1 Dauid deuideth his armie into thre partes. 9 Abfalóm is hanged slaine, and cast in a pit 33 Dauid lamenteth the death of Abfalóm.
1.THen Dauid nōbred the people that were with him, & set ouer them captaines of thousands and captaines of hundreths.
2.And Dauid sent forthe the third parte of the people vnder the hand of Ioáb, and the third parte vnder the hand of Abishái Ioabs brother the sonne of Zeruiáh: and the other third parte vnder the hād of Ittái the Gittite. & the King said vnto the people, I wil go with you my selfe also.
3.But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forthe: for if we flee away, they wil not regarde vs, nether wil they passe for vs, thogh halfe of vs were slaine: but thou art now worthe tē thousand of vs: therefore now it is better that thou succour vs out of the citie.
4.Then the King said vnto them, What semeth you best, that I wil do. So ye King stode by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreths and by thousands.
5.And the King commanded Ioáb and Abishái, and Ittái, saying, Entreate the yong man Abfalóm gently for my sake. and all the people hearde when the King gaue all the captaines charge concerning Abfalóm.
6.So the people went out into the field to meete Israél, & the battel was in ye wood of Ephraim:
7.Where the people of Israél were slaine before the seruants of Dauid: so there was a great slaughter that day, euen of twentie thousand.
8.¶ For the battel was skatred ouer all the countrey: and the wood deuoured muche more people that day, then did the sworde.
9.¶ Now Abfalóm met the seruants of Dauid, and Abfalóm rode vpon a mule, and the mule came vnder a great thicke oke: and his head caught holde of the oke, and he was taken vp betwene the heauen and the earthe: & the mule that was vnder him went away.
10.And one that sawe it, tolde Ioáb, saying, Beholde, I sawe Abfalóm hanged in an oke.
11.Then Ioáb said vnto the man that tolde him, And hast thou in dede sene? why then didest not thou there smite him to the ground, and I wolde haue giuen thee ten shekels of siluer, and a girdle?
12.Then the man said vnto Ioáb, Thogh I shulde receiue a thousand shekels of siluer in mine hād, yet wolde I not lay mine hād vpon the Kings sonne: for in our hearing the King charged thee, and Abishái, & Ittái, saying, Beware, lest anie touche the yong man Abfalóm.
13.If I had done it, it had bene the danger of my life: for nothing can be hid frō the King: yea, ye thy selfe woldest haue bene against me.
14.Then said Ioáb, I wil not thus tary with thee. And he tooke thre dartes in his hand, & thrust them through Abfalóm, while he was yet aliue in the middes of the oke.
15.And ten seruāts that bare Ioabs armour, compassed about and smote Abfalóm, and slewe him.
16.Then Ioáb blewe the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israél: for Ioáb helde backe the people.
17.And they tooke Abfalóm, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and layed a mighty great heape of stones vpon him: and all Israél fled euerie one to his tent.
18.Now Abfalóm in his life time had takē and reared him vp a piller, which is in the Kings dale: for he said, I haue no sonne to kepe my name in remembrance. & he called ye piller after his owne name, and it is called vnto this day, Abfaloms place.
19.¶ Then said Ahimáaz the sonne of Zadók, I pray thee, let me runne, and beare the King tidings that the Lord hathe deliuered him out of the hand of his enemies.
20.And Ioáb said vnto him, Thou shalt not be ye messenger to day, but thou shalt beare tidings another time, but to day thou shalt beare none: for the Kings sonne is dead.
21.Thē said Ioáb to Cushi, Go, tel the Kīg, what thou hast sene. And Cushi bowed him selfe vnto Ioáb, and ran.
22.Thē said Ahimáaz the sonne of Zadók againe to Ioáb, What, I pray thee, if I also runne after Cushi? And Ioáb said, Wherefore now wilt thou runne, my sonne, seing that thou hast no tidings to bring?
23.Yet what if I runne? Then he said vnto him, Rūne. So Ahimaaz ranne by the way of the plaine, and ouerwent Cushi.
24.Now Dauid sate betwen ye two gates. And the watcheman went to the toppe of the gate vpon the wall, & lift vp his eyes, and sawe, and beholde, a man came rūning alone.
25.And the watcheman cryed, & tolde the King. And the King said, If he be alone, he bringeth tidings. And he came apace, and drew nere.
26.And the watcheman sawe an other man running, and the watcheman called vnto the porter, and said, Beholde, *another* man runneth alone. And the King said, He also bringeth tidings.
30.And the King said vnto him, Turne aside, & stand here. So he turned aside and stode stil.
32.Then the King said vnto Cushi, Is the yong man Absalóm safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the King, & all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that yong man is.