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2 Samuel 18 :: New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB95)

Absalom Slain

2Sa 18:1

2Sa 18:1Then David [fn]numbered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

2Sa 18:2

2Sa 18:2David sent the people out, one third under the [fn]command of Joab, one third under the [fn]command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the [fn]command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.”

2Sa 18:3

2Sa 18:3But the people said, “You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But [fn]you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”

2Sa 18:4

2Sa 18:4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.

2Sa 18:5

2Sa 18:5The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.

2Sa 18:6

2Sa 18:6Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.

2Sa 18:7

2Sa 18:7The people of Israel were [fn]defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men.

2Sa 18:8

2Sa 18:8For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

2Sa 18:9

2Sa 18:9Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was [fn]left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.

2Sa 18:10

2Sa 18:10When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”

2Sa 18:11

2Sa 18:11Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”

2Sa 18:12

2Sa 18:12The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘[fn]Protect for me the young man Absalom!’

2Sa 18:13

2Sa 18:13“Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”

2Sa 18:14

2Sa 18:14Then Joab said, “I will not [fn]waste time here with you.” So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the [fn]midst of the oak.

2Sa 18:15

2Sa 18:15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

2Sa 18:16

2Sa 18:16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.

2Sa 18:17

2Sa 18:17They took Absalom and cast him into [fn]a deep pit in the forest and erected over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.

2Sa 18:18

2Sa 18:18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son [fn]to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

David Is Grief-stricken

2Sa 18:19

2Sa 18:19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news that the LORD has [fn]freed him from the hand of his enemies.”

2Sa 18:20

2Sa 18:20But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.”

2Sa 18:21

2Sa 18:21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.

2Sa 18:22

2Sa 18:22Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since you will have no reward for going?”

2Sa 18:23

2Sa 18:23“But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.

2Sa 18:24

2Sa 18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself.

2Sa 18:25

2Sa 18:25The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer.

2Sa 18:26

2Sa 18:26Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.”

2Sa 18:27

2Sa 18:27The watchman said, “I [fn]think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “This is a good man and comes with good news.”

2Sa 18:28

2Sa 18:28Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “[fn]All is well.” And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”

2Sa 18:29

2Sa 18:29The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.”

2Sa 18:30

2Sa 18:30Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

2Sa 18:31

2Sa 18:31Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has [fn]freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”

2Sa 18:32

2Sa 18:32Then the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”

2Sa 18:33

2Sa 18:33[fn]The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
See the NASB95 Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NASB95 Footnotes
Literally: mustered
Literally: hand
So with some ancient versions; M.T. for now there are ten thousand like us
Literally: smitten
Literally: placed
So with some mss and the ancient versions; M.T. Take care whoever you are of
Literally: tarry thus
Literally: heart
Literally: the great
Literally: for the sake of remembering
Literally: vindicated
Literally: see
Literally: Peace
Literally: vindicated
Ch 19:1 in Heb
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New American Standard Bible 1995
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For more information on this translation, see the NASB95 Preface.

2 Samuel Chapter 18 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

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