AND David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Yo'av, and a third part under the hand of Aviyshai the son of Tseruyah, Yo'av's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittiy. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
But the people answered, You shall 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 you are worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that you help us out of the city.
And the king said unto them, What seems you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
And the king commanded Yo'av and Aviyshai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Avshalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Avshalom.
So the people went out into the field against Yashar'el: and the battle was in the wood of Ephrayim;
Where the people of Yashar'el were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
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.
And Avshalom met the servants of David. And Avshalom 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 heavens and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
And a certain man saw it, and told Yo'av, and said, Behold, I saw Avshalom hanged in an oak.
And Yo'av said unto the man that told him, And, behold, you saw him, and why did you not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten sheqels of silver, and a belt.
And the man said unto Yo'av, Though I should receive a thousand sheqels of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged you and Aviyshai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Avshalom.
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.
Then said Yo'av, I may not tarry thus with you. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Avshalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
And ten young men that bore Yo'av's armor compassed about and smote Avshalom, and slew him.
And Yo'av blew the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing after Yashar'el: for Yo'av held back the people.
And they took Avshalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Yashar'el fled everyone to his tent.
Now Avshalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's valley: 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, Avshalom's place.
Then said Achiyma`ats the son of Tsadoq, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that Yahuah has avenged him of his enemies.
And Yo'av said unto him, You shall not bear tidings this day, but you shall bear tidings another day: but this day you shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
Then said Yo'av to Kushiy, Go tell the king what you have seen. And Kushiy bowed himself unto Yo'av, and ran.
Then said Achiyma`ats the son of Tsadoq yet again to Yo'av, But howsoever, let me, I pray you, also run after Kushiy. And Yo'av said, Wherefore will you run, my son, seeing that you have no tidings ready?
But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Achiyma`ats ran by the way of the circle of the Yardan, and overran Kushiy.
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.
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.
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 brings tidings.
And the watchman said, Me thinks the running of the foremost is like the running of Achiyma`ats the son of Tsadoq. And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news.
And Achiyma`ats 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 Yahuah Elohayka, which has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my adoniy the king.
And the king said, Is the young man Avshalom safe? And Achiyma`ats answered, When Yo'av sent the king's servant, and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
And, behold, Kushiy came; and Kushiy said, Tidings, my adoniy the king: for Yahuah has avenged you this day of all them that rose up against you.
And the king said unto Kushiy, Is the young man Avshalom safe? And Kushiy answered, The enemies of my adoniy the king, and all that rise against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is.
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 Avshalom, my son, my son Avshalom! would to Elohiym I had died for you, O Avshalom, my son, my son!