“And David numbered the people who were with him and said captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.”
2 Samuel 18
32 of 33 verses have a reading · Berean Standard Bible
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David Guzik28
JP
Jacob Prasch22
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Warren Wiersbe14
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Bob Phillips6
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Chuck Smith2
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Scott Hynds2
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Lester Roloff1
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E.A. Johnston1
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Carter Conlon1
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David Guzik28
JP
Jacob Prasch22
WW
Warren Wiersbe14
BP
Bob Phillips6
CS
Chuck Smith2
SH
Scott Hynds2
LR
Lester Roloff1
EJ
E.A. Johnston1
CC
Carter Conlon1
RH
Roy Hession1
All voices →
1Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands.
2He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, "I will surely march out with you as well."
“Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zariah, Joab's brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai, the Gittite, and the king said to the people, I…”
3But the people pleaded, "You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city."
“You shall not go out. For if we flee away, they will not care about us, nor if half of us die. Will they care about us? But you are worth ten thousand of us now, for you are now more help to us in the city.”
4"I will do whatever seems best to you," the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
“the king said to them, whatever seems best to you, I will do. So the king stood beside the gate and all the people went out by the hundreds and by the thousands.”
5Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake." And all the people heard the king's orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
“the king had commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai saying, deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captain's orders concerning Absalom.”
6So David's army marched into the field to engage Israel in the battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.
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7There the people of Israel were defeated by David's servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.
“the people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David and a great slaughter of 20 ,000 took place there that day”
8The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword.
“for the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.”
“For the battle was scattered over the face of all the country and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword.”
9Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.
“And Absalom met the servants of David and Absalom rode upon a mule and the mule went under a thick bough of a great oak and his head caught hold of the oak and he was taken up between heaven and earth and the mule that was under…”
“And Absalom met the servants of David, and Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the sick bones 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…”
“Now Absalom happened to be the servant of David, for Absalom was riding on his mule, and his mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head bore fast in the oak. He was left hanging between heaven and earth,…”
10When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, "I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!"
“Now, a certain man saw it and told Joab and he said, I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree,”
“when a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in the oak.”
11"You just saw him!" Joab exclaimed. "Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a warrior's belt!"
“Then Joab said to the man who had told him, Now behold, you saw him. Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given him ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
“So Joab said to the man who told him, you just saw him and why didn't you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you 10 shekels of silver and a belt.”
12The man replied, "Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, 'Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.'
“But the man said, Joab, though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. For in our hearing, the king commanded you and Abishai and Itzhai saying, beware lest…”
“the man said to Joab, Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king's son. But in our hearing, the king charged you and Abishai and Iqbal, saying, Protect for me the…”
13If I had jeopardized my own life —and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me."
“Otherwise, I would have dealt falsely against my own life. But there's nothing hidden from the king. And you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
“Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life, and there was nothing hidden from the king, then you yourself would have stood alone.”
14But Joab declared, "I am not going to wait like this with you!" And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
“Then Joab said, I will not waste my day with you. So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.”
15And ten young men who carried Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
“and 10 young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.”
16Then Joab blew the ram's horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them.
“Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.”
“Joab blew the trumpet and the people returned from pursuing Israel for Joab held back the people”
17They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.
“and they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods and laid a very large heap of stones of over him. And then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.”
“they took Absalom and cast him into a deep pit in the forest, and he wrecked it over him of every great heap of stones. And all Israel fled each to his tent.”
18During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King's Valley, for he had said, "I have no son to preserve the memory of my name." So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom's Monument.
“Now, Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the Kings Valley, where he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance. He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day, it's…”
“Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and set up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's valley. And he said, I have no son to preserve my name. So he named the pillar after his own name, and it's called Absalom's Monument…”
19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, "Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies."
“Then ahimasu the son of zadok said please let me run and bring the king news that the lord has freed him from the hand of his enemies.”
“Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, the king's righteous, said, Please let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has freed him from the hands of his enemies.”
“Then Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, said, Let me run now and take the news to the king how the Lord has avenged him of his enemies.”
“Then said Ahimeaz, the son of Zadok, let me now run and bear the king tidings how the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.”
20But Joab replied, "You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king's son is dead."
“Joab said to him, You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news because the king's son is dead.”
“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.”
“But Joab said to him, You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day. However, you shall carry no news today, because the king's son is dead.”
21So Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
“Then said Joab to the Cushite, go tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab and ran.”
“Then Joab said to the Cushite, Go tell the king what you've seen. So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.”
“Joab said to the Cushite, Go tell the king what you have seen. So the Cushite, or the advocate, bowed to Joab and ran.”
22Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, "Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind the Cushite!" "My son," Joab replied, "why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?"
“now. Ahimasu the son of zadok said once more to joab whatever happens please let me also run after the cushite. And joab said why would you run my son. Since you will have no reward for going.”
“And Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said again to Joab, But whatever happens, please let me run also after the Cushite. Joab said, Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”
“Now Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said once more to God, Whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why would you run, my son? Since you will have no reward for going.”
“Then said Ahimeaz, the son of Zadok, yet again to Joab, but come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?”
23"No matter what, I want to run!" he replied. "Then run!" Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
“But whatever happens, he said, Let me run. So he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.”
“But whatever happens, he said, I will run. So he said to him, run. He insisted. And Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.”
24Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.
“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.”
“Now David was sitting between the two gates and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked. There was a man running alone.”
“Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself.”
“now. David was sitting between two gates and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall and raised his eyes and looked and behold a man running by himself.”
“David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof, over the gate to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man running alone.”
25So he called out and told the king. "If he is alone," the king replied, "he bears good news." As the first runner drew near,
“And the watchman cried and told the king, and the king said, if he be alone, there are tidings in his mouth. And he came apace and drew near.”
“the watchman called and called the king, and the king said, If he is by himself, there is good news in his mouth. And he came nearer and nearer.”
“Then the watchman cried out and told the king, and the king said, If he is alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came and rapidly drew near.”
26the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, "Look! Another man is running alone!" "This one also brings good news," said the king.
“then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, Behold, another man running by himself. And the king said, This one also is bringing Besorah, good news.”
“And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called unto the porter and said, behold, another man runneth alone. And the king said, he also bringeth tidings.”
“Then the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called the gatekeeper and said behold another man's running by himself. The king said this one also is bringing good news”
“Then the watchman saw another man running and the watchman said to the gatekeeper and said, There's another man running alone. And the king also said, He also brings news.”
27The watchman said, "The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok." "This is a good man," said the king. "He comes with good news."
“the watchman said i think the running of the first one is like the running of ahiyamaz the son of zadok. And the king said this is a good man and comes with good news.”
“the watchman said, I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimah, the son of Zadok. And the king said, This is a good man, and he comes with good news.”
“The watchman said, I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok. And the king said, He's a good man and he comes with good news.”
“And the watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimeaz, the son of Zadok. And the king said, he is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.”
28Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" And he bowed facedown before the king. He continued, "Blessed be the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king."
“And Ahimeaz called and said unto the king, all is well. That's the Hebrew word shalom, peace. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath delivered up the men that…”
“ahiyamaz called and said to the king all is well. And he prostrated himself before the king with his faith to the ground. He said blessed is the lord your god who's delivered up. The men who lifted their hands against my lord the…”
29The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom all right?" And Ahimaaz replied, "When Joab sent the king's servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was."
“And the king said, is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimeaz answered, when Joab sent the king's servant and me, thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.”
“the king said, is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, when Joab sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I didn't know what it was about.”
30"Move aside," said the king, "and stand here." So he stepped aside.
“and the king said, turn aside and stand here. So he turned aside and stood still.”
“And the king said unto him, turn aside and stand here. And he turned aside and stood still.”
“Then the king said, Turn aside and stand here. So he turned aside and stood still.”
31Just then the Cushite came and said, "May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!"
“behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, Let my lord the king receive Misorah, good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”
“just then the Kushite came and the Kushite said, there's good news, my lord, the king, for the lord has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”
“And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, tidings, my Lord, the king, for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them who rose up against thee.”
32The king asked the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom all right?" And the Cushite replied, "May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you."
“And the king said to the Kushite, is the young man Absalom safe? And the Kushite answered, may the enemies of my lord, the king and all who rise against you to do you harm be as that young man”
“then the king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, Let the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil, he is that young man.”
“And the king said unto the Cushite, is the young man Absalom safe? And the Cushite answered, the enemies of my Lord the king, and all who rise against thee to do thee harm, be as that young man is.”
33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
“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.”
“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.”
“the king was deeply moved, and he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. Thus he said as he walked, O my son Absalom, my son, my son, Absalom, I would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son.”
“And the king was much moved, and he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, thus he said, "'Oh, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom, "'would God I had died for thee. "'Oh, Absalom, my son, my son.'".”
“was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he wept, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom, would God I died for thee, O Absalom my son, my son.”
“the king was deeply moved and he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said thus, Oh, my son, Absalom, my son, my son, Absalom, if only I had died in your place. Oh, Absalom, my son, my son,”