1. David counted his men and chose captains over 1000 and captains over 100 to lead them.
2. He separated the people into three groups and sent them out. Joab led a third of the men. Joab’s brother, Abishai son of Zeruiah, led another third. And Ittai from Gath led the last third. King David said to the people, “I will also go with you.”
3. But they said, “No! You must not go with us. If we run away in the battle, Absalom’s men will not care. No, even if only half of us are killed, Absalom’s men will not care. But you are worth 10,000 of us! It is better for you to stay in the city. Then, if we need help, you can come to help us.”
4. The king said to them, “I will do what you think is best.” Then the king stood by the gate as the army went out in groups of 100 and 1000.
5. The king gave a command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. He said, “Do this for me: Be gentle with young Absalom!” Everyone heard the king’s orders about Absalom to the captains.
6. David’s army went out into the field against Absalom’s Israelites. They fought in the forest of Ephraim.
7. David’s army defeated the Israelites. It was a great defeat because 20,000 men were killed that day.
8. The battle spread throughout the country, but more men died in the forest than by the sword.
9. It so happened that David’s officers found Absalom. Absalom jumped on his mule and tried to escape, but the mule went under the branches of a large oak tree. The branches were thick, and Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. His mule ran out from under him, so Absalom was left hanging above the ground.
10. Someone saw this happen and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
11. Joab said to the man, “Why didn’t you kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you a belt and ten pieces of silver!”
12. The man said to Joab, “I would not try to hurt the king’s son even if you gave me 1000 pieces of silver. We heard the king’s command to you, Abishai, and Ittai. The king said, ‘Be careful not to hurt young Absalom.’
13. If I had killed Absalom, the king himself would find out, and you would punish me.”