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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Samuel 18 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/2_samuel/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 2 Samuel 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/17.htm" title="2 Samuel 17">◄</a> 2 Samuel 18 <a href="../2_samuel/19.htm" title="2 Samuel 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/2_samuel/18.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">The Battle Begins</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:1 Lit. of thousands and hundreds">a</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Dividing his forces into three groups, he set Joab as commander of one third of his army, Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother, as commander of another third, and Ittai from Gath as commander of another third. The king informed the army, “I’m going out to battle<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:2 The Heb. lacks to battle">b</a></span> with you, too.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>“No way!” his army responded. “If we have to retreat from the battle, Absalom’s men won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. The best thing you can do for us is to remain in the city.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>So David responded, “I’ll do what you think best.” Then he stood alongside the city gate as the army went out in battle array by hundreds and thousands. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>As they were going out, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat young Absalom gently for my sake.” Everyone heard what the king had ordered his commanders about Absalom.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>David’s army left for the battlefield to fight Absalom and his Israeli followers, and they also fought in the Ephraim forest, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>where David’s army of servants defeated the Israelis. Many died that day—20,000 men. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>The battle spread throughout the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more casualties that day than did the sword fighting.</p> <p class="heading">Joab Kills Absalom</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Absalom happened to run into David’s soldiers. While Absalom was trying to get away on his mule, it ran under the thick branches of a giant oak tree, and Absalom’s head got caught in the tree! As his mule ran out from under him, Absalom was left hanging above the ground. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>When one of the soldiers saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I saw Absalom stuck in an oak tree!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Joab asked the man who was reporting to him, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you kill him right then and there? I would’ve given you ten pieces<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:11 The Heb. lacks pieces; the unit of payment is unspecified">c</a></span> of silver and a warrior’s sash!”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:11 Lit. belt; i.e., a commemorative battle decoration">d</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>But the soldier replied to Joab, “I wouldn’t have touched the king’s son even if you dropped 1,000 pieces<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:12 The Heb. lacks pieces; the unit of payment is unspecified">e</a></span> of silver right into my hands, because we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Watch how you treat the young man Absalom!’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>If I had taken his life,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:13 Or If I had put my life in jeopardy; i.e. by disobeying David’s order">f</a></span> the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>“There’s no reason to wait for you!” Joab retorted. Then he took three spears<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:14 Or sticks">g</a></span> in his hand and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive, dangling from the branches of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:14 The Heb. lacks the branches of">h</a></span> the oak tree. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Ten young men who served as Joab’s personal assistants then surrounded Absalom, striking him repeatedly and killing him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>At this, Joab sounded his battle trumpet and his troops stopped pursuing the other<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:16 The Heb. lacks other">i</a></span> Israelis. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Meanwhile, Joab’s army grabbed Absalom’s body, tossed it into a large pit in the forest, and filled it up with a huge pile of rocks. Then the Israelis ran away back to their homes.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>While Absalom had been living, he had erected a pillar as a monument<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:18 The Heb. lacks as a monument">j</a></span> to himself in King’s Valley because he had been telling himself, “I don’t have a son to carry on my family name.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:18 Lit. on memory of my name">k</a></span> So he named the pillar after himself—it’s called Absalom’s Monument even today.</p> <p class="heading">David Learns of Absalom’s Death</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Zadok’s son Ahimaaz told Joab, “Let me run over to King David and take him the news. I’ll mention that the LORD has delivered him from his enemies.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>But Joab answered Ahimaaz, “You’re not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not today, because the king’s son is dead.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>So Joab ordered a man from Ethiopia,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:21 Lit. Cush">l</a></span> “Go tell the king what you’ve seen.” So the Ethiopian<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:21 Lit. Cushite; and so throughout the chapter">m</a></span> saluted<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:21 Lit. bowed to">n</a></span> Joab and then ran to tell David.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>“Please,” Zadok’s son Ahimaaz continued, “No matter what happens, let me follow the Ethiopian!”</p> <p class="reg">Joab asked him, “Why this request<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:22 The Heb. lacks request">o</a></span> to run, my son? There’s no reward in it for you.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>“No matter what, I’m running,” Ahimaaz replied.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:23 The Heb. lacks Ahimaaz replied">p</a></span> </p> <p class="reg">So Joab told Ahimaaz, “Run!” And Ahimaaz ran, taking the Jordan Valley road, passing the Ethiopian.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>So the watchman<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:25 Lit. he">q</a></span> called out his news to the king.</p> <p class="reg">The king responded, “If he’s alone, he’s bringing some news to report.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:25 Lit. news in his mouth">r</a></span> As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:25 The Heb. lacks the palace">s</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, “There’s another<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:26 The Heb. lacks another">t</a></span> man running by himself!”</p> <p class="reg">The king replied, “He’s also bringing some news to report!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Then the watchman observed, “It looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadok’s son Ahimaaz!”</p> <p class="reg">The king replied, “This is a good man bearing good news!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>“Everything’s fine!”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:28 Lit. Peace!">u</a></span> Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:28 The Heb. lacks to the ground">v</a></span> before the king and said, “Praise be to the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty the king.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>“Are things fine<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:29 Lit. Peace!">w</a></span> with respect to the young man Absalom?” the king asked.</p> <p class="reg">Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the king’s courier and me, your servant, but I’m not sure what was going on.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:29 The Heb. lacks was going on">x</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The king replied, “Stand here at attention and wait.” So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:31 Lit. The Cushite">y</a></span> reported, “Good news, your majesty the king! The LORD has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>The king asked the Ethiopian, “Is the young man safe?”</p> <p class="reg">The Ethiopian answered, “May the enemies of your majesty the king—including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you—become like that young man….”</p> <p class="heading">David Mourns for Absalom</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/18-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span><span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:33 This v. is 19:1 in MT">z</a></span> Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, “My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!”</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 18:1 Lit. <i>of thousands and hundreds</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 18:2 The Heb. lacks <i>to battle</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 18:11 The Heb. lacks <i>pieces</i>; the unit of payment is unspecified<br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 18:11 Lit. <i>belt</i>; i.e., a commemorative battle decoration<br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 18:12 The Heb. lacks <i>pieces</i>; the unit of payment is unspecified<br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 18:13 Or <i>If I had put my life in jeopardy</i>; i.e. by disobeying David’s order<br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 18:14 Or <i>sticks</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 18:14 The Heb. lacks <i>the branches of</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 18:16 The Heb. lacks <i>other</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 18:18 The Heb. lacks <i>as a monument</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 18:18 Lit. <i>on memory of my name</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 18:21 Lit. <i>Cush</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 18:21 Lit. <i>Cushite</i>; and so throughout the chapter<br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 18:21 Lit. <i>bowed to</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 18:22 The Heb. lacks <i>request</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 18:23 The Heb. lacks <i>Ahimaaz replied</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 18:25 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 18:25 Lit. <i>news in his mouth</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 18:25 The Heb. lacks <i>the palace</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 18:26 The Heb. lacks <i>another</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 18:28 Lit. <i>Peace!</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 18:28 The Heb. lacks <i>to the ground</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 18:29 Lit. <i>Peace!</i><br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 18:29 The Heb. lacks <i>was going on</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 18:31 Lit. <i>The Cushite</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 18:33 This v. is 19:1 in MT<br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_samuel/17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_samuel/19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_samuel/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>