Beginning
16 When David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and two hundred cakes of bread upon them, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of dried figs, and a bottle of wine.
2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” And Ziba said, “They are donkeys for the king’s household to ride on, and bread and dried figs for the young men to eat, and wine so that the faint may drink in the wilderness.
3 And the king said, “But where is your master’s son?” Then, Ziba answered the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem. For he said, ‘This day shall the House of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.’”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I beg you, let me find grace in your sight, my lord, O king!”
5 And when King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, named Shimei, the son of Gera. And he came out and cursed.
6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of King David, and all the people, and all the men of war on his right and on his left.
7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, “Come forth! Come forth, you murderer and wicked man!
8 “The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the House of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned! And the LORD has delivered your kingdom into the hand of Absalom, your son! And behold, you have been taken in your wickedness, because you are a murderer!”
9 Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why does this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go and take away his head.”
10 But the king said, ‘What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? For if he curses because the LORD has bid him curse David, who then dare says, ‘Why have you done so?’”
11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my own bowels, seeks my life! How much more so, then, may this son of Benjamin? Allow him to curse! For the LORD has bid him!
12 “It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction and do me good for his cursing this day!”
13 And as David and his men went along the way, Shimei went along the side of the mountain, opposite him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones against him, and cast dust.
14 Then the king and all the people who were with him became weary and refreshed themselves there.
15 And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “God save the king! God save the king!”
17 Then Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?
18 Hushai then answered Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose. His will I be. And with them will I dwell.
19 “And moreover, to whom shall I do service if not to his son? As I served before your father, so will I before you.”
20 Then Absalom spoke to Ahithophel, “Give counsel what we shall do.”
21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines whom he has left to keep the house. And when all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your father, the hands of all who are with you shall be strong.”
22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines, in the sight of all Israel.
23 And the counsel of Ahithophel which he counseled in those days was as if one had asked counsel of the oracle of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both with David and with Absalom.
17 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men. And I will get up and follow after David this night.
2 “And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed. So, I will make them afraid. And all the people who are with him shall flee, and I will strike only the king.
3 “And I will bring back all the people to you. When all shall return, all the people shall be in peace, seeing the man whom you seek has been killed.”
4 And the saying pleased Absalom, as well as all the elders of Israel.
5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also and let us hear what he says as well!”
6 So, when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken this. Shall we do as he says, or not? Tell me.”
7 Hushai then answered Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
8 “For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are strong men and bitter, as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Also, your father is a valiant warrior and will not lodge with the people.
9 “Behold, he is hidden now in some cave, or in some place. And when some of them are overthrown at first, the people shall hear and say, ‘The people who follow Absalom have been slaughtered!’
10 “Then he, also, who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall shrink and faint. For all Israel knows that your father is valiant, and those with him are stout men.
11 “Therefore, my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand of the sea in number, and that you go to battle in person.
12 “So shall we come upon him in some place, wherever we shall find him. And we will fall upon him as the dew falls on the ground. And of all the men who are with him we will not leave one.
13 “Moreover, if he has gotten into a city, then shall all the men of Israel bring ropes to that city. And we will draw it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”
14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” (For the LORD had determined to destroy the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring misery upon Absalom).
15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, “Of this and that manner did Ahithophel and the elders of Israel counsel Absalom. And thus and so have I counseled.
16 “Now, therefore, send quickly, and tell David, saying, “Do not stay in the fields of the wilderness this night. But cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him are devoured.”
17 Now, Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En Rogel, for they could not be seen coming into the city. And a maid went and told them, and they went and told King David.
18 Nevertheless, a young man saw them, and told it to Absalom. Therefore, they both departed quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim who had a well in his court, into which they went down.
19 And the wife took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn on it, so that the thing would not be known.
20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the wife, into the house, they said, “Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman answered them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought them, and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 And as soon as they had departed, the others came out of the well, and went and told King David, and said to him, “Up! And quickly get yourself over the water! For such counsel has Ahithophel given against you!”
22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they went over Jordan until the dawning of the day, so that there was not one of them who had not come over Jordan.
23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and arose. And he went home to his city and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in his father’s grave.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man named Jithra, an Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
26 So Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27 And when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash, out of Rabbah, of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel, out of Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite, out of Rogelim,
28 brought beds and basins and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and flour and parched corn and beans and lentils and parched corn.
29 And they brought honey and butter and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness!”
18 Then David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands over them, and captains of hundreds.
2 And David sent forth one third of the people under the hand of Joab, and one third of those under the hand of Abishai, Joab’s brother, the son of Zeruiah, and one third of those under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I will also go with you myself.”
3 But the people answered, “You shall not go forth! For if we flee away, they will not care about us! Nor will they care about us if half of us were killed! But you are now worth ten thousand of us! Therefore, now, it is better that you help us out of the city!”
4 Then the king said to them, “What seems best to you, that I will do.” So, 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, “Engage the young man Absalom gently, for my sake.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 So, the people went out into the field to meet Israel. And the battle was in the Forest of Ephraim,
7 where the people of Israel were killed before the servants of David. So, there was a great slaughter that day, of twenty thousand.
8 For the battle was scattered over all the country. And the forest devoured many more people that day than did the sword.
9 Now Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule. And the mule came under a great thick oak. And his head caught hold of the oak and he was taken up between the sky and the earth. And the mule that was under him went away.
10 And one who saw it told Joab, saying, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.”
11 Then Joab said to the man who told him, “And have you indeed seen? Why then did you not strike him to the ground there, and I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a girdle?”
12 Then the man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would still not lay my hand upon the king’s son! For in our hearing, the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware, lest any touch the young man Absalom.’
13 “If I had done it, it would have been the danger of my life! For nothing can be hidden from the king! Yea, you yourself would have been against me!”
14 Then Joab said, “I will not wait with you like this.” And he took three arrows in his hand and thrust them through Absalom, while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten servants who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
16 Then 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 forest and laid a mighty great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled, each one to his tent.
18 Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and raised up a pillar for himself (which is in the king’s dale). For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” And he named the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called “Absalom’s Place”.
19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king the news that the LORD has delivered him out of the hand of his enemies.”
20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not be the messenger today. You shall bring news another time. But today you shall bear none. For the king’s son is dead.”
21 Then Joab said to Cushi, “Go! Tell the king what you have seen.” And Cushi bowed himself to Joab and ran.
22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after Cushi?” And Joab said, “Why, now, will you run, my son, seeing that you have no tidings to bring?”
23 “Still, let me run?” Then he said to him, “Run.” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and overtook Cushi.
24 Now David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went to the top of the gate, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes and saw. And behold, a man came running alone.
25 And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, he brings news.” And he came quickly and drew near.
26 And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the potter, and said, “Behold, a man runs alone!” And the king said, “He also brings news.”
27 And the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” Then the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “Peace!” And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, Who has shut up the men who lift up their hands 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 your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what.”
30 And the king said to him, “Turn aside. Stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 And behold, Cushi came. And Cushi said, “News, my lord the king. For the LORD has delivered you this day out of the hand of all who rose against you!”
32 Then the king said to Cushi, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And Cushi answered, “The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do you harm, are as that young man is.”
33 And the king was moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said this: “O, my son Absalom! My son! My son, Absalom! Would that I had died for you, O Absalom, my son! My son!”
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