Absalom encamped in Gilead.

And when David was come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Naha, of Rabbath, of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel, of Lodabar, and Barzillai the Giladite, of Roglim

bedding, basin, earthen vessel, wheat, barley, flour, sangs, beans, lentils, groats.

And honey, and butter, and sheep’s milk, and oxen’s milk, to David, and to the people that were with him, to eat. For they thought, The people shall be hungry, and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.
(2 Samuel)
Chapter 18
Absalom is pierced hanging from an oak tree.

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains over them a thousand and an hundred.

And he sent out of the people a third part under Joab, and a third part under Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under Ithai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will go out with you also.

And the people said, Thou shalt not go out: for though we flee, or half of us die, they will not take us: for thou art as though our number were ten thousand: now therefore it is better that thou shouldest help us out of the city.

And the king said unto them: What ye please, that will I do. And the king stood at the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ithai, saying, Deal cleanly with the lad Absalom. And all the people heard it, when the king commanded all the captains about Absalom.

And it came to pass, when the people were come out into the field to meet Israel, that the battle arose in the forest of Ephraim.

And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David: and there was a great slaughter that day, twenty thousand men.

And there was the battle scattered abroad in all the land: and the forest devoured more people by day than the sword devoured.

And Absalom met David’s servants, and rode upon a jaw. And when the mouth was come under a great thick oak, he hanged his head upon the oak, and hovered between heaven and earth: but his mouth ran out from under him.

And when a man saw it, he told Joab, saying, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging on an oak.

And Joab said unto the man that told him, Behold, sawest thou this? Why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? then would I have given thee of me ten pieces of silver, and a girdle.

And the man said unto Joab: If thou hadst weighed a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, Yet would I not have laid my hand upon the king’s son. For the king commanded thee, and Abishai, and Ithai, in our ears, saying, Beware lest any man hurt the lad Absalom.

Or if I had done any thing wrong in my way, because nothing is hid from the king, thou thyself wouldest have stood against me.

And Joab said: I cannot tarry with thee so long. And Joab took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom’s heart, while he yet lived by the oak.

And ten lads, Joab’s armourbearers, went about, and smote him to death.

And Joab blew a trumpet, and brought the people again, that they should not pursue after Israel: for Joab would spare the people.

And they took Absalom, and cast him into the wood into a great pit, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled every man to his tent.

And Absalom had set up a pillar for him, while he was yet alive, which is in the king’s own land. For he said: I have no son: therefore this shall be the memorial of my name: and he called the pillar after his name, and it is called Absalom’s room unto this day.

And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me run, I pray thee, and proclaim unto the king that the LORD hath delivered him out of the hand of his enemies.

And Joab said unto him, Thou bringest no good tidings this day. One day thou shalt bring tidings, and to day thou shalt not: for the king’s son is dead.

And Joab said unto Chuzi, Go and tell the king what thou hast seen. And Chuzi worshipped
Joab, and ran.

And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again unto Joab: How if I also run after Chuzi? And Joab said, What wilt thou run after, my son? Come hither, thou wilt not bring good tidings.

How if I run? He said unto him, Run then. So Ahimaaz ran straightway, and came before Chusi.

And David sat between two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof of the gate that was by the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and saw a man walking by himself.

And he called and told the king. And the king said: If he be alone, good tidings are in his mouth. And when the same went and came near,

And the watchman saw another man running, and called into the gate, and said, Behold, a man runneth alone. And the king said, He also is a good messenger.

And the watchman said: I see the first course as the course of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.
And the king said, He is a good man, and bringeth good tidings.

And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king: Peace! And he worshipped before the king upon his face to the earth, saying, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

And the king said, Is it well with the lad Absalom? And Ahimaaz said: I saw a great tumult, when Joab the king’s servant sent me thy servant; and I know not what it was.

And the king said, Go about, and stand there. And he went about, and stood there.

And, behold, Chuzi came and said, Here is good tidings, my lord the king. The LORD hath avenged thee this day from the hand of all them that rebelled against thee.

And the king said unto Chushi, Is it well with the lad Absalom? And Chushi said, Let it be to all the enemies of my lord the king, as it is to the lad, and to do evil to all that rise up against thee.

And the king was grieved, and went into the hall of the gate, and wept: and as he went, he said, My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom. Would to God that I should die for thee!
O Absalom, my son, my son!
(2 Samuel)
Chapter 19
David is restored to the kingdom.

And it was told Joab, saying, Behold, the king weepeth, and mourneth for Absalom.

And the victory of the day was grievous among all the people: for the people heard that day that the king was grieved for his son.

And the people stole away that day, and entered not into the city, as a people that are consumed, when they are fled in the battle, stumble.

And the king covered his face, and cried with a loud voice: Ah, my son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!

And Joab came into the king’s house, and said, Thou hast made all thy servants ashamed this day, which have saved the souls of thy sons, and of thy daughters, and of thy wives, and of thy concubines,

To love them that hate thee, and to hate them that love thee. For this day thou hast found it out, that thou hast no interest in the captains and servants. For I know this day, that if Absalom were alive unto thee, and we were all dead this day, it would seem good unto thee.

Arise therefore, and go forth, and speak kindly unto thy servants. For I swear unto thee by the LORD, If thou go not out, there shall not a man abide with thee this night. And it shall be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath come upon thee from thy youth even unto this day.

And the king arose, and sat in the gate. And it was told all the people, Behold, the king sitteth in the gate. And all the people came before the king. And Israel fled every man into his tent.

And all the people of all the tribes of Israel were at strife, and said: The king hath delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, and hath fled out of the land before Absalom.

Thus Absalom died in the battle which we anointed over us. Wherefore now are ye so quiet, that ye will not restore the king?

And the king sent unto Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why be ye the last to bring the king again to his house? (For the speech of all Israel was to come before the king into his house.)

Ye are my brethren, my bone and my flesh: why then will ye be the last to take the king again?

And say unto Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do this and that unto me, that thou be not captain of the host before me all thy days in Joab’s stead.

And he inclined the heart of all the men of Judah as of a man. And they sent unto the king: Come again, thou, and all thy servants.

So the king came again. And when he was come to Jordan, the men of Judah were come to Gilgal to go down to meet the king, to bring