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1. David counted his men and placed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
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1. And David H1732 numbered H6485 H853 the people H5971 that H834 were with H854 him , and set H7760 captains H8269 of thousands H505 and captains H8269 of hundreds H3967 over H5921 them.
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2. He sent the troops out in three groups. Joab commanded one-third of the men. Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah commanded another third. And Ittai from Gath commanded the last third. King David said to them, "I will also go with you."
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2. And David H1732 sent forth H7971 a third part H7992 of H853 the people H5971 under the hand H3027 of Joab H3097 , and a third part H7992 under the hand H3027 of Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 , Joab H3097 's brother H251 , and a third part H7992 under the hand H3027 of Ittai H863 the Gittite H1663 . And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 the people H5971 , I will surely go forth H3318 H3318 with H5973 you myself H589 also H1571 .
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3. But the men said, "You must not go with us! If we run away in the battle, Absalom's men won't care. Even if half of us are killed, Absalom's men won't care. But you're worth ten thousand of us! You can help us most by staying in the city."
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3. But the people H5971 answered H559 , Thou shalt not H3808 go forth H3318 : for H3588 if H518 we flee away H5127 H5127 , they will not H3808 care H7760 H3820 for H413 us; neither H3808 if H518 half H2677 of us die H4191 , will they care H7760 H3820 for H413 us: but H3588 now H6258 thou art worth H3644 ten H6235 thousand H505 of us : therefore now H6258 it is better H2896 that H3588 thou succor H5826 us out of the city H4480 H5892 .
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4. The king said to his people, "I will do what you think is best." So the king stood at the side of the gate as the army went out in groups of a hundred and a thousand.
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4. And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 them, What H834 seemeth H5869 you best H3190 I will do H6213 . And the king H4428 stood H5975 by H413 the gate H8179 side H3027 , and all H3605 the people H5971 came out H3318 by hundreds H3967 and by thousands H505 .
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5. The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Be gentle with young Absalom for my sake." Everyone heard the king's orders to the commanders about Absalom.
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5. And the king H4428 commanded H6680 H853 Joab H3097 and Abishai H52 and Ittai H863 , saying H559 , Deal gently H328 for my sake with the young man H5288 , even with Absalom H53 . And all H3605 the people H5971 heard H8085 when the king H4428 gave H853 all H3605 the captains H8269 charge H6680 concerning H5921 H1697 Absalom H53 .
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6. David's army went out into the field against Absalom's Israelites, and they fought in the forest of Ephraim.
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6. So the people H5971 went out H3318 into the field H7704 against H7125 Israel H3478 : and the battle H4421 was H1961 in the wood H3293 of Ephraim H669 ;
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7. There David's army defeated the Israelites. Many died that day -- twenty thousand men.
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7. Where H8033 the people H5971 of Israel H3478 were slain H5062 before H6440 the servants H5650 of David H1732 , and there was H1961 there H8033 a great H1419 slaughter H4046 that H1931 day H3117 of twenty H6242 thousand H505 men .
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8. The battle spread through all the country, but that day more men died in the forest than in the fighting.
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8. For the battle H4421 was H1961 there H8033 scattered H6327 over H5921 the face H6440 of all H3605 the country H776 : and the wood H3293 devoured H398 more H7235 people H5971 that H1931 day H3117 than the sword H2719 devoured H398 .
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9. Then Absalom happened to meet David's troops. As Absalom was riding his mule, it went under the thick branches of a large oak tree. Absalom's head got caught in the tree, and his mule ran out from under him. So Absalom was left hanging above the ground.
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9. And Absalom H53 met H7122 the servants H5650 of David H1732 . And Absalom H53 rode H7392 upon H5921 a mule H6505 , and the mule H6505 went H935 under H8478 the thick boughs H7730 of a great H1419 oak H424 , and his head H7218 caught hold H2388 of the oak H424 , and he was taken up H5414 between H996 the heaven H8064 and the earth H776 ; and the mule H6505 that H834 was under H8478 him went away H5674 .
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10. When one of the men saw it happen, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"
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10. And a certain H259 man H376 saw H7200 it , and told H5046 Joab H3097 , and said H559 , Behold H2009 , I saw H7200 H853 Absalom H53 hanged H8518 in an oak H424 .
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11. Joab said to him, "You saw him? Why didn't you kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you a belt and four ounces of silver!"
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11. And Joab H3097 said H559 unto the man H376 that told H5046 him, And, behold H2009 , thou sawest H7200 him , and why H4069 didst thou not H3808 smite H5221 him there H8033 to the ground H776 ? and I would have given H5414 thee ten H6235 shekels of silver H3701 , and a H259 girdle H2290 .
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12. The man answered, "I wouldn't touch the king's son even if you gave me twenty-five pounds of silver. We heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, 'Be careful not to hurt young Absalom.'
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12. And the man H376 said H559 unto H413 Joab H3097 , Though H3863 I H595 should receive H8254 a thousand H505 shekels of silver H3701 in H5921 mine hand H3709 , yet would I not H3808 put forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against H413 the king H4428 's son H1121 : for H3588 in our hearing H241 the king H4428 charged H6680 thee and Abishai H52 and Ittai H863 , saying H559 , Beware that none H8104 H4130 touch the young man H5288 Absalom H53 .
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13. If I had killed him, the king would have found out, and you would not have protected me!"
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13. Otherwise H176 I should have wrought H6213 falsehood H8267 against mine own life H5315 : for there is no matter H3808 H3605 H1697 hid H3582 from H4480 the king H4428 , and thou thyself H859 wouldest have set thyself H3320 against H4480 H5048 me .
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14. Joab said, "I won't waste time here with you!" Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, so Joab took three spears and stabbed him in the heart.
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14. Then said H559 Joab H3097 , I may not H3808 tarry H3176 thus H3651 with H6440 thee . And he took H3947 three H7969 darts H7626 in his hand H3709 , and thrust H8628 them through the heart H3820 of Absalom H53 , while H5750 he was yet alive H2416 in the midst H3820 of the oak H424 .
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15. Ten young men who carried Joab's armor also gathered around Absalom and struck him and killed him.
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15. And ten H6235 young men H5288 that bore H5375 Joab H3097 's armor H3627 compassed about H5437 and smote H5221 H853 Absalom H53 , and slew H4191 him.
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16. Then Joab blew the trumpet, so the troops stopped chasing the Israelites.
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16. And Joab H3097 blew H8628 the trumpet H7782 , and the people H5971 returned H7725 from pursuing H4480 H7291 after H310 Israel H3478 : for H3588 Joab H3097 held back H2820 H853 the people H5971 .
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17. Then Joab's men took Absalom's body and threw it into a large pit in the forest and filled the pit with many stones. All the Israelites ran away to their homes.
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17. And they took H3947 H853 Absalom H53 , and cast H7993 him into H413 a great H1419 pit H6354 in the wood H3293 , and laid H5324 a very H3966 great H1419 heap H1530 of stones H68 upon H5921 him : and all H3605 Israel H3478 fled H5127 every one H376 to his tent H168 .
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18. When Absalom was alive, he had set up a pillar for himself in the King's Valley. He said, "I have no son to keep my name alive." So he named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom's Monument even today.
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18. Now Absalom H53 in his lifetime H2416 had taken H3947 and reared up H5324 for himself H853 a pillar H4678 , which H834 is in the king H4428 's dale H6010 : for H3588 he said H559 , I have no H369 son H1121 to H5668 keep my name in remembrance H2142 H8034 : and he called H7121 the pillar H4678 after H5921 his own name H8034 : and it is called H7121 unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 , Absalom H53 's place H3027 .
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19. Ahimaaz son of Zadok said to Joab, "Let me run and take the news to King David. I'll tell him the Lord has saved him from his enemies."
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19. Then said H559 Ahimaaz H290 the son H1121 of Zadok H6659 , Let me now H4994 run H7323 , and bear H1319 H853 the king H4428 tidings , how that H3588 the LORD H3068 hath avenged H8199 him of his enemies H341 .
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20. Joab answered Ahimaaz, "No, you are not the one to take the news today. You may do it another time, but do not take it today, because the king's son is dead."
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20. And Joab H3097 said H559 unto him, Thou H859 shalt not H3808 bear tidings H376 H1309 this H2088 day H3117 , but thou shalt bear tidings H1319 another H312 day H3117 : but this H2088 day H3117 thou shalt bear no tidings H1319 H3808 , because H3588 H5921 the king H4428 's son H1121 is dead H4191 .
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21. Then Joab said to a man from Cush, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran to tell David.
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21. Then said H559 Joab H3097 to Cushi H3569 , Go H1980 tell H5046 the king H4428 what H834 thou hast seen H7200 . And Cushi H3569 bowed himself H7812 unto Joab H3097 , and ran H7323 .
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22. But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again, "No matter what happens, please let me go along with the Cushite!" Joab said, "Son, why do you want to carry the news? You won't get any reward."
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22. Then said H559 Ahimaaz H290 the son H1121 of Zadok H6659 yet H5750 again H3254 to H413 Joab H3097 , But howsoever H1961 H4100 , let me, I H589 pray H4994 thee, also H1571 run H7323 after H310 Cushi H3569 . And Joab H3097 said H559 , Wherefore H4100 H2088 wilt thou H859 run H7323 , my son H1121 , seeing that thou hast no H369 tidings H1309 ready H4672 ?
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23. Ahimaaz answered, "No matter what happens, I will run." So Joab said to Ahimaaz, "Run!" Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the Jordan Valley and passed the Cushite.
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23. But howsoever H1961 H4100 , said he , let me run H7323 . And he said H559 unto him, Run H7323 . Then Ahimaaz H290 ran H7323 by the way H1870 of the plain H3603 , and overran H5674 H853 Cushi H3569 .
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24. David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the walls, and as he looked up, he saw a man running alone.
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24. And David H1732 sat H3427 between H996 the two H8147 gates H8179 : and the watchman H6822 went up H1980 to H413 the roof H1406 over the gate H8179 unto H413 the wall H2346 , and lifted up H5375 H853 his eyes H5869 , and looked H7200 , and behold H2009 a man H376 running H7323 alone H905 .
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25. He shouted the news to the king. The king said, "If he is alone, he is bringing good news!" The man came nearer and nearer to the city.
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25. And the watchman H6822 cried H7121 , and told H5046 the king H4428 . And the king H4428 said H559 , If H518 he be alone H905 , there is tidings H1309 in his mouth H6310 . And he came H1980 apace H1980 , and drew near H7131 .
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26. Then the watchman saw another man running, and he called to the gatekeeper, "Look! Another man is running alone!" The king said, "He is also bringing good news!"
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26. And the watchman H6822 saw H7200 another H312 man H376 running H7323 : and the watchman H6822 called H7121 unto H413 the porter H7778 , and said H559 , Behold H2009 another man H376 running H7323 alone H905 . And the king H4428 said H559 , He H2088 also H1571 bringeth tidings H1319 .
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27. The watchman said, "I think the first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok." The king said, "Ahimaaz is a good man. He must be bringing good news!"
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27. And the watchman H6822 said H559 , Me H589 thinketh H7200 H853 the running H4794 of the foremost H7223 is like the running H4794 of Ahimaaz H290 the son H1121 of Zadok H6659 . And the king H4428 said H559 , He H2088 is a good H2896 man H376 , and cometh H935 with good H2896 tidings H1309 .
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28. Then Ahimaaz called a greeting to the king. He bowed facedown on the ground before the king and said, "Praise the Lord your God! The Lord has defeated those who were against you, my king."
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28. And Ahimaaz H290 called H7121 , and said H559 unto H413 the king H4428 , All is well H7965 . And he fell down H7821 to the earth H776 upon his face H639 before the king H4428 , and said H559 , Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 thy God H430 , which H834 hath delivered up H5462 H853 the men H376 that H834 lifted up H5375 H853 their hand H3027 against my lord H113 the king H4428 .
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29. The king asked, "Is young Absalom all right?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent me, I saw some great excitement, but I don't know what it was."
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29. And the king H4428 said H559 , Is the young man H5288 Absalom H53 safe H7965 ? And Ahimaaz H290 answered H559 , When Joab H3097 sent H7971 H853 the king H4428 's servant H5650 , and me thy servant H5650 , I saw H7200 a great H1419 tumult H1995 , but I knew H3045 not H3808 what H4100 it was .
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30. The king said, "Step over here and wait." So Ahimaaz stepped aside and stood there.
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30. And the king H4428 said H559 unto him , Turn aside H5437 , and stand H3320 here H3541 . And he turned aside H5437 , and stood still H5975 .
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31. Then the Cushite arrived. He said, "Master and king, hear the good news! Today the Lord has punished those who were against you!"
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31. And, behold H2009 , Cushi H3569 came H935 ; and Cushi H3569 said H559 , Tidings H1319 , my lord H113 the king H4428 : for H3588 the LORD H3068 hath avenged H8199 thee this day H3117 of H4480 H3027 all H3605 them that rose up H6965 against H5921 thee.
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32. The king asked the Cushite, "Is young Absalom all right?" The Cushite answered, "May your enemies and all who come to hurt you be like that young man!"
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32. And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 Cushi H3569 , Is the young man H5288 Absalom H53 safe H7965 ? And Cushi H3569 answered H559 , The enemies H341 of my lord H113 the king H4428 , and all H3605 that H834 rise H6965 against H5921 thee to do thee hurt H7451 , be H1961 as that young man H5288 is .
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33. Then the king was very upset, and he went to the room over the city gate and cried. As he went, he cried out, "My son Absalom, my son Absalom! I wish I had died and not you. Absalom, my son, my son!"
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33. And the king H4428 was much moved H7264 , and went up H5927 to H5921 the chamber H5944 over the gate H8179 , and wept H1058 : and as he went H1980 , thus H3541 he said H559 , O my son H1121 Absalom H53 , my son H1121 , my son H1121 Absalom H53 ! would God H4310 H5414 I H589 had died H4191 for H8478 thee , O Absalom H53 , my son H1121 , my son H1121 !
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