2 Samuel 18:3 As in some ancient versions; MT for now there are 10,000 like us
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Lit like us by 10,000
- 2 Samuel 18:7 Lit struck
- 2 Samuel 18:9 Lit placed
- 2 Samuel 18:11 Lit And upon me
- 2 Samuel 18:12 Lit weigh
- 2 Samuel 18:12 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT Protect, whoever you are, the
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Another reading is my life; i.e., at the risk of my own life
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Lit stood aloof
- 2 Samuel 18:14 Lit wait so with
- 2 Samuel 18:14 Lit heart
- 2 Samuel 18:17 Lit the great
- 2 Samuel 18:18 Lit bring to remembrance
- 2 Samuel 18:19 Lit vindicated
- 2 Samuel 18:27 Lit see
- 2 Samuel 18:28 Lit Peace; Heb Shalom
- 2 Samuel 18:31 Lit vindicated
- 2 Samuel 18:33 Ch 19:1 in Heb
2 Samuel 18
King James Version
18 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
2 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 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.
4 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 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 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 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 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 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 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 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 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 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 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 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 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 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 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 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 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 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?
23 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.
24 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 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 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 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 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 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 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 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.
32 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.
33 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!
2 Samwiri 18
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Okufa kwa Abusaalomu
18 Awo Dawudi n’akuŋŋaanya abasajja be yalina, n’abalondamu abaduumizi b’enkumi n’abaduumizi b’ebikumi. 2 (A)Dawudi n’abalagira bagende, ekimu kya kusatu nga kiduumirwa Yowaabu, ekimu kya kusatu ekirala nga kiduumirwa muganda wa Yowaabu, Abisaayi batabani wa Zeruyiya, n’ekimu kya kusatu ekirala nga kiduumirwa Ittayi Omugitti. Kabaka n’agamba abasajja nti, “Nange n’agenda nammwe.”
3 (B)Naye abasajja ne boogera nti, “Toteekwa kugenda naffe, kubanga ffe bwe tunadduka tebaatufeeko. Ekitundu ku ffe ne bwe tunaafa tebaafeeyo. Ggwe olimu abantu omutwalo gumu ku ffe ffenna. Ekisinga obulungi weeteeketeeke okutudduukirira ng’osinziira mu kibuga.” 4 Kabaka n’addamu nti, “Kye musiimye kye nnaakola.” Awo kabaka n’ayimirira ku mabbali ga wankaaki, ng’eggye lyonna likumba okufuluma mu bibinja eby’ekikumi n’eby’olukumi. 5 Kabaka n’alagira Yowaabu, ne Abisaayi ne Ittayi ng’ayogera nti, “Omuvubuka Abusaalomu mumukwate n’ekisa ku lwange.”
Abantu bonna ne bawulira kabaka ng’awa abaduumizi bonna ebiragiro ebikwata ku Abusaalomu. 6 (C)Awo eggye ne lifuluma ku ttale okulwana ne Isirayiri, olutalo ne luba mu kibira kya Efulayimu. 7 Abasajja ba Isirayiri ne bakubibwa abasajja ba Dawudi, era bangi ne battibwa ku lunaku olwo. Baawera ng’emitwalo ebiri. 8 Olutalo ne lubuna ensi yonna, abantu bangi ne bafiira mu kibira okusinga n’abattibwa n’ekitala.
9 (D)Awo Abusaalomu n’asisinkana n’abasajja ba Dawudi. Yali yeebagadde ennyumbu ye. Ennyumbu n’eyita wansi w’amatabi amangi ag’omwera omunene, omutwe gwa Abusaalomu ne gulaaliramu, n’asigala ng’alengejja mu bbanga, ennyumbu gye yali yeebagadde n’egenda mu maaso. 10 Omu ku basajja bwe yakiraba n’ategeeza Yowaabu nti, “Laba nnalengedde Abusaalomu ng’awanikiddwa ku mwera.” 11 (E)Yowaabu n’agamba omusajja eyajja okumubuulira nti, “Kiki, wamulabye? Kiki ekyakulobedde okumuttirawo? N’andikusasudde gulaamu kikumi mu kkumi na ttaano eza ffeeza ne nkuwa n’olukoba olw’obuzira.”
12 Naye omusajja n’amuddamu nti, “Ne bwe wandinsasudde kilo kkumi n’emu eza ffeeza, sandigololedde mukono gwange ku mwana wa kabaka. Ffenna twawulidde kabaka ng’abalagira ggwe, Abisaayi ne Ittayi nti, ‘Waleme okubaawo omuntu yenna anaakola Abusaalomu akabi ku lwange.’ 13 (F)Kale singa mmusse ne ngwa mu mitawaana, tewandimpolerezza, kubanga omanyi nga tewali kigambo ekikwekebwa kabaka.”
14 (G)Yowaabu n’ayogera nti, “Sirina bbanga lya kukwonoonerako.” N’addira obusaale busatu n’abulasa mu kifuba kya Abusaalomu ng’akyali mulamu mu mwera. 15 (H)N’abavubuka kkumi abaasitulanga ebyokulwanyisa bya Yowaabu ne beetooloola Abusaalomu ne bamukuba ne bamutta.
16 (I)Awo Yowaabu n’afuuwa ekkondeere, eggye ne lireka okugoberera Isirayiri kubanga Yowaabu yabayimiriza. 17 (J)Ne batwala Abusaalomu, ne bamusuula mu lunnya oluwanvu mu kibira, ne bamutuumako amayinja. Isirayiri yenna ne badduka nga buli muntu adda ewuwe.
18 (K)Mu bulamu bwe, Abusaalomu yaddira empagi n’agiteeka mu kiwonvu kya kabaka ng’ekijjukizo kye; n’ayogera nti, “Sirina mwana wabulenzi kwe balijjuukirira erinnya lyange.” Empagi n’agituuma erinnya lye, era eyitibwa kijjukizo kya Abusaalomu ne leero.
Dawudi Akungubagira Abusaalomu
19 (L)Akimaazi mutabani wa Zadooki n’ayogera nti, “Ka nziruke, ntwalire kabaka amawulire nga Mukama bw’amulokodde mu mukono gw’omulabe we.” 20 Naye Yowaabu n’amugamba nti, “Si ggwe onootwala amawulire leero. Oligatwala olunaku olulala olutali lwa leero, kubanga mutabani wa kabaka afudde.”
21 Awo Yowaabu n’agamba omusajja Omukusi nti, “Genda otegeeze kabaka by’olabye.” Omukusi n’avuunama mu maaso ga Yowaabu n’adduka. 22 Akimaazi mutabani wa Zadooki n’agamba Yowaabu nate nti, “Nkwegayiridde, nzikiriza mmale gagoberera Omukusi.” Yowaabu n’amuddamu nti, “Mutabani wange, kiki ekinaaba kikutwala ate nga tolina mawulire g’onootwala aganakuweesa ekirabo?” 23 N’ayogera nti, “Ka mmale gagenda.”
Awo Yowaabu n’amugamba nti, “Dduka.” Akimaazi n’addukira mu kkubo ery’olusenyi lwa Yoludaani n’ayisa Omukusi.
24 (M)Awo Dawudi yali atudde wakati w’emiryango ebiri ogw’omunda n’ogw’ebweru, omukuumi n’alinnya waggulu ku wankaaki ku bbugwe. Bwe yayimusa amaaso ge n’alengera omusajja ng’ajja adduka yekka. 25 Omukuumi n’ayogerera waggulu n’ategeeza kabaka. Awo kabaka n’amugamba nti, “Bw’aba ng’ali yekka ateekwa okuba ng’aleeta mawulire malungi.” Omusajja n’asembera.
26 (N)Omukuumi n’alengera omusajja omulala ng’ajja adduka, n’akoowoola omuggazi nti, “Laba omusajja omulala ajja adduka yekka.” Kabaka n’ayogera nti, “Naye ateekwa okuba ng’aleeta mawulire malungi.”
27 (O)Awo omukuumi n’ayogera nti, “Kindabikira nga enziruka ey’oli akulembedde eri ng’eya Akimaazi mutabani wa Zadooki.” Kabaka n’ayogera nti, “Oyo musajja mulungi era ajja n’amawulire malungi.”
28 Awo Akimaazi n’ayogerera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka ng’agamba kabaka nti, “Byonna birungi.” N’avuunama mu maaso ga kabaka, ne yeeyala wansi n’ayogera nti, “Yeebazibwe Mukama Katonda wo, azikirizza abasajja abayimusizza omukono ku mukama wange kabaka.”
29 Awo kabaka n’abuuza nti, “Omuvubuka Abusaalomu ali bulungi?” Akimaazi n’addamu nti, “Yowaabu bwe yabadde ng’anaatera okutuma omuddu wa kabaka, nange omuddu wo, nalabye oluyoogaano olunene, naye saategedde kyabadde wo.”
30 Kabaka n’amugamba nti, “Ggwe dda wabbali.” N’adda wabbali n’ayimirira awo.
31 Awo Omukusi n’atuuka, n’ayogera nti, “Wulira amawulire amalungi mukama wange kabaka. Mukama akulokodde leero mu mukono gw’abo bonna abakuyimukiramu.”
32 (P)Kabaka n’abuuza Omukusi nti, “Omuvubuka Abusaalomu mulamu?” Omukusi n’addamu nti, “Ekituuse ku muvubuka oyo, kituuke ku balabe ba mukama wange kabaka, n’abo bonna abamuyimukiramu okumukola akabi.”
33 (Q)Kabaka n’afuna ensisi, n’ayambuka mu kisenge ekyali waggulu wa wankaaki, n’akaaba. N’agenda nga bw’ayogera nti, “Mutabani wange Abusaalomu, mutabani wange, mutabani wange Abusaalomu. Singa nze nfudde mu kifo kyo, Abusaalomu, mutabani wange!”
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