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2 Књига Самуилова 18
New Serbian Translation
2 Књига Самуилова 18
New Serbian Translation
Авесаломов пораз и смрт
18 Давид је извршио смотру народа који је био с њим, и поставио над њима заповеднике над хиљаду и заповеднике над стотину. 2 Затим је Давид послао народ: једну трећину са Јоавом, другу трећину с Ависајем, сином Серујиним, братом Јоавовим, и једну трећину са Итајем Гаћанином.
Тада цар рече народу: „И ја ћу поћи с вама.“
3 Али људи му рекоше: „Ти нећеш ићи, јер ако ми побегнемо, они неће марити за нас. Чак и да половина од нас изгине, они неће марити за нас, јер ти вредиш као нас десет хиљада. Зато је боље да нам помажеш из града.“
4 Цар им рече: „Учинићу све што вам се чини добро.“
Тако је цар стајао код градских врата, док је сав народ излазио по стотинама и хиљадама.
5 Цар заповеди Јоаву, Ависају и Итају: „Чувајте ми младића Авесалома.“ Сав народ је чуо кад је цар заповедио ово свим заповедницима за Авесалома.
6 Народ је изашао у бој против Израиља; битка се водила у Јефремовој шуми. 7 Давидове слуге су поразиле израиљски народ; био је то велики пораз у онај дан: двадесет хиљада мртвих. 8 Битка се проширила по целом крају. Тога дана је шума прогутала више народа него што их је пало од мача.
9 А Авесалом је набасао на неке Давидове слуге. Авесалом је јахао на својој мазги, али док је мазга пролазила испод густе крошње једног великог храста, коса му се закачила за храст, тако да је висио између неба и земље. Мазга испод њега је наставила да иде.
10 Један од људи је то видео и јавио Јоаву: „Ено, видео сам Авесалома како виси о једном храсту.“
11 Јоав рече човеку који му је донео вест: „Кад си га видео, зашто га ниси саставио са земљом на лицу места? Ја бих ти дао десет шекела сребра[a] и један опасач.“
12 Човек одговори Јоаву: „И да имам хиљаду шекела сребра у својим рукама, не бих дигао руку на царевог сина, јер је цар на наше уши заповедио теби, Ависају и Итају: ’Чувајте ми младића Авесалома.’ 13 Па и кад бих починио издају насрћући на његов живот, а од цара се ништа не може сакрити, ти би се држао по страни.“
14 Јоав му рече: „Нећу ја да траћим време с тобом!“ Онда је узео три копља у своју руку и забио их Авесалому у срце, док је још био жив усред храста. 15 Затим је десет момака, Јоавових штитоноша, окружило Авесалома и докрајчили га, те је умро.
16 Јоав је затрубио у трубу, па се народ вратио из потере за Израиљем; Јоав је, наиме, повукао народ. 17 Авесалома су узели и бацили у велику јаму у шуми и набацали на њега веома велику гомилу камења. У међувремену је сав Израиљ побегао својим кућама.
18 А Авесалом је, за живота, подигао себи стуб у Краљевој долини, јер је рекао: „Немам сина да сачува спомен на моје име.“ Зато је стуб назвао по свом имену, те се зове „Авесаломов споменик“ све до данас.
Давиду јављају за Авесаломову смрт
19 Тада Ахимас, Садоков син, рече: „Пусти ме да отрчим и јавим цару да га је Господ избавио из руку његових непријатеља.“
20 Јоав му рече: „Данас нећеш бити гласник добре вести. Учинићеш то неки други дан, али данас нећеш јавити добру вест, јер је царев син погинуо.“
21 Затим Јоав рече Кушанину: „Иди и јави цару што си видео.“ Кушанин се поклони Јоаву и отрча.
22 Али Ахимас, син Садоков, опет рече Јоаву: „Било како било, пусти ме да и ја отрчим за Кушанином.“
Јоав му рече: „Зашто да трчиш, синко, кад ти добра вест неће донети награду?“
23 „Било како било, пусти ме да отрчим.“
Јоав му рече: „Хајде, трчи!“ Ахимас отрча преко равнице и претече Кушанина.
24 А Давид је баш седео међу двојим градским вратима. Тада је стражар, који је био на крову врата, подигао поглед и угледао неког човека како трчи. 25 Стражар је викнуо и јавио цару. Цар рече: „Ако је са̂м, онда носи добру вест.“ Док се човек приближавао, 26 стражар је видео другог човека како трчи, па је позвао чувара на вратима, рекавши: „Ево, још један човек трчи!“
Цар рече: „И он носи добру вест.“
27 Стражар рече: „Видим да онај први трчи као Ахимас, Садоков син.“
Цар рече: „Он је добар човек и долази са добром вешћу.“
28 Ахимас позва и рече цару: „Добро је!“ Затим се поклонио цару лицем до земље и рекао: „Нека је благословен Господ, Бог твој, који је зауставио људе што су дигли руку на мога господара цара.“
29 Цар упита: „Да ли је младић Авесалом добро?“
Ахимас одговори: „Видео сам велико комешање кад ме је царев слуга Јоав слао, али нисам видео шта је било.“
30 Цар рече: „Помери се тамо у страну.“ Он се померио у страну, па је стајао.
31 Тада је дошао Кушанин и рекао: „Добра вест за мога господара цара! Јер, данас те је Господ избавио из руку свих који су се дигли против тебе!“
32 Тада цар упита Кушанина: „Да ли је добро младић Авесалом?“
Кушанин одговори: „Нека непријатељи мога господара цара, и сви који се дижу против тебе да ти науде прођу као тај младић.“
33 На то цар задрхта и оде у горњу собу над градским вратима и бризну у плач. Ишао је и говорио: „Сине мој Авесаломе, сине мој, сине мој Авесаломе! О, да сам ја умро уместо тебе! Авесаломе, сине мој, сине мој!“
Footnotes
- 18,11 Око 120 gr.
2 Samuel 18
New American Standard Bible
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
Schlachter 2000
2 Samuel 18
Schlachter 2000
Absaloms Niederlage und Tod
18 Und David musterte das Volk, das bei ihm war, und setzte Oberste über je Tausend und über je Hundert.
2 Und David ließ das Volk ausrücken, ein Drittel unter Joab, ein Drittel unter Abisai, dem Sohn der Zeruja, Joabs Bruder, und ein Drittel unter Ittai, dem Gatiter. Und der König sprach zu dem Volk: Ich will auch mit euch [in den Kampf] ziehen!
3 Aber das Volk sprach: Du sollst nicht [in den Kampf] ziehen! Denn wenn wir fliehen müssten, so wird man sich nicht um uns kümmern, und selbst wenn die Hälfte von uns umkäme, würde man sich nicht um uns kümmern; denn jetzt bist du so viel wie zehntausend von uns. So ist es nun besser, dass du uns von der Stadt aus beistehst!
4 Der König sprach zu ihnen: Was gut ist in euren Augen, das will ich tun! Und der König stand beim Tor, während das ganze Volk zu Hunderten und zu Tausenden auszog.
5 Und der König gebot dem Joab, dem Abisai und dem Ittai und sprach: Geht mir schonend um mit dem Jungen, mit Absalom! Und das ganze Volk hörte es, wie der König allen Hauptleuten wegen Absalom Befehl gab.
6 So zogen denn die Leute ins Feld, Israel entgegen; und es kam zur Schlacht im Wald Ephraim.
7 Und das Volk Israel wurde dort vor den Knechten Davids geschlagen, und es fand an jenem Tag dort eine große Niederlage statt; [es fielen] 20 000 [Mann].
8 Und die Schlacht breitete sich dort über das ganze Land aus, und der Wald fraß mehr unter dem Volk, als das Schwert an jenem Tag fraß.
9 Absalom aber wurde von den Knechten Davids gesehen. Absalom ritt nämlich auf dem Maultier. Als nun das Maultier unter die dichten Zweige einer großen Terebinthe kam, da blieb er mit dem Kopf in der Terebinthe hängen, sodass er zwischen Himmel und Erde schwebte, denn das Maultier lief unter ihm weg.
10 Das sah ein Mann; der berichtete es Joab und sprach: Siehe, ich sah Absalom in einer Terebinthe hängen!
11 Da sprach Joab zu dem Mann, der ihm Bericht gegeben hatte: Siehe doch, wenn du das gesehen hast, warum hast du ihn nicht auf der Stelle zu Boden geschlagen? So könnte ich dir jetzt zehn Silberlinge und einen Gürtel geben!
12 Der Mann aber sprach zu Joab: Und wenn ich 1 000 Silberlinge auf meine Hand bekommen würde, so wollte ich dennoch meine Hand nicht an den Sohn des Königs legen; denn der König hat dir und Abisai und Ittai vor unseren Ohren geboten und gesagt: Gebt acht, wer es auch sei, auf den Jungen, auf Absalom!
13 Hätte ich aber heimtückisch gegen sein Leben gehandelt, so bliebe doch gar nichts dem König verborgen; und du selbst hättest mir nicht beigestanden!
14 Joab sprach: Ich kann nicht so lange bei dir warten! Und er nahm drei Spieße in seine Hand und stieß sie Absalom ins Herz, als er noch lebend in der Terebinthe hing.
15 Danach umringten ihn zehn junge Männer, Joabs Waffenträger, und schlugen Absalom noch vollends tot.
16 Und Joab stieß in das Horn und rief das Volk von der Verfolgung Israels zurück; denn Joab wollte das Volk schonen.
17 Sie nahmen aber Absalom und warfen ihn im Wald in eine große Grube und errichteten einen sehr großen Steinhaufen über ihm. Ganz Israel aber war geflohen, jeder zu seinem Zelt.
18 Absalom aber hatte zu seinen Lebzeiten eine Gedenksäule[a] genommen und für sich aufgerichtet, die im Königstal steht, denn er sprach: Ich habe keinen Sohn, um meinen Namen in Erinnerung zu halten; und so nannte er die Gedenksäule nach seinem Namen, und man nennt sie »Das Denkmal Absaloms« bis zu diesem Tag.
19 Achimaaz aber, der Sohn Zadoks, sprach: Ich will doch hinlaufen und dem König die gute Botschaft bringen, dass der Herr ihm Recht verschafft hat von der Hand seiner Feinde!
20 Joab aber sprach zu ihm: Du bist heute kein Mann guter Botschaft! An einem anderen Tag kannst du eine gute Botschaft bringen, heute aber kannst du keine gute Botschaft bringen; denn der Sohn des Königs ist tot!
21 Aber zu dem Kuschiten sprach Joab: Geh hin, melde dem König, was du gesehen hast! Da verneigte sich der Kuschit vor Joab und lief davon.
22 Achimaaz aber, der Sohn Zadoks, sprach nochmals zu Joab: Wie es auch kommen mag, lass doch auch mich hinter dem Kuschiten herlaufen! Joab aber sprach: Warum willst du denn laufen, mein Sohn? Dir wird doch kein Lohn für eine gute Botschaft zuteil!
23 — Wie es auch kommen mag, ich will doch laufen! Da sprach er zu ihm: So lauf! Und Achimaaz lief den Weg der Jordanaue und kam dem Kuschiten zuvor.
24 David aber saß zwischen den zwei Toren. Und der Wächter ging auf das Dach des Tores zur Mauer hin, und er erhob seine Augen und sah sich um, und siehe, da lief ein Mann allein.
25 Da rief der Wächter und meldete es dem König. Der König aber sprach: Ist er allein, so ist eine Botschaft in seinem Mund! Und er kam immer näher.
26 Und der Wächter sah einen anderen Mann laufen und rief zum Torhüter und sprach: Siehe, ein Mann läuft allein! Der König aber sprach: Der ist auch ein Bote!
27 Der Wächter sprach: Mir scheint, der erste Läufer sei Achimaaz, der Sohn Zadoks! Da sprach der König: Er ist ein guter Mann und bringt gute Botschaft!
28 Achimaaz aber rief und sprach zum König: Friede! Dann warf er sich vor dem König auf sein Angesicht zur Erde nieder und sprach: Gelobt sei der Herr, dein Gott, der die Leute dahingegeben hat, die ihre Hand gegen meinen Herrn, den König, erhoben haben!
29 Der König aber fragte: Geht es auch dem Jungen, dem Absalom gut? Achimaaz aber sprach: Ich sah ein großes Getümmel, als Joab den Knecht des Königs und deinen Knecht sandte, weiß aber nicht, was es war.
30 Und der König sprach: Tritt zur Seite und stelle dich hierher! Da trat er zur Seite und blieb stehen.
31 Siehe, da kam der Kuschit und sprach: Mein Herr, der König, lasse sich frohe Botschaft bringen! Denn der Herr hat dir heute Recht verschafft von der Hand aller, die sich gegen dich auflehnten!
32 Der König aber fragte den Kuschiten: Geht es auch dem Jungen, dem Absalom gut? Der Kuschit sprach: Wie dem Jungen möge es den Feinden meines Herrn, des Königs, und allen ergehen, die sich gegen dich auflehnen, um Böses zu tun!
Footnotes
- (18,18) Solche mit Inschriften versehene Gedenksäulen finden sich im Alten Orient sehr häufig, jedoch selten von den israelitischen und jüdischen Königen (vgl. 3Mo 26,1).
2 Samuel 18
New International Version
2 Samuel 18
New International Version
18 David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 David sent out his troops,(A) a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai(B) son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai(C) the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”
3 But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten(D) thousand of us.[a] It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”(E)
4 The king answered, “I will do whatever seems best to you.”
So the king stood beside the gate while all his men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands. 5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
6 David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest(F) of Ephraim. 7 There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.
9 Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair(G) got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
10 When one of the men saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
11 Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike(H) him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels[b] of silver and a warrior’s belt.(I)”
12 But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels[c] were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.[d]’ 13 And if I had put my life in jeopardy[e]—and nothing is hidden from the king(J)—you would have kept your distance from me.”
14 Joab(K) said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15 And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.(L)
16 Then Joab(M) sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them. 17 They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up(N) a large heap of rocks(O) over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
18 During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley(P) as a monument(Q) to himself, for he thought, “I have no son(R) to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Mourns
19 Now Ahimaaz(S) son of Zadok said, “Let me run and take the news to the king that the Lord has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies.(T)”
20 “You are not the one to take the news today,” Joab told him. “You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21 Then Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed down before Joab and ran off.
22 Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.”
But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.”
23 He said, “Come what may, I want to run.”
So Joab said, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain[f] and outran the Cushite.
24 While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman(U) went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. 25 The watchman called out to the king and reported it.
The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer.
26 Then the watchman saw another runner, and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!”
The king said, “He must be bringing good news,(V) too.”
27 The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like(W) Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”
“He’s a good man,” the king said. “He comes with good news.”
28 Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
Ahimaaz answered, “I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.”
30 The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.
31 Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”
32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”(X)
33 The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died(Y) instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”[g](Z)
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 18:3 Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts care; for now there are ten thousand like us
- 2 Samuel 18:11 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams
- 2 Samuel 18:12 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms
- 2 Samuel 18:12 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts may be translated Absalom, whoever you may be.
- 2 Samuel 18:13 Or Otherwise, if I had acted treacherously toward him
- 2 Samuel 18:23 That is, the plain of the Jordan
- 2 Samuel 18:33 In Hebrew texts this verse (18:33) is numbered 19:1.
2 Samuel 18
New Catholic Bible
2 Samuel 18
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 18
Preparation for Battle. 1 David mustered the men who were with him, and he appointed commanders to be in charge of units of a thousand and units of a hundred.[a] 2 Then David divided his army into three groups: one under the command of Joab, another under the command of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah and the brother of Joab, and the third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. After that, the king said to the soldiers: “I myself will also march forth with you.”
3 However, the soldiers replied: “You must not come with us. If we are forced to flee, they will not be concerned about us, not even if half of us should die. However, you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better if you remain in the city to supply whatever help we may need.”
4 The king said to them: “I shall do whatever seems best to you.” Then he stood beside the gate while all the soldiers marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 He also gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with the young man Absalom.” And all of the soldiers heard the king give this directive to the commanders in regard to Absalom.
Defeat of Absalom. 6 Then the army marched into the field against Israel, and a battle was fought in the forest near Mahanaim. 7 The Israelite forces were defeated there by the forces of David, and the casualties numbered twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.
Death of Absalom. 9 Meanwhile, Absalom, by chance, happened to encounter some of David’s men. He was riding on his mule, and as it passed under the thick branches of a large oak, his head became caught in its branches, and he was left hanging in midair while the mule he had been riding continued on. 10 Someone who had seen this reported to Joab: “I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.”
11 Joab said to the man who had informed him: “If you actually saw him, why then did you not strike him to the ground then and there? I would have willingly given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
12 However, the man replied to Joab: “Even if you were to weigh out a thousand shekels of silver and place them in the palm of my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai: ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 13 On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously with Absalom and thereby placed my life in jeopardy—and nothing is hidden from the king—then you would have dissociated yourself from me.”
14 Joab then answered him bluntly: “I cannot waste my time arguing with you.” Thereupon he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive, hanging in midair from the oak tree. 15 Then ten young men who served as Joab’s armor-bearers closed in on Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16 After that, Joab ordered the trumpet to be sounded, and the soldiers ceased their pursuit of Israel because he had ordered them to halt. 17 They picked up Absalom, flung his body into a large pit in the forest, and piled up a great mound of stones over him. Meanwhile all the Israelites had fled to their tents.
18 During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it for himself in the King’s Valley, for he said: “I have no son to perpetuate the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and to the present day it is still called Absalom’s Monument.
19 David Told of Absalom’s Death. Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab: “Grant me permission to take the good news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the power of his enemies.” 20 But Joab replied: “Today you would not be the bearer of good news. On some other day, you may do so, but you shall not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21 Then Joab said to an Ethiopian: “Go forth and report to the king what you have witnessed.” The Ethiopian bowed down before Joab and ran off. 22 Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, again said to Joab: “Come what may, allow me to run after the Ethiopian.”
Joab replied: “My son, why do you wish to go? You will not receive any reward for the news you bring.” 23 “Come what may,” he answered, “I want to run.” Joab finally relented, and he said: “I grant you leave to depart.” Then Ahimaaz sped off by way of the plain of the Jordan and outran the Ethiopian.
24 While David was sitting between the inner and the outer wall, a sentry went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up, he saw a man running alone. 25 The sentry called down to the king and reported this to him. “If he is alone,” said the king, “he has some news to tell us.”
26 As the man continued to draw nearer, the sentry beheld another man running, and he shouted to the gatekeeper, saying: “Look! Here comes another man running alone.” The king asserted: “He must also be bringing good news.” 27 The sentry added: “The first one runs just like Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.” The king replied: “He is a good man, and I feel certain that he comes with good news to report.”
28 Then Ahimaaz called out to the king: “All is well!” After that he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground and said: “Blessed be the Lord, your God, for he has delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king.”
29 Thereupon the king asked: “Is all well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered: “When the king’s servant Joab sent your servant forth, I was aware of a great commotion, but I do not know what it was all about.” 30 The king said: “Stand off to the side and wait over there.” Therefore, he stepped aside and remained there.
31 When the Ethiopian arrived, he said: “I bring good news for my lord the king. For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all those who rebelled against you.” 32 Then the king asked the Ethiopian: “Has all gone well with the young man Absalom?” The Ethiopian answered: “May the enemies of my lord the king and all those who rise up to harm you share the fate of that young man.”
33 Greatly shaken, the king went up to the chamber over the gate, weeping incessantly. And as he went, he cried out: “O my son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”[b]
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 18:1 In stark contrast to the ineffectual behavior David has recently adopted, he finally acts like the leader he had formerly been. This is the beginning of the end for Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 18:33 David’s lament over his son Absalom’s death is the typical response of any loving parent. No matter how difficult the relationship has been, it is not natural for a child to predecease a parent, and in this case there is a lot of guilt and failure on David’s part to explain Absalom’s mistakes.
New Serbian Translation (NSP)
The Holy Bible, New Serbian Translation Copyright © 2005, 2017 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Свето писмо, Нови српски превод Copyright © 2005, 2017 Biblica, Inc.® Користи се уз допуштење. Сва права задржана.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Schlachter 2000 (SCH2000)
Copyright © 2000 by Geneva Bible Society
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
