The Daily Audio Bible

Absalom’s Death

18 Then David numbered the people who were with him. He set over them leaders of thousands and of hundreds. ² And he sent the people out. One third of them was under the rule of Joab. One third was under the rule of Zeruiah’s son Abishai, Joab’s brother. And one third was under the rule of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, “I myself will go out with you also.” ³ But the people said, “You should not go out. For if we run, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. So it is better that you send us help from the city.” ⁴ The king said to them, “I will do whatever you think is best.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. ⁵ The king told Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle toward the young man Absalom because of me.” And all the people heard him say this to all the leaders about Absalom.

⁶ Then the people went out into the field to fight against Israel. The battle was fought among the trees of Ephraim. ⁷ The people of Israel lost the fight there to the servants of David. Twenty thousand men were killed there that day. ⁸ The battle was spread over the whole country. Dangers from the trees destroyed more people that day than the sword.

⁹ Absalom met the servants of David. He was going on his horse, and the horse went under the many branches of a large oak tree. Absalom’s hair caught in the branches of the oak. He was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the horse under him kept going. ¹⁰ When a certain man saw it, he told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” ¹¹ Joab said to the man, “You saw him! Why did you not kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” ¹² The man said to Joab, “Even for a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not go against the king’s son. For we heard the king tell you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Keep the young man Absalom safe for me.’ ¹³ If I had gone against his life, there is nothing hidden from the king. And you would not have helped me.” ¹⁴ Then Joab said, “I will not waste time here with you.” He took three spears in his hand and threw them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the oak. ¹⁵ And ten young men who carried Joab’s battle clothes gathered around and hit Absalom and killed him.

¹⁶ Then Joab sounded the horn, and all the people returned from going after Israel, for Joab stopped them. ¹⁷ They took Absalom and threw him into a deep hole among the trees, and set many stones over him. And all Israel ran away, every one to his own home. ¹⁸ While Absalom was alive, he had set up stones in his honor in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to let my name be remembered.” So he called the stones after his own name. And they are there to have Absalom be remembered to this day.

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

¹⁹ Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has saved him from those who hate him.” ²⁰ But Joab said to him, “You must not carry news today, but another time. Today you should carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.” ²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go and tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. ²² Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said to Joab, “Whatever happens, let me run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why would you run, my son? You would receive no reward for going.” ²³ But Ahimaaz said, “Whatever happens, I will run.” So Joab said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.

²⁴ David was sitting between the two gates. The man who kept watch went up to the roof of the gate by the wall. He looked up and saw a man running by himself. ²⁵ The man who kept watch called and told the king. The king said, “If he is by himself, he has good news.” And he came nearer and nearer. ²⁶ Then the man who kept watch saw another man running. He called to the gate-keeper and said, “See, another man is running by himself.” The king said, “This one is bringing good news also.” ²⁷ And the man who kept watch said, “I think the man in front runs like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

²⁸ Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” He put his face to the ground in front of the king, and said, “Thanks be to the Lord your God. He has given up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” ²⁹ The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I heard noise and saw much fighting. But I did not know what it was.” ³⁰ Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. ³¹ Then the Cushite came and said, “Let my lord the king receive good news. For the Lord has saved you today from all those who came against you.” ³² The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May those who hate my lord the king, all those who come to do bad things against you, be as that young man!” ³³ The king filled with much sorrow. He went up to the room above the gate and cried. As he walked he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

19 Then Joab was told, “See, the king is crying. He is filled with sorrow for Absalom.” ² So the happiness of winning the battle that day was changed to sorrow for all the people. For they heard that day, “The king is filled with sorrow for his son.” ³ So the people were quiet as they went in secret into the city that day. They acted like people who are ashamed when they run away from a battle. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” ⁵ Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered the faces of all your servants with shame. Today they have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives and the women who act as your wives. ⁶ But you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. You have shown today that rulers and servants are nothing to you. For today I see that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased. ⁷ So now get up and go out and speak in kindness to your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you do not, for sure not a man will stay with you this night. And this will be worse for you than all the bad things that have happened to you since you were young.” ⁸ So the king got up and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, “See, the king is sitting in the gate,” then all the people came to the king.

David Returns to Jerusalem

Now every man of Israel had run to his tent. ⁹ And all the people in all the family groups of Israel were arguing. They said, “The king saved us from those who hate us. He saved us from the Philistines. But now he has run from Absalom and away from the land. ¹⁰ We chose Absalom to rule over us and he has died in battle. So now why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

Jesus Is Raised from the Grave ^(A)

20 It was the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene came to the grave early in the morning while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been pushed away from the grave. ² She ran to Simon Peter and the other follower whom Jesus loved. She said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the grave. We do not know where they have put Him.”

³ Then Peter and the other follower went to the grave. ⁴ They ran but the other follower ran faster than Peter and came to the grave first. ⁵ He got down and looked in and saw the linen cloths but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came and went into the grave. He saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ The white cloth that had been around the head of Jesus was not lying with the other linen cloths. It was rolled up and lying apart by itself. ⁸ Then the other follower, who had come first, went in also. He saw and believed. ⁹ They still did not understand what the Holy Writings meant when they said that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the followers went back again to their homes.

¹¹ Mary stood outside the grave crying. As she cried, she got down and looked inside the grave. ¹² She saw two angels dressed in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had lain. One angel was where His head had lain and one angel was where His feet had lain. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord. I do not know where they have put Him.”

¹⁴ After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ He said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the man who cared for the garden. She said to Him, “Sir, if you have taken Jesus from here, tell me where you have put Him. I will take Him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned around and said to Him, “Teacher!” ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to Me. I have not yet gone up to My Father. But go to My brothers. Tell them that I will go up to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God!” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and told the followers that she had seen the Lord. She told them the things He had said to her.

Jesus Was Seen by His Followers—Thomas Was Not There

¹⁹ It was evening of the first day of the week. The followers had gathered together with the doors locked because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “May you have peace.” ²⁰ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the followers saw the Lord, they were filled with joy.

Jesus Sends His Followers to Preach ^(B)

²¹ Then Jesus said to them again, “May you have peace. As the Father has sent Me, I also am sending you.” ²² When Jesus had said this, He breathed on them. He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you say that people are free of sins, they are free of them. If you say that people are not free of sins, they still have them.”

Thomas Does Not Believe Jesus Is Raised from the Dead ^(C)

²⁴ Thomas was not with them when Jesus came. He was one of the twelve followers and was called the Twin. ²⁵ The other followers told him, “We have seen the Lord!” He said to them, “I will not believe until I see the marks made by the nails in His hands. I will not believe until I put my finger into the marks of the nails. I will not believe until I put my hand into His side.”

Jesus Was Seen Again by His Followers—Thomas Was There

²⁶ Eight days later the followers were again inside a house. Thomas was with them. The doors were locked. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “May you have peace!” ²⁷ He said to Thomas, “Put your finger into My hands. Put your hand into My side. Do not doubt, believe!” ²⁸ Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you believe. Those are happy who have never seen Me and yet believe!” ³⁰ Jesus did many other powerful works in front of His followers. They are not written in this book. ³¹ But these are written so you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. When you put your trust in Him, you will have life that lasts forever through His name.

¹⁵³ Look upon my suffering and take me from it. For I do not forget Your Law. ¹⁵⁴ Stand by me and set me free. Give me life again because of Your Word. ¹⁵⁵ Your saving help is far from the sinful, for they do not look to Your Law. ¹⁵⁶ Your loving-kindness is great, O Lord. Give me life again because of Your Law. ¹⁵⁷ There are many who hate me and make it hard for me. Yet I do not turn from Your Law. ¹⁵⁸ I look with hate on those who cannot be trusted, because they do not keep Your Word. ¹⁵⁹ Think about how I love Your Law. Give me life again, O Lord, because of Your loving-kindness. ¹⁶⁰ All of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your laws, which are always right, will last forever.

¹⁶¹ Rulers make it hard for me for no reason, but my heart honors Your Words with fear. ¹⁶² I am made happy by Your Word, like one who finds great riches. ¹⁶³ I hate what is false, but I love Your Law. ¹⁶⁴ I praise You seven times a day, because Your Law is right. ¹⁶⁵ Those who love Your Law have great peace, and nothing will cause them to be hurt in their spirit. ¹⁶⁶ I hope for Your saving power, O Lord, and I follow Your Word. ¹⁶⁷ I obey Your Law, for I love it very much. ¹⁶⁸ I obey Your Word and Laws, for You know all my ways.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come to You, O Lord. Give me understanding because of Your Word. ¹⁷⁰ Let my prayer come to You. Help me because of Your Word. ¹⁷¹ May praise come from my lips, for You teach me Your Law. ¹⁷² May my tongue sing about Your Word, for all of Your Word is right and good. ¹⁷³ May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your Law. ¹⁷⁴ I have much desire for Your saving power, O Lord. Your Law is my joy. ¹⁷⁵ Let me live so I may praise You, and let Your Law help me. ¹⁷⁶ I have gone from the way like a lost sheep. Look for Your servant, for I do not forget Your Word.

¹⁴ The anger of a king carries death, but a wise man will quiet it.

¹⁵ Life is in the light of a king’s face, and his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.