I Wish I Had Died Instead of You

Chapter 18 brings Absalom's rebellion to its end. David numbered his people and set three commanders over them: Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite. The troops refused to let the king go into battle, saying he was worth ten thousand of them. Standing by the gate, David gave a command that all the people heard: deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.

The battle in the forest of Ephraim was a great defeat for Absalom's forces, and the text says the forest devoured more people than the sword. Absalom, riding his mule, was caught by his head in the boughs of a great oak, left hanging between the sky and earth. One soldier refused to touch him, citing the king's command and noting that Joab would have stood aloof. Joab, however, struck Absalom, and his young armor bearers finished the deed. The proud son who had raised a pillar to keep his name in remembrance was buried under a great heap of stones in the forest.

Joab blew the trumpet to stop the pursuit. Ahimaaz begged to run and outran the Cushite, but he avoided the hard news. The Cushite spoke it plainly. David's response is one of the most heartbreaking moments in Scripture. He went up to the chamber over the gate and wept, saying, My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!