Joab

1David counted the soldiers who were with him. He picked leaders for large groups and for small groups.

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

NoteDavid was the king of Israel. His own son Absalom had taken the throne. Now David's men had to fight Absalom's men.

2David 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."

And 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.

NoteGath was a Philistine city, not an Israelite one. Ittai came from there, but he chose to help David.

3But 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."

But 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.

NoteThe soldiers mean the enemy wants the king most of all. If David stays safe, the army still has its leader.

4The 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.

And 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.

NoteCities had a high wall all around them. The gate was the way in and out. Kings often stood or sat there to watch and to judge.

5The 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.

And 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.

6So David's army marched out to fight the army of Israel. The battle happened in the forest of Ephraim.

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

NoteEphraim was the name of one of Israel's big families. The forest was named after them.

7There David's men beat the army of Israel. Many men were killed that day. Twenty thousand died.

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

NoteThese men were Israelites too. They had chosen to follow Absalom instead of David.

8The fighting spread out all over the countryside. That day the forest killed more men than the swords did.

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.

NoteThe forest had deep holes, steep rocks, and thick trees. Men got lost or fell and did not come out.

9Absalom 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.

And 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.

NoteA mule looks like a small horse with long ears. Kings and their sons rode mules.

10One of David's men saw this. He told Joab, "I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"

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

11Joab 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."

And 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.

NoteBack then people used pieces of silver for money. Ten pieces was a good sum. A special belt was a gift given to a brave soldier.

12The 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."

And 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.

NoteA thousand pieces of silver was a huge amount. The man is saying no amount of money would change his mind.

13"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."

Otherwise 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.

NoteHe means the king would find out who did it. Then Joab would not stand up for him.

14Joab 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.

Then 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.

15Ten young men who carried Joab's weapons came around Absalom. They struck him and killed him.

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

NoteThese young men carried Joab's shield and weapons in battle. They stayed close beside him.

16Then Joab blew a horn, and the soldiers stopped chasing the army of Israel. Joab called them back.

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

NoteThe horn was made from a ram's horn. Blowing it sent a signal to the whole army.

17They 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.

And 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.

NotePiling stones over a dead body was a sign of shame. Enemies were buried this way, not honored.

19Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, "Let me run and tell the king the news. The LORD has saved him from his enemies."

Then 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.

NoteZadok was a priest, a man who led people in worshiping God. There were no phones then, so news was carried by fast runners. When LORD is printed in big letters, it stands for God's own special name.

20Joab 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."

And 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.

NoteA runner who brought happy news often got a reward. A runner with sad news could face an angry king.

21Then Joab said to a man from Cush, "Go and tell the king what you saw." The man bowed to Joab and started running.

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

NoteCush was a land far to the south, in Africa. Bowing was a way of showing respect.

22Ahimaaz, 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."

Then 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?

23"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.

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

NoteOne road went over hills and one went along flat ground. The flat road was longer but much easier to run.

24David 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.

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.

NoteCity gates had an outer gate and an inner gate, with a space between. From the roof above, a guard could see far down the road.

25The 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.

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.

NoteOne man running alone means a messenger. A whole crowd running would mean the army had lost and was fleeing.

26Then 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."

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 bringeth tidings.

NoteThe gatekeeper was the man who opened and shut the city gate.

27The 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."

And 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.

28Ahimaaz 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."

And 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.

NoteLying face down on the ground was how people showed great respect to a king.

29The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me, I saw a lot of noise and rushing about. But I did not know what it was."

And 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.

Note"The king's servant" here means the other runner, the man from Cush.

30The king said to him, "Step aside and wait here." So he stepped aside and stood still.

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

31Then the man from Cush arrived. He said, "Good news, my king! Today the LORD has saved you from everyone who fought against you."

And, 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.

32The 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."

And 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.

NoteHe does not say it straight out. He is telling David that Absalom is dead.

1Someone told Joab, "The king is crying. He is very sad about Absalom."

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

NoteJoab was the leader of David's army. Absalom was David's son. He had tried to take his father's throne, and he died in the battle.

2The army had won the battle that day. But everyone felt sad instead of glad. They heard that the king was grieving for his son.

And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

3The soldiers crept quietly into the city that day. They acted ashamed, like men who run away from a fight.

And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

Note"Gat them by stealth" means they slipped in quietly. The soldiers had won, but they came home like men who had lost.

4But the king covered his face. He cried out loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

5Joab came into the house to the king. He said, "Today you shamed all the men who serve you. They saved your life today. They saved your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your other wives.

And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

NoteThe King James word "concubines" means wives who had a lower place in the family. The rendering calls them "your other wives."

6You love the people who hate you. You hate the people who love you. Today you showed that your leaders and soldiers mean nothing to you. Now I see it. If Absalom were alive and all of us dead, you would be glad.

In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

7So get up now. Go outside and speak kindly to your men. I promise before the LORD, if you stay inside, not one man will be with you tonight. That would be worse for you than every bad thing since you were young."

Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

Note"Speak comfortably" in the King James means speak kind, gentle words. It does not mean comfy.

8So the king got up and sat in the city gate. People told everyone, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." Then all the people came to him. The soldiers had run home.

Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

NoteThe city gate was a wide doorway in the town wall. It was the place where a king met his people and settled arguments. Sitting there showed he was back at work as king.

11King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests who served God for the people. He said, "Ask the leaders of Judah this. Why are you the last to bring the king home? All Israel is already talking about it.

And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

NoteA priest was a man who led worship and prayed to God for the people. Judah was one of the twelve tribes, and it was David's own tribe.

12You are my brothers. You are my own family. So why are you the last to bring the king back?"

Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

Note"Ye are my bones and my flesh" was a way of saying "you are my own family."

13"And tell Amasa this: You are my own family too. May God punish me if I do not make you leader of my army from now on, in place of Joab."

And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

NoteAmasa had been the leader of Absalom's army. David is offering the top job to the man who had just fought against him.

14David won over the hearts of all the men of Judah. They all agreed as if they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Come back, you and all your men."

And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

15So the king started home and came to the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They would help him cross the river.

So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

NoteThe Jordan was the big river David had to cross to get home. Gilgal was a town near that river.

4Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah to come to me. Do it within three days. Be here yourself too."

Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

NoteAmasa had been the leader of Absalom's army. After Absalom died, David forgave him and made him leader of his own army instead.

5So Amasa went to call the men of Judah. But he took longer than the king had told him.

So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6David said to Abishai, "Sheba will hurt us more than Absalom did. Take my servants and go after him. If he reaches strong walled cities, he will get away from us."

And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

NoteAbishai was Joab's brother. Both of them were David's soldiers and had fought for him for years. A walled city had thick high walls all around it. Once a man got inside one, it was very hard to catch him.

7So Joab's men marched out after Sheba. The Cherethites and the Pelethites went too. All the best fighters went with them. They left Jerusalem to chase Sheba son of Bichri.

And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

NoteThe Cherethites and the Pelethites were David's own guards. They came from other lands and were paid to protect the king.

8They stopped at the big rock near the town of Gibeon. Amasa came out to meet them there. Joab was wearing his soldier clothes and a belt. A sword in its cover was tied to the belt. As Joab stepped forward, the sword slipped out into his hand.

When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

NoteGibeon was a town a few miles north of Jerusalem. The big rock there was a landmark everyone knew, a good place to meet.

9Joab said to Amasa, "Are you well, my brother?" With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa's beard to kiss him.

And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

NoteTaking hold of a man's beard and kissing his cheek was a warm hello between friends. It was like giving someone a hug today. So Amasa was not expecting any trouble.

10Amasa was not watching the sword in Joab's hand. Joab pushed it into his belly. Amasa's insides spilled onto the ground. Joab did not have to strike him again. Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on chasing Sheba son of Bichri.

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

NoteThe King James says Joab struck him "in the fifth rib." That means the soft part of the belly, just under the ribs.

11One of Joab's young men stood near the body. He called out, "Everyone who likes Joab and stands with David, follow Joab!"

And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

12Amasa lay in his own blood in the middle of the road. The man saw that all the soldiers stopped there to look. So he pulled the body off the road into a field. Then he threw a cloth over it.

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

NotePeople stopped and stared at the body lying in the road. Covering a dead person with a cloth was the kind and respectful thing to do. It also let the soldiers keep walking.

13Once the body was off the road, all the men went on with Joab. They kept chasing Sheba son of Bichri.

When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14Sheba went through all the family groups of Israel. He came to the town of Abel Beth Maacah. He passed through the whole land of the Berites. Those people came together and followed him.

And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

NoteAbel Beth Maacah was a town far in the north of Israel. Sheba ran about as far from Jerusalem as he could get.

15Joab's soldiers came and shut Sheba inside that town. They piled up dirt into a ramp against the outer wall. All of Joab's men pounded the wall to knock it down.

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

NoteWhen an army shut a town inside its own walls, no food or water could get in. That was called a siege. The soldiers piled dirt into a long ramp so they could reach the top of the wall.

16Then a wise woman called out from inside the town. "Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here. I want to talk with him."

Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

NoteA wise woman was someone the town trusted for good advice. When she spoke, people listened, even the soldiers outside.

17Joab came close to her. The woman asked, "Are you Joab?" He said, "I am." She said, "Listen to what I have to say." He said, "I am listening."

And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

NoteIn the King James she calls herself "thine handmaid," which means your servant. It was a polite way to talk to an important man.

18Then she said, "Long ago people had a saying. They said, 'Go ask for advice at Abel.' That is how arguments were settled.

Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

NoteThis town of Abel was famous for wise people. When two towns argued, they would come here and ask what to do. The woman is reminding Joab that her town helps people, it does not fight them.

19I am one of the peaceful, faithful people of Israel. You are trying to destroy a town that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up what belongs to the LORD?"

I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

NoteCalling a town "a mother in Israel" meant it was old and important. Smaller towns nearby looked up to it, the way children look up to a mother. "Swallow up" means to wipe out completely. "What belongs to the LORD" means the land God gave to his people.

20Joab answered, "No, never! I do not want to swallow up or destroy anything.

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

21That is not what this is about. A man from the hills of Ephraim has turned against the king. His name is Sheba son of Bichri. He raised his hand against David. Just hand him over, and I will leave the town." The woman said to Joab, "We will throw his head to you over the wall."

The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

NoteEphraim was another of the twelve family groups. Its land was a hilly place north of Jerusalem. To "raise your hand" against the king means to fight him.

22Then the woman went and spoke wisely to all the people in the town. They cut off Sheba's head and threw it out to Joab. Joab blew the ram's horn. His men left the town and each one went home. Then Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

1The LORD, which is God's own name, was angry with Israel again. He stirred David up to say, "Go and count the people of Israel and Judah."

And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

NoteCounting the people was like taking a big head count. Kings did it to learn how many men could fight.

2So King David said to Joab, the leader of his army, "Go through all the tribes of Israel. Start at Dan in the north and go to Beersheba in the south. Count the people, so I know how many there are."

For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

NoteA tribe was one big family group. Israel had twelve of them.

3Joab said to the king, "May the LORD your God make your people a hundred times more. And may you live to see it. But why do you want to do this?"

And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

4Still, the king would not change his mind. So Joab and the army leaders left the king and went to count the people of Israel.

Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5They crossed the Jordan River. They camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley. Then they went toward Gad and Jazer.

And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

6Next they went to Gilead and to the land called Tahtim-hodshi. Then they came to Dan-jaan and around to the city of Sidon.

Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

NoteSidon and Tyre were big cities by the sea, north of Israel.

7They went to the strong walled city of Tyre. They went to all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. At last they went to the dry southland of Judah, to Beersheba.

And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.

NoteThe Hivites and Canaanites lived in the land before Israel came.

8They went through the whole land. Then they came back to Jerusalem. The trip took nine months and twenty days.

So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9Joab gave the king the total. In Israel there were 800,000 strong men who could fight with a sword. In Judah there were 500,000 men.

And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

NoteThey counted only grown men who could fight. Women and children were not counted.