Joab

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.

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."

1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

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

2And 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.

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

3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

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

4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

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

5And 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;

Joab 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.

6In 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.

You 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.

7Now 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.

So 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."

8Then 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.

So 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 who had followed Absalom had run home.

11And 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.

King 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.

12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

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

13And 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.

"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."

14And 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.

David 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."

15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

So 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.

4Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

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

5So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

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

6And 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.

David 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."

7And 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.

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

8When 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.

They 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.

9And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

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

10But 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.

Amasa 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.

11And 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.

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

12And 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.

Amasa 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.

13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

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

14And 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.

Sheba 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.

15And 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.

Joab'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.

16Then 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.

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

17And 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.

Joab 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."

18Then 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.

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

19I 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?

I 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?"

20And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

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

21The 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.

That 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."

22Then 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.

Then 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.

1And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

The 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."

2For 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.

So 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."

3And 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?

Joab 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?"

4Notwithstanding 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.

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

5And 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:

They 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.

6Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

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

7And 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.

They 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.

8So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

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

9And 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.

Joab 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.