2 Samuel 18

1 Davi passou revista ao povo que tinha consigo e *Êx 18.25;Nm 31.14;1Sm 22.7pôs sobre eles capitães de mil e capitães de cem. 2 Enviou Davi ao povo, *Jz 7.16;1Sm 11.11um terço sob o mando de Joabe, outro terço sob o mando de Abisai, filho de Zeruia, irmão de Joabe, e o outro terço sob o mando de *2Sm 15.19-22Itai, geteu. O rei disse ao povo: Também eu hei de sair convosco. 3 Respondeu, porém, o povo: Não *2Sm 21.17sairás, pois se, na verdade, fugirmos, eles não se importarão conosco; nem se importarão conosco se morrer a metade de nós; pois tu és igual a dez mil de nós. É melhor que fiques na cidade para dali nos socorreres. 4 Tornou-lhes o rei: O que vos parece bem, isso farei. *2Sm 18.24O rei pôs-se ao lado da porta, e saiu todo o povo a centenas e milhares. 5 O rei deu ordem a Joabe, a Abisai e a Itai, dizendo: Por amor de mim, tratai com brandura ao mancebo, a Absalão. *2Sm 18.12Todo o povo ouviu quando o rei dava ordem a todos os capitães acerca de Absalão.

6 Assim, saiu o povo ao campo contra Israel; e deu-se a batalha *2Sm 17.26;Js 17.15,18no bosque de Efraim. 7 Ali, foi o povo de Israel derrotado diante dos servos de Davi, e, naquele dia, houve uma grande derrota, com a perda de vinte mil homens. 8 Pois ali se estendeu a batalha por toda a região; e o bosque consumiu, naquele dia, mais gente do que a espada consumiu.

Absalão fica suspenso de uma árvore, e Joabe mata-o

9 Absalão, indo montado na sua mula, encontrou-se com os servos de Davi; a mula entrou debaixo dos ramos espessos dum grande carvalho, e Absalão, preso *2Sm 14.26pela cabeça ao carvalho, ficou pendurado entre o céu e a terra; e a mula em que ia montado passou adiante. 10 Vendo isso um homem, avisou a Joabe e disse: Eis que vi Absalão pendurado num carvalho. 11 Respondeu Joabe ao homem que lhe dera a notícia: Pois que o viste, por que não o feriste ali, derrubando-o por terra? E eu te haveria dado dez siclos de prata e um cinto. 12 Tornou o homem a Joabe: Ainda quando eu pudesse pesar nas minhas mãos mil siclos de prata, não estenderia eu a mão contra o filho do rei; porque *2Sm 18.5nós ouvimos a ordem que o rei te deu a ti, a Abisai e a Itai, dizendo: Guardai-me o mancebo Absalão. 13 Se eu tivesse obrado falsamente contra a sua vida, *2Sm 14.19-20nada teria sido oculto ao rei, e tu mesmo te esquivarias de mim. 14 Disse Joabe: Não posso demorar-me contigo. *2Sm 14.30Tomou na mão três dardos e traspassou com eles o coração de Absalão, que ainda estava vivo no carvalho. 15 Cercaram-no dez mancebos que levavam as armas de Joabe, e feriram a Absalão, e mataram-no.

16 *2Sm 2.28;20.22Joabe tocou a trombeta, e o povo voltou de perseguir a Israel, pois Joabe deteve ao povo. 17 Levaram a Absalão, e lançaram-no numa grande cova no bosque, *Dt 21.20-21;Js 7.26;8.29e erigiram sobre ele um mui grande montão de pedras. *2Sm 19.8;20.1-22Todo o Israel fugiu, cada um para a sua tenda. 18 Ora, Absalão, quando ainda vivia, *1Sm 15.12tinha feito levantar para si a coluna, *Gn 14.17que está no vale do Rei, porque disse: *2Sm 14.27Eu não tenho filho que conserve a memória do meu nome. Deu o seu nome à coluna; até o dia de hoje, ela se chama o Monumento de Absalão.

Davi, sabendo da morte de Absalão, chora amargamente

19 Disse *2Sm 15.36Aimaás, filho de Zadoque: Deixa-me correr e dar notícia ao rei *2Sm 18.31que Jeová o vingou dos seus inimigos. 20 E Joabe lhe disse: Tu não serás hoje o portador das novas, mas noutro dia as levarás; hoje, porém, não as levarás; porque é morto o filho do rei. 21 Disse Joabe ao cuxita: Vai dizer ao rei o que viste. O cuxita fez uma reverência a Joabe e partiu a correr. 22 Então, tornou Aimaás, filho de Zadoque, a dizer a Joabe: Seja o que for, deixa-me também correr após o cuxita. Joabe disse: Por que queres correr, meu filho? Visto que *2Sm 18.29não receberás recompensa pelas novas. 23 Aconteça, porém, o que acontecer, hei de correr, respondeu Aimaás. Então, disse Joabe: Corre. Aimaás correu pelo caminho de Quicar e passou ao cuxita.

24 Ora, *2Sm 19.8Davi estava assentado entre as duas portas; *2Sm 13.34;2Rs 9.17a sentinela subiu ao eirado da porta acima da muralha, e levantou os olhos, e viu vir um homem correndo só. 25 Clamou a sentinela e deu a nova ao rei. O rei disse: Se ele vem só, traz notícias. O mensageiro aproximava-se cada vez mais. 26 Viu a sentinela outro homem correndo, e clamou ao porteiro, e disse: Eis que vem outro homem correndo só. O rei disse: Este também traz notícias. 27 Acrescentou a sentinela: Parece-me que o correr do primeiro é *2Rs 9.20como o correr de Aimaás, filho de Zadoque. Disse o rei: *1Rs 1.42Ele é homem de bem e trará boas-novas.

28 Gritou Aimaás e disse ao rei: Paz! *2Sm 14.4;1Sm 25.23Prostrou-se com o rosto em terra perante o rei e disse: *1Sm 17.46Bendito seja Jeová, teu Deus, que entregou os homens que levantaram a mão contra o rei, meu senhor! 29 Perguntou o rei: *2Sm 20.9;2Rs 4.26Está bem o mancebo Absalão? Respondeu Aimaás: Quando Joabe enviou ao servo do rei, que sou eu, vi um grande alvoroço, *2Sm 18.22porém não sei o que era. 30 Disse o rei: Põe-te ao lado e espera aqui. Ele se pôs ao lado e esperou de pé.

31 Eis que chegou o cuxita e disse: Receba o rei, meu senhor, as novas. Hoje, *2Sm 18.19;Jz 5.31Jeová te vingou de todos os que se levantaram contra ti. 32 O rei perguntou ao cuxita: *2Sm 18.29Está bem o mancebo Absalão? Respondeu o cuxita: *1Sm 25.26Como aquele mancebo o é, assim sejam os inimigos do rei, meu senhor, e todos os que se levantam contra ti para te fazerem o mal. 33 O rei ficou muito comovido, e subiu à sala que estava por cima da porta, e pôs-se a chorar; e, andando, dizia assim: *2Sm 19.4Meu filho Absalão, meu filho, meu filho Absalão! *Êx 32.32;Rm 9.3Quem me dera que eu morrera por ti, Absalão, filho meu, filho meu!

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.*18.3 care…: Heb. set their heart on us*18.3 worth…: Heb. as ten thousand of us*18.3 succour: Heb. be to succour or help 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.*18.8 devoured: Heb. multiplied to devour

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.*18.12 receive: Heb. weigh upon mine hand*18.12 Beware…: Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, etc 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.*18.14 with…: Heb. before thee*18.14 midst: Heb. heart 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.

19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.*18.19 avenged…: Heb. judged him from the hand, etc 20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.*18.20 bear tidings this: Heb. be a man of tidings, etc 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?*18.22 howsoever: Heb. be what may*18.22 ready: or, convenient 23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. 25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. 26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. 27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.*18.27 Me…: Heb. I see the running 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.*18.28 All…: or, Peace be to thee: Heb. Peace*18.28 delivered…: Heb. shut up 29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.*18.29 Is…: Heb. Is there peace? 30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. 31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.*18.31 Tidings: Heb. Tidings is brought 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!