1 David counted his men and picked bosses for the army. ️ 2 David split the men in 3 groups. Joab, Abishai, and Ittai led them. David said, I will go too. 3 The men said, No, do not go. You are worth more than many of us. Please stay and help from the city. ✋️ 4 David said, I will do what you say. He stood by the gate as the people marched out. ✅ 5 The king told Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, Be gentle with my son Absalom. All the people heard it. ❤️ 6 David’s army went out to meet Israel. The fight was in the forest of Ephraim. ⚔️ 7 David’s men won. Many of Israel fell. About 20,000 died that day. 8 The fight spread in the land. The forest hurt more men than swords. ⚠️ 9 Absalom met David’s men. He rode a mule. His head got stuck in a big tree, and the mule ran on. 10 A man saw Absalom and told Joab. ➡️ 11 Joab said, Why did you not kill him? I would give you silver and a belt. ❓ 12 The man said, I will not hurt the king’s son, not for a lot of silver. We heard the king say, Be gentle with Absalom. 13 If I hurt him, the king would know, and you would not help me. 14 Joab said, I will not wait. He took 3 spears and hit Absalom while he was in the tree. 3️⃣️ 15 Ten young men with Joab hit Absalom more and killed him. ⚔️ 16 Joab blew a horn. All the men stopped the chase and came back. ✋ 17 They threw Absalom in a big hole in the woods and made a big pile of stones on him. All Israel ran home. ️♂️ 18 When he was alive, Absalom set up a big stone post in the King’s Valley. He said, I have no son to keep my name. He named the post after him. 19 Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, Let me run to the king with good news. God kept him safe from his foes. ♂️ 20 Joab said, Not today. You can bring news another day. Not today, for the king’s son is dead. ✋ 21 Joab said to the Cushite, Go tell the king what you saw. The Cushite bowed and ran. ➡️♂️ 22 Ahimaaz said again, Let me run too. Joab said, Why run? You will get no gift for this news. ♂️❓ 23 Ahimaaz said, I will run anyway. Joab said, Run. Ahimaaz took the flat road and ran past the Cushite. ♂️️ 24 David sat between the two gates. The watchman went up on the roof and saw a man run alone. ♂️ 25 The watchman called and told the king. The king said, If he runs alone, he brings news. The runner came near. 26 The watchman saw another man run alone. He told the guard. The king said, He also brings news. 2️⃣♂️♂️ 27 The watchman said, The first runs like Ahimaaz. The king said, He is a good man and brings good news. 28 Ahimaaz came and said, All is well! He bowed to the king and said, Thank You, God! You kept you safe from the men who rose up. 29 The king said, Is my son Absalom safe? Ahimaaz said, I saw a big stir when Joab sent me, but I do not know what it was. ❓️ 30 The king said, Stand here. So he stood by. ✋♂️ 31 The Cushite came and said, Good news, my king! Today God kept you safe from all who fought you. ♂️ 32 The king said, Is my son Absalom safe? The Cushite said, May all your foes be like that young man. ❓⚔️ 33 The king was very sad. He went up and cried hard. He said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son! I wish I died for you!”