1. David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and of thousands over them.
2. He then 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. The king said to the troops, “I will also march out with you.”
3. “You must not go! ” the people pleaded. “If we have to flee, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth 10,000 of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city.”
4. “I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.
5. The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the people heard the king’s orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
6. Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7. The people of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day — 20,000 casualties.
8. The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
9. Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.
10. One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree! ”
11. “You just saw him! ” Joab exclaimed. “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you 10 silver pieces and a belt! ”
12. The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of 1,000 pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’