2 Samuel 18 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

2 Samuel 18 (WEBP)

[1] David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
[2] David sent the people out, a third part 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. The king said to the people, “I will also surely go out with you myself.”
[3] But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”
[4] The king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
[5] The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
[6] So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
[7] The people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
[8] For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
[9] Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
[10] A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
[11] Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a sash.”
[12] The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’
[13] Otherwise, if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
[14] Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the middle of the oak.
[15] Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
[16] Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
[17] They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
[18] Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.
[19] Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.”
[20] Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
[21] Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen!” The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
[22] Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?”
[23] “But come what may,” he said, “I will run.” He said to him, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
[24] Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
[25] The watchman shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He came closer and closer.
[26] The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.”
[27] The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
[28] Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
[29] The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.”
[30] The king said, “Come and stand here.” He came and stood still.
[31] Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.”
[32] The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.”
[33] The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

2 Samuel 18 (KJVS)

[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.
[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. ()
[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. ()
[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? ()
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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!

2 Samuel 18:3a Heb. set their heart on us
2 Samuel 18:3b Heb. as ten thousand of us
2 Samuel 18:3c Heb. be to succour
2 Samuel 18:8 Heb. multiplied to devour
2 Samuel 18:12a Heb. weigh upon mine hand
2 Samuel 18:12b Heb. beware whosoever ye be, of etc.
2 Samuel 18:14a Heb. before thee
2 Samuel 18:14b Heb. heart
2 Samuel 18:19 Heb. judged him from the hand etc.
2 Samuel 18:20 Heb. be a man of tidings
2 Samuel 18:22a Heb. be what may
2 Samuel 18:22b Or, convenient
2 Samuel 18:27 Heb. I see the running
2 Samuel 18:28a Or, peace be to thee. Heb. peace
2 Samuel 18:28b Heb. shut up
2 Samuel 18:31 Heb. tidings is brought

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

2 Samuel 18 (BYZ)

[1] και επεσκεψατο δαυιδ τον λαον τον μετ αυτου και κατεστησεν επ αυτων χιλιαρχους και εκατονταρχους
[2] και απεστειλεν δαυιδ τον λαον το τριτον εν χειρι ιωαβ και το τριτον εν χειρι αβεσσα υιου σαρουιας αδελφου ιωαβ και το τριτον εν χειρι εθθι του γεθθαιου και ειπεν δαυιδ προς τον λαον εξελθων εξελευσομαι και γε εγω μεθ υμων
[3] και ειπαν ουκ εξελευση οτι εαν φυγη φυγωμεν ου θησουσιν εφ ημας καρδιαν και εαν αποθανωμεν το ημισυ ημων ου θησουσιν εφ ημας καρδιαν οτι συ ως ημεις δεκα χιλιαδες και νυν αγαθον οτι εση ημιν εν τη πολει βοηθεια του βοηθειν
[4] και ειπεν προς αυτους ο βασιλευς ο εαν αρεση εν οφθαλμοις υμων ποιησω και εστη ο βασιλευς ανα χειρα της πυλης και πας ο λαος εξεπορευετο εις εκατονταδας και εις χιλιαδας
[5] και ενετειλατο ο βασιλευς τω ιωαβ και τω αβεσσα και τω εθθι λεγων φεισασθε μοι του παιδαριου του αβεσσαλωμ και πας ο λαος ηκουσεν εντελλομενου του βασιλεως πασιν τοις αρχουσιν υπερ αβεσσαλωμ
[6] και εξηλθεν πας ο λαος εις τον δρυμον εξ εναντιας ισραηλ και εγενετο ο πολεμος εν τω δρυμω εφραιμ
[7] και επταισεν εκει ο λαος ισραηλ ενωπιον των παιδων δαυιδ και εγενετο η θραυσις μεγαλη εν τη ημερα εκεινη εικοσι χιλιαδες ανδρων
[8] και εγενετο εκει ο πολεμος διεσπαρμενος επι προσωπον πασης της γης και επλεονασεν ο δρυμος του καταφαγειν εκ του λαου υπερ ους κατεφαγεν εν τω λαω η μαχαιρα εν τη ημερα εκεινη
[9] και συνηντησεν αβεσσαλωμ ενωπιον των παιδων δαυιδ και αβεσσαλωμ επιβεβηκως επι του ημιονου αυτου και εισηλθεν ο ημιονος υπο το δασος της δρυος της μεγαλης και εκρεμασθη η κεφαλη αυτου εν τη δρυι και εκρεμασθη ανα μεσον του ουρανου και ανα μεσον της γης και ο ημιονος υποκατω αυτου παρηλθεν
[10] και ειδεν ανηρ εις και ανηγγειλεν ιωαβ και ειπεν ιδου εωρακα τον αβεσσαλωμ κρεμαμενον εν τη δρυι
[11] και ειπεν ιωαβ τω ανδρι τω απαγγελλοντι και ιδου εορακας τι οτι ουκ επαταξας αυτον εις την γην και εγω αν δεδωκειν σοι δεκα αργυριου και παραζωνην μιαν
[12] ειπεν δε ο ανηρ προς ιωαβ και εγω ειμι ιστημι επι τας χειρας μου χιλιους σικλους αργυριου ου μη επιβαλω χειρα μου επι τον υιον του βασιλεως οτι εν τοις ωσιν ημων ενετειλατο ο βασιλευς σοι και αβεσσα και τω εθθι λεγων φυλαξατε μοι το παιδαριον τον αβεσσαλωμ
[13] μη ποιησαι εν τη ψυχη αυτου αδικον και πας ο λογος ου λησεται απο του βασιλεως και συ στηση εξ εναντιας
[14] και ειπεν ιωαβ τουτο εγω αρξομαι ουχ ουτως μενω ενωπιον σου και ελαβεν ιωαβ τρια βελη εν τη χειρι αυτου και ενεπηξεν αυτα εν τη καρδια αβεσσαλωμ ετι αυτου ζωντος εν τη καρδια της δρυος
[15] και εκυκλωσαν δεκα παιδαρια αιροντα τα σκευη ιωαβ και επαταξαν τον αβεσσαλωμ και εθανατωσαν αυτον
[16] και εσαλπισεν ιωαβ εν κερατινη και απεστρεψεν ο λαος του μη διωκειν οπισω ισραηλ οτι εφειδετο ιωαβ του λαου
[17] και ελαβεν τον αβεσσαλωμ και ερριψεν αυτον εις χασμα μεγα εν τω δρυμω εις τον βοθυνον τον μεγαν και εστηλωσεν επ αυτον σωρον λιθων μεγαν σφοδρα και πας ισραηλ εφυγεν ανηρ εις το σκηνωμα αυτου
[18] και αβεσσαλωμ ετι ζων και εστησεν εαυτω την στηλην εν η ελημφθη και εστηλωσεν αυτην λαβειν την στηλην την εν τη κοιλαδι του βασιλεως οτι ειπεν ουκ εστιν αυτω υιος ενεκεν του αναμνησαι το ονομα αυτου και εκαλεσεν την στηλην χειρ αβεσσαλωμ εως της ημερας ταυτης
[19] και αχιμαας υιος σαδωκ ειπεν δραμω δη και ευαγγελιω τω βασιλει οτι εκρινεν αυτω κυριος εκ χειρος των εχθρων αυτου
[20] και ειπεν αυτω ιωαβ ουκ ανηρ ευαγγελιας συ εν τη ημερα ταυτη και ευαγγελιη εν ημερα αλλη εν δε τη ημερα ταυτη ουκ ευαγγελιη ου εινεκεν ο υιος του βασιλεως απεθανεν
[21] και ειπεν ιωαβ τω χουσι βαδισας αναγγειλον τω βασιλει οσα ειδες και προσεκυνησεν χουσι τω ιωαβ και εξηλθεν
[22] και προσεθετο ετι αχιμαας υιος σαδωκ και ειπεν προς ιωαβ και εστω οτι δραμω και γε εγω οπισω του χουσι και ειπεν ιωαβ ινα τι τουτο τρεχεις υιε μου δευρο ουκ εστιν σοι ευαγγελια εις ωφελειαν πορευομενω
[23] και ειπεν τι γαρ εαν δραμουμαι και ειπεν αυτω ιωαβ δραμε και εδραμεν αχιμαας οδον την του κεχαρ και υπερεβη τον χουσι
[24] και δαυιδ εκαθητο ανα μεσον των δυο πυλων και επορευθη ο σκοπος εις το δωμα της πυλης προς το τειχος και επηρεν τους οφθαλμους αυτου και ειδεν και ιδου ανηρ τρεχων μονος ενωπιον αυτου
[25] και ανεβοησεν ο σκοπος και απηγγειλεν τω βασιλει και ειπεν ο βασιλευς ει μονος εστιν ευαγγελια εν τω στοματι αυτου και επορευετο πορευομενος και εγγιζων
[26] και ειδεν ο σκοπος ανδρα ετερον τρεχοντα και εβοησεν ο σκοπος προς τη πυλη και ειπεν ιδου ανηρ ετερος τρεχων μονος και ειπεν ο βασιλευς και γε ουτος ευαγγελιζομενος
[27] και ειπεν ο σκοπος εγω ορω τον δρομον του πρωτου ως δρομον αχιμαας υιου σαδωκ και ειπεν ο βασιλευς ανηρ αγαθος ουτος και γε εις ευαγγελιαν αγαθην ελευσεται
[28] και εβοησεν αχιμαας και ειπεν προς τον βασιλεα ειρηνη και προσεκυνησεν τω βασιλει επι προσωπον αυτου επι την γην και ειπεν ευλογητος κυριος ο θεος σου ος απεκλεισεν τους ανδρας τους μισουντας την χειρα αυτων εν τω κυριω μου τω βασιλει
[29] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς ειρηνη τω παιδαριω τω αβεσσαλωμ και ειπεν αχιμαας ειδον το πληθος το μεγα του αποστειλαι τον δουλον του βασιλεως ιωαβ και τον δουλον σου και ουκ εγνων τι εκει
[30] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς επιστρεψον στηλωθητι ωδε και επεστραφη και εστη
[31] και ιδου ο χουσι παρεγενετο και ειπεν τω βασιλει ευαγγελισθητω ο κυριος μου ο βασιλευς οτι εκρινεν σοι κυριος σημερον εκ χειρος παντων των επεγειρομενων επι σε
[32] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς προς τον χουσι ει ειρηνη τω παιδαριω τω αβεσσαλωμ και ειπεν ο χουσι γενοιντο ως το παιδαριον οι εχθροι του κυριου μου του βασιλεως και παντες οσοι επανεστησαν επ αυτον εις κακα
[33] [19:1] και εταραχθη ο βασιλευς και ανεβη εις το υπερωον της πυλης και εκλαυσεν και ουτως ειπεν εν τω πορευεσθαι αυτον υιε μου αβεσσαλωμ υιε μου υιε μου αβεσσαλωμ τις δωη τον θανατον μου αντι σου εγω αντι σου αβεσσαλωμ υιε μου υιε μου