Absalom

1And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

David walked a little past the top of the hill. There he met Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth. Ziba had two donkeys with saddles on them. The donkeys carried 200 loaves of bread and 100 bunches of raisins. They also carried 100 pieces of summer fruit and a skin bag of wine.

2And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

The king asked Ziba, "Why did you bring all this?" Ziba said, "The donkeys are for your family to ride. The bread and fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for anyone who gets tired out in the desert."

3And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

The king asked, "Where is Mephibosheth, your master's grandson?" Ziba said, "He stayed in Jerusalem. He said, 'Today the people of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.'"

4Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

The king said to Ziba, "Then everything Mephibosheth owned is yours now." Ziba bowed low. He said, "I hope you are always pleased with me, my lord the king."

5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

King David came near a town called Bahurim. A man from Saul's family came out to meet him. His name was Shimei, son of Gera. He kept cursing David as he came, shouting for bad things to happen to him.

6And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

He threw stones at David and at all of David's servants. The soldiers and the strong fighters walked on David's right side and his left side.

7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

This is what Shimei shouted as he cursed. "Get out, get out, you killer! You are a worthless man!"

8The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

"The LORD is paying you back for the blood of Saul's family. You became king in Saul's place. Now the LORD has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. You are caught in your own trouble, because you are a killer."

9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, spoke to the king. "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head."

10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

The king said, "This is not your business, you sons of Zeruiah. Let him curse me. The LORD told him to curse David. So who can ask why he did it?"

11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look. My own son wants to kill me. So of course this man from Benjamin's family wants to hurt me too. Leave him alone. Let him curse. The LORD told him to."

12It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

"Maybe the LORD will see how much I am hurting. Maybe he will give me good things because of the cursing I get today."

13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

So David and his men kept walking down the road. Shimei walked along the side of the hill across from them. As he went, he cursed, threw stones, and threw dirt at David.

14And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

The king and all the people with him were worn out when they arrived. They rested there and felt better.

15And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

Absalom and all the men of Israel came into Jerusalem. Ahithophel, who gave advice, came with him.

16And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

Hushai the Archite was David's friend. He came to Absalom and said, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

17And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this how you treat your friend David? Why did you not go with him?"

18And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

Hushai said to Absalom, "No. I belong to the man the LORD chooses. I belong to the man Israel chooses. I will stay with him."

19And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.

"Besides, who else should I serve? Should I not serve the king's son? I helped your father. Now I will help you the same way."

20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Tell me what you think. What should we do?"

21And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

Ahithophel said, "Your father left some of his wives here to take care of the palace. Go and sleep with them. Then all Israel will hear that your father hates you now. That will make your men brave and ready to fight."

22So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

So they put up a tent for Absalom on the flat roof of the palace. Absalom went in and slept with his father's wives. All Israel could see it.

23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

In those days people trusted the advice of Ahithophel like words from God. Both David and Absalom felt that way about his advice.

1Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

Ahithophel gave advice to Absalom. He said, "Let me pick twelve thousand men. I will go after David tonight."

2And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

"I will attack him while he is tired and weak. I will scare him. All his people will run away. I will kill only the king."

3And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

"Then I will bring all the people back to you. You want only one man. After that, everyone else can live in peace."

4And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

Absalom liked this plan very much. So did all the leaders of Israel.

5Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

Then Absalom said, "Call Hushai the Archite too. Let us hear what he says as well."

6And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. He asked, "Should we do it? If not, tell us your plan."

7And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

Hushai said, "This time Ahithophel's advice is not good."

8For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Hushai said, "You know your father and his men. They are strong fighters. Right now they are angry, like a mother bear whose cubs were stolen. Your father knows war. He will not sleep in camp with the soldiers."

9Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

"By now he is hiding in a pit or some other place. If some of your men are killed first, people will hear about it. They will say, "Absalom's soldiers are being killed."

10And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

"Then even the bravest soldier will lose all his courage. All Israel knows your father is a strong fighter. They know his men are brave too."

11Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

"So here is my advice. Gather all Israel to you, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. Let there be as many men as sand on the beach. And lead them into battle yourself."

12So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

"Then we will find David wherever he is. We will cover him like dew covers the ground. Not one of his men will be left alive."

13Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

"If he hides inside a city, all Israel will bring ropes. We will pull that city down into the valley. Not one small stone will be left."

14And 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 appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Absalom and all the men of Israel said Hushai's advice was better. But the LORD had already decided to stop Ahithophel's good advice. God was bringing trouble on Absalom.

15Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

Then Hushai went to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. Priests were men who served God for the people. He told them both plans, Ahithophel's and his own.

16Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

"Send word to David quickly. Tell him not to stay tonight by the river crossings in the desert. Tell him to cross over at once. If he waits, he and all his people may be destroyed."

17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at a spring called En-rogel. They could not let anyone see them go into the city. A servant girl brought them the news. Then they carried it to King David.

18Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two left fast. They came to a house in Bahurim. The man there had a well in his yard. They climbed down into it.

19And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

The man's wife spread a cover over the mouth of the well. She scattered grain on top of the cover. Nobody could tell anything was hidden there.

20And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

Absalom's servants came to the woman and asked where Ahimaaz and Jonathan were. She said, "They went over the brook." The men looked but could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

21And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

After the men left, the two climbed out of the well. They hurried to King David. They said, "Get up and cross the river right now. This is the plan Ahithophel made against you."

22Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

So David and all his people got up. They crossed the Jordan River. By morning light, every single one of them had crossed.

23And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

Ahithophel saw that no one used his advice. He put a saddle on his donkey and rode home to his own town. He got his house in order. Then he hanged himself and died. He was buried in his father's grave.

24Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

Then David came to a town called Mahanaim. Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.

25And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.

Absalom put Amasa in charge of the army instead of Joab. Amasa's father was a man named Ithra. His mother was Abigail, the daughter of Nahash. Abigail's sister Zeruiah was Joab's mother.

26So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

Israel and Absalom set up their camp in the land of Gilead.

27And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

When David came to Mahanaim, three men came to him. They were Shobi son of Nahash, from Rabbah in the land of Ammon; Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar; and Barzillai the Gileadite, from Rogelim.

28Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

They brought beds, bowls, and clay pots. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, and lentils.

29And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

They brought honey, thick milk, sheep, and cheese made from cows' milk. All of it was food for David and his people. They said, "These people are hungry, tired, and thirsty out in the desert."

1And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

David counted the soldiers who were with him. He picked leaders for large groups and for small groups.

2And 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.

David split the army into three parts. Joab led one part. Abishai, Joab's brother, led one part. Ittai, a man from the city of Gath, led one part. The king said, "I will march out with you too."

3But 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.

But the people said, "You must not come. If we run away, no one will care about us. Even if half of us die, no one will care. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better if you help us from inside the city."

4And 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.

The king said, "I will do what you think is best." So the king stood beside the city gate. All the soldiers marched out in groups, large and small.

5And 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.

The king gave an order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. He said, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom, for my sake." All the soldiers heard the king say this about Absalom.

6So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

So David's army marched out to fight the army of Israel. The battle happened in the forest of Ephraim.

7Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

There David's men beat the army of Israel. Many men were killed that day. Twenty thousand died.

8For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

The fighting spread out all over the countryside. That day the forest killed more men than the swords did.

9And 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.

Absalom was riding his mule and ran into David's men. The mule went under the thick branches of a big oak tree. Absalom's head got stuck in the tree. The mule kept walking, so he hung there in the air.

10And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

One of David's men saw this. He told Joab, "I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"

11And 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.

Joab said to him, "You saw him? Then why did you not strike him down right there? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a soldier's belt."

12And 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.

The man answered Joab, "Even for a thousand pieces of silver, I would not hurt the king's son. We all heard the king tell you and Abishai and Ittai to leave the young man Absalom alone."

13Otherwise 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.

"If I had killed him, I would have put my own life in danger. Nothing stays hidden from the king. And you would have turned against me."

14Then 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.

Joab said, "I will not stand here waiting with you." He took three spears and pushed them through Absalom's heart. Absalom was still alive in the tree.

15And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

Ten young men who carried Joab's weapons came around Absalom. They struck him and killed him.

16And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

Then Joab blew a horn, and the soldiers stopped chasing the army of Israel. Joab called them back.

17And 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.

They took Absalom's body and threw it into a big pit in the forest. They piled a huge heap of stones over it. All the men of Israel ran away to their homes.

18Now 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.

While Absalom was alive, he had set up a tall stone for himself in the King's Valley. He had said, "I have no son to keep my name alive." So he named the stone after himself. People still call it Absalom's Monument today.

19Then 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.

Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, "Let me run and tell the king the news. The LORD has saved him from his enemies."

20And 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.

Joab said, "You are not the one to carry news today. You may do it another day. But not today, because the king's son is dead."

21Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

Then Joab said to a man from Cush, "Go and tell the king what you saw." The man bowed to Joab and started running.

22Then 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?

Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, asked Joab again. He said, "No matter what, please let me run after him too." Joab said, "Why run, my son? Your news will not earn you any reward."

23But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

"No matter what, I want to run," he said. Joab said, "Then run." So Ahimaaz ran along the flat road and passed the other man.

24And 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.

David was sitting between the two gates of the city. A guard climbed up to the roof over the gate. He looked out and saw a man running alone.

25And 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.

The guard shouted the news down to the king. The king said, "If he is alone, he is bringing news." The runner came closer and closer.

26And 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.

Then the guard saw another man running. He called down to the gatekeeper, "Look, another man is running alone!" The king said, "He is bringing news too."

27And 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.

The guard said, "The first man runs like Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok." The king said, "He is a good man. He is bringing good news."

28And 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.

Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" He bowed down with his face to the ground. He said, "Praise the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who fought against you, my king."

29And 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.

The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent me, I saw a lot of noise and rushing about. But I did not know what it was."

30And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

The king said to him, "Step aside and wait here." So he stepped aside and stood still.

31And, 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.

Then the man from Cush arrived. He said, "Good news, my king! Today the LORD has saved you from everyone who fought against you."

32And 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.

The king asked him, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The man answered, "May all your enemies end up like that young man. May everyone who wants to hurt you end up like him."

33And 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!

The king shook with sadness. He went up to the room over the gate and cried. As he walked, he said, "Oh, my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you. Oh Absalom, my son, my son!"