CAUGHT BY A TREE
2 Samuel 18:1-18
1 And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set
captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And
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. 3 But 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. 4 And 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. 5
And 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. 6 So the people went out into the field
against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; 7
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of
David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty
thousand [men]. 8 For the battle was there scattered over the
face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that
day than the sword devoured. 9 And 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. 10 And a certain man saw [it],
and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 And 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. 12 And 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. 13 Otherwise 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].
14 Then 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. 15 And
ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote
Absalom, and slew him. 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the
people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the
people. 17 And 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. 18 Now Absalom in his
lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which [is]
in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in
remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it
is called unto this day, Absalom's place._
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