r Absalom and all the men of Israel crossed the Jordan, David
counted the troops who were with him, and put over them commanders of
thousands and of hundreds. And he divided the troops into three
divisions; one was under the command of Joab, another under Abishai, and
another under the command of Ittai. Then David said to the people, "I
too will surely go out with you." But the people said, "You shall not go
out; for if we are defeated, or if half of us die, it will make no
difference, for you are equal to ten thousand of us. It is therefore
more important for you to be ready to help us from the city." David said
to them, "I will do what you think best!" So he stood beside the gate,
while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

David commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, "Deal gently for my sake
with the young man, with Absalom!" All the people heard when he gave the
commanders this order about Absalom.

So the troops went out into the field against Israel. The battle was
fought in the forest of Ephraim. And the soldiers of Israel were
defeated there by those who were loyal to David, and the loss of life on
that day was great--twenty thousand men. The battle spread over the
whole country; and the dense thickets killed more people than were
killed by the sword.

Absalom happened to meet the soldiers of David while riding upon his
mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and
Absalom's head caught fast in the oak, and he was hung between heaven
and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. A certain man saw
it and told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in an oak." Joab said to the
man who told him, "You saw him! Why did you not strike him to the
ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt." But the
man said to Joab, "If I were to feel the weight of a thousand pieces of
silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the ruler's son,
for in our hearing he commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, 'Take care of
the young man Absalom.' If I had treacherously taken his life, nothing
would have been hidden from the ruler of Israel, and you yourself would
not have tried to save me." Joab answered, "I will not waste time with
you."

So he took three spears in his hand and drove them into Absalom's heart,
while he was still alive in the midst of the oak. Then Joab said to a
negro slave, "Go, tell the ruler of Israel what you have seen." And the
negro bowed before