1. And David marshalled the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2. And David sent forth the people, 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. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3. But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth, for if we should in any case flee, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; for thou art worth ten thousand of us; and now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4. And the king said to them, I will do what is good in your sight. 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 Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6. And the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
7. And the people of Israel were routed before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day: twenty thousand men.
8. And the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9. And Absalom found himself in the presence of David's servants. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of the great terebinth, and his head caught in the terebinth, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10. And a man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.
11. And Joab said to 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 silver pieces and a girdle.
12. And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand silver pieces in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Take care, whoever it be of you, of the young man Absalom.
13. Or I should have acted falsely against mine own life, for there is no matter concealed from the king, and thou wouldest have set thyself against me.
14. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's body, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth.
15. And ten young men that bore Joab's armour surrounded and smote Absalom, and killed him.