2 Samuel 18:6-12
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 18
6Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7The people of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men. 8For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9Now Absalom encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then his head caught firmly in the oak, and he was left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going.
10When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, 'Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.'
11Then Joab said to the man who had informed him, 'So behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And it would have been my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.'
12But the man said to Joab, 'Even if I were to receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘ Protect the young man Absalom for me!’
King James Version
Chapter 18
6So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; 7Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. 8For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs 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 that was under him went away.
10And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11And Joab said unto 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 shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 18
6Then David's forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7Israel's army was defeated by David's soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day--twenty thousand dead. 8The battle spread over the entire area, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
9Absalom 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.
10One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, "I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree! "
New Living Translation
Chapter 18
6So the battle began in the forest of Ephraim, 7and the Israelite troops were beaten back by David’s men. There was a great slaughter that day, and 20,000 men laid down their lives. 8The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.
9During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air.
10One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, 'I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 18
6So the army went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.
9And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
10And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
11Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
12But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’
New International Version
Chapter 18
6David's army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. 7There Israel's troops were routed by David's men, and the casualties that day were great--twenty thousand men. 8The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.New King James Version
Chapter 18
6So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim. 7The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day. 8For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.
10Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”