Red-Letter King James Bible 1769 Edition (KJV)

2 Samuel 18

1 David viewing the armies in their march giveth them charge of Absalom. 6 The Israelites are sore smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9 Absalom, hanging in an oak, is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit. 18 Absalom's place. 19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David. 33 David mourneth for Absalom.

 18:1 ¶ And David 1732 numbered 6485 z8799 x853 the people 5971 that x834 [were] with x854 him, and set 7760 z8799 captains 8269 of thousands 505 and captains 8269 of hundreds 3967 over x5921 them.

 18:2 And David 1732 sent forth 7971 z8762 a third part 7992 of x853 the people 5971 under the hand 3027 of Joab, 3097 and a third part 7992 under the hand 3027 of Abishai 52 the son 1121 of Zeruiah, 6870 Joab's 3097 brother, 251 and a third part 7992 under the hand 3027 of Ittai 863 the Gittite. 1663 And the king 4428 said 559 z8799 unto x413 the people, 5971 I will surely y3318 z8800 go forth 3318 z8799 with x5973 you myself 589 also. x1571

 18:3 But the people 5971 answered, 559 z8799 Thou shalt not x3808 go forth: 3318 z8799 for x3588 if x518 we flee y5127 z8799 away, 5127 z8800 they will not x3808 care 7760 3820 z8799 for x413 us; neither x3808 if x518 half 2677 of us die, 4191 z8799 will they care 7760 3820 z8799 for x413 us: but x3588 now x6258 [thou art] worth 3644 ten 6235 thousand 505 of us: therefore now x6258 [it is] better 2896 that x3588 thou succour 5826 z8800 z8675 z8687 us out of the city. 5892 x4480

 18:4 And the king 4428 said 559 z8799 unto x413 them, What x834 seemeth 5869 you best 3190 z8799 I will do. 6213 z8799 And the king 4428 stood 5975 z8799 by x413 the gate 8179 side, 3027 and all x3605 the people 5971 came out 3318 z8804 by hundreds 3967 and by thousands. 505

 18:5 And the king 4428 commanded 6680 z8762 x853 Joab 3097 and Abishai 52 and Ittai, 863 saying, 559 z8800 [Deal] gently 328 for my sake with the young man, 5288 [even] with Absalom. 53 And all x3605 the people 5971 heard 8085 z8804 when the king 4428 gave x853 all x3605 the captains 8269 charge 6680 z8763 concerning 1697 x5921 Absalom. 53

 18:6 ¶ So the people 5971 went out 3318 z8799 into the field 7704 against 7125 z8800 Israel: 3478 and the battle 4421 was x1961 in the wood 3293 of Ephraim; 669

 18:7 Where x8033 the people 5971 of Israel 3478 were slain 5062 z8735 before 6440 the servants 5650 of David, 1732 and there was x1961 there x8033 a great 1419 slaughter 4046 that x1931 day 3117 of twenty 6242 thousand 505 [men].

 18:8 For the battle 4421 was x1961 there x8033 scattered 6327 z8737 over x5921 the face 6440 of all x3605 the country: 776 and the wood 3293 devoured 398 z8800 more 7235 z8686 people 5971 that x1931 day 3117 than the sword 2719 devoured. 398 z8804

 18:9 ¶ And Absalom 53 met 7122 z8735 the servants 5650 y6440 of David. 1732 And Absalom 53 rode 7392 z8802 upon x5921 a mule, 6505 and the mule 6505 went 935 z8799 under x8478 the thick boughs 7730 of a great 1419 oak, 424 and his head 7218 caught hold 2388 z8799 of the oak, 424 and he was taken up 5414 z8714 between x996 the heaven 8064 and the earth; 776 and the mule 6505 that x834 [was] under x8478 him went away. 5674 z8804

 18:10 And a certain 259 man 376 saw 7200 z8799 [it], and told 5046 z8686 Joab, 3097 and said, 559 z8799 Behold, x2009 I saw 7200 z8804 x853 Absalom 53 hanged 8518 z8803 in an oak. 424

 18:11 And Joab 3097 said 559 z8799 unto the man 376 that told 5046 z8688 him, And, behold, x2009 thou sawest 7200 z8804 [him], and why x4069 didst thou not x3808 smite 5221 z8689 him there x8033 to the ground? 776 and I would have given 5414 z8800 thee ten 6235 [shekels] of silver, 3701 and a 259 girdle. 2290

 18:12 And the man 376 said 559 z8799 unto x413 Joab, 3097 Though 3863 I x595 should receive 8254 z8802 a thousand 505 [shekels] of silver 3701 in x5921 mine hand, 3709 [yet] would I not x3808 put forth 7971 z8799 mine hand 3027 against x413 the king's 4428 son: 1121 for x3588 in our hearing 241 the king 4428 charged 6680 z8765 thee and Abishai 52 and Ittai, 863 saying, 559 z8800 Beware y8104 z8798 that none x8104 x4130 [touch] the young man 5288 Absalom. 53

 18:13 Otherwise 176 I should have wrought 6213 z8804 falsehood 8267 against mine own life: 5315 for there is no matter 1697 x3808 x3605 hid 3582 z8735 from x4480 the king, 4428 and thou thyself x859 wouldest have set y3320 z8691 thyself x3320 against x4480 x5048 [me].

 18:14 Then said 559 z8799 Joab, 3097 I may not x3808 tarry 3176 z8686 thus x3651 with x6440 thee. y6440 And he took 3947 z8799 three 7969 darts 7626 in his hand, 3709 and thrust 8628 z8799 them through the heart 3820 of Absalom, 53 while x5750 he [was] yet alive 2416 in the midst x3820 of the oak. 424

 18:15 And ten 6235 young men 5288 that bare 5375 z8802 Joab's 3097 armour 3627 compassed about 5437 z8799 and smote 5221 z8686 x853 Absalom, 53 and slew 4191 z8686 him.

 18:16 And Joab 3097 blew 8628 z8799 the trumpet, 7782 and the people 5971 returned 7725 z8799 from pursuing 7291 z8800 x4480 after 310 Israel: 3478 for x3588 Joab 3097 held back 2820 z8804 x853 the people. 5971

 18:17 And they took 3947 z8799 x853 Absalom, 53 and cast 7993 z8686 him into x413 a great 1419 pit 6354 in the wood, 3293 and laid 5324 z8686 a very 3966 great 1419 heap 1530 of stones 68 upon x5921 him: and all x3605 Israel 3478 fled 5127 z8804 every one 376 to his tent. 168

 18:18 ¶ Now Absalom 53 in his lifetime 2416 had taken 3947 z8804 and reared up 5324 z8686 for himself x853 a pillar, 4678 which x834 [is] in the king's 4428 dale: 6010 for x3588 he said, 559 z8804 I have no x369 son 1121 to x5668 keep my name y8034 in remembrance: 2142 z8687 x8034 and he called 7121 z8799 the pillar 4678 after x5921 his own name: 8034 and it is called 7121 z8735 unto x5704 this x2088 day, 3117 Absalom's 53 place. 3027

 18:19 ¶ Then said 559 z8804 Ahimaaz 290 the son 1121 of Zadok, 6659 Let me now x4994 run, 7323 z8799 and bear 1319 z0 x853 the king 4428 tidings, y1319 z8762 how that x3588 the LORD 3068 hath avenged 8199 z8804 him of his enemies. 341 y3027 z8802

 18:20 And Joab 3097 said 559 z8799 unto him, Thou y376 x859 shalt not x3808 bear tidings 1309 x376 this x2088 day, 3117 but thou shalt bear tidings 1319 z8765 another 312 day: 3117 but this x2088 day 3117 thou shalt bear no tidings, 1319 z8762 x3808 because x3588 x5921 the king's 4428 son 1121 is dead. 4191 z8804

 18:21 Then said 559 z8799 Joab 3097 to Cushi, 3569 Go y3212 z8798 x1980 tell 5046 z8685 the king 4428 what x834 thou hast seen. 7200 z8804 And Cushi 3569 bowed y7812 z8691 himself x7812 unto Joab, 3097 and ran. 7323 z8799

 18:22 Then said 559 z8799 Ahimaaz 290 the son 1121 of Zadok 6659 yet x5750 again 3254 z8686 to x413 Joab, 3097 But howsoever, 4100 x1961 let me, I x589 pray x4994 thee, also x1571 run 7323 z8799 after 310 Cushi. 3569 And Joab 3097 said, 559 z8799 Wherefore x4100 x2088 wilt thou x859 run, 7323 z8801 my son, 1121 seeing that thou hast no x369 tidings 1309 ready? 4672 z8802

 18:23 But howsoever, x1961 x4100 [said he], let me run. 7323 z8799 And he said 559 z8799 unto him, Run. 7323 z8798 Then Ahimaaz 290 ran 7323 z8799 by the way 1870 of the plain, 3603 and overran 5674 z8799 x853 Cushi. 3569

 18:24 And David 1732 sat 3427 z8802 between x996 the two 8147 gates: 8179 and the watchman 6822 z8802 went up y3212 z8799 x1980 to x413 the roof 1406 over the gate 8179 unto x413 the wall, 2346 and lifted up 5375 z8799 x853 his eyes, 5869 and looked, 7200 z8799 and behold x2009 a man 376 running 7323 z8801 alone. x905

 18:25 And the watchman 6822 z8802 cried, 7121 z8799 and told 5046 z8686 the king. 4428 And the king 4428 said, 559 z8799 If x518 he [be] alone, x905 [there is] tidings 1309 in his mouth. 6310 And he came y3212 z8799 x1980 apace, 1980 z8800 and drew near. 7131

 18:26 And the watchman 6822 z8802 saw 7200 z8799 another 312 man 376 running: 7323 z8801 and the watchman 6822 z8802 called 7121 z8799 unto x413 the porter, 7778 and said, 559 z8799 Behold x2009 [another] man 376 running 7323 z8801 alone. x905 And the king 4428 said, 559 z8799 He x2088 also x1571 bringeth tidings. 1319 z8764

 18:27 And the watchman 6822 z8802 said, 559 z8799 Me x589 thinketh 7200 z8802 x853 the running 4794 of the foremost 7223 is like the running 4794 of Ahimaaz 290 the son 1121 of Zadok. 6659 And the king 4428 said, 559 z8799 He x2088 [is] a good 2896 man, 376 and cometh 935 z8799 with good 2896 tidings. 1309

 18:28 And Ahimaaz 290 called, 7121 z8799 and said 559 z8799 unto x413 the king, 4428 All is well. 7965 And he fell down y7812 z8691 x7821 to the earth 776 upon his face 639 before the king, 4428 and said, 559 z8799 Blessed 1288 z8803 [be] the LORD 3068 thy God, 430 which x834 hath delivered up 5462 z8765 x853 the men y582 x376 that x834 lifted up 5375 z8804 x853 their hand 3027 against my lord 113 the king. 4428

 18:29 And the king 4428 said, 559 z8799 Is the young man 5288 Absalom 53 safe? 7965 And Ahimaaz 290 answered, 559 z8799 When Joab 3097 sent 7971 z8800 x853 the king's 4428 servant, 5650 and [me] thy servant, 5650 I saw 7200 z8804 a great 1419 tumult, 1995 but I knew 3045 z8804 not x3808 what x4100 [it was].

 18:30 And the king 4428 said 559 z8799 [unto him], Turn aside, 5437 z8798 [and] stand 3320 z8690 here. 3541 And he turned aside, 5437 z8735 and stood still. 5975 z8799

 18:31 And, behold, x2009 Cushi 3569 came; 935 z8802 and Cushi 3569 said, 559 z8799 Tidings, 1319 z8691 my lord 113 the king: 4428 for x3588 the LORD 3068 hath avenged 8199 z8804 thee this day 3117 of x4480 x3027 all x3605 them y3027 that rose up 6965 z8801 against x5921 thee.

 18:32 And the king 4428 said 559 z8799 unto x413 Cushi, 3569 Is the young man 5288 Absalom 53 safe? 7965 And Cushi 3569 answered, 559 z8799 The enemies 341 z8802 of my lord 113 the king, 4428 and all x3605 that x834 rise 6965 z8804 against x5921 thee to do [thee] hurt, 7451 be x1961 as [that] young man 5288 [is].

 18:33 ¶ And the king 4428 was much moved, 7264 z8799 and went up 5927 z8799 to x5921 the chamber 5944 over the gate, 8179 and wept: 1058 z8799 and as he went, y3212 z8800 x1980 thus x3541 he said, 559 z8804 O my son 1121 Absalom, 53 my son, 1121 my son 1121 Absalom! 53 would God x4310 x5414 I x589 had died 4191 z8800 for x8478 thee, y5414 z8799 O Absalom, 53 my son, 1121 my son! 1121