押沙龙之死

David numbered the people that were with him，and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab，and a third part under the hand of Abishai，the son of Zeruiah，Joab's brother，and a third part under the hand of Ittai，the Gittite.

And the king said unto the people，I will surely go forth with you myself also.But the people answered，thou shalt not go forth；for if we flee away，they will not care for us；neither if half of us die，will they care for us；but now thou art worth ten thousand of us；therefore now it is better that thou succor us out of the city.And the king said unto them，What seemeth you best，I will do.

And the king stood by the gate side，and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.And the king commanded Joab，and Abishai，and Ittai，saying，Deal gently for my sake with the young man，even with Absalom.And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

So the people went out into the field against Israel；and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim；where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David，and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

And 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.

And a certain man saw it，and told Joab，and said，Behold，I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.And 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.And the man said unto Joab，Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand，yet would I not put forth my 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.Otherwise，I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life；for there is no matter hid from the king，and thou thyself wouldst have set thyself a-gainst me.

Then said Joab，I may not tarry thus with thee.And he took three darts in his hand，and thrust them through the heart of Absalom，while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.And ten young men that bare Joab's armor，compassed about and smote Absalom，and slew him.And Joab blew the trumpet，and the people returned from pursuing after Israel；for Joab held back the people.

And they took Absalom，and cast him into a great pit in the wood，and laid a very great heap of stones upon him；and all Israel fled，everyone to his tent.Now Absalom，in his lifetime，had taken and reared up for himself a pillar，which is in the king's dale；for he said，I have no son to keep my name in remembrance；and he called the pillar after his own name；and it is called unto this day，Absalom's Place.

Then said Ahimaaz，the son of Zadok，Let me now run，and bear the king tidings，how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.And Joab said unto him，Thou shalt not bear tidings this day，but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings，because the king's son is dead.Then said Joab to Cushi，Go，tell the king what thou hast seen.And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab，and ran.

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab，But howsoever，let me，I pray thee，also run after Cushi.And Joab said，Wherefore wilt thou run，my son，seeing that thou hast no tidings ready？But howsoever，said he，let me run.And he said unto him，run.Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain，and overran Cushi.And David sat between the two gates；and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall，and lifted up his eyes，and looked，and behold，a man running alone.And the watchman cried，and told the king.And the king said，If he be alone，there is tidings in his mouth.And he came apace，and drew near.

And the watchman saw another man running，and the watchman called unto the porter，and said，Behold，another man running alone.And the king said，He also bringeth tidings.And the watchman said，Methinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.And the king said，He is a good man，and cometh with good tidings.

And Ahimaaz called，and said unto the king，All is well.And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king，and said，Blessed be the Lord thy God，which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.And the king said，Is the young man Absalom safe？And Ahimaaz answered，When Joab sent the king's servant，and me thy servant，I saw a great tumult，but I knew not what it was.And the king said unto him，Turn aside and stand here.And he turned aside，and stood still.

And behold，Cushi came；and Cushi said，Tidings my lord the king；for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.And the king said unto Cushi，Is the young man Absalom safe？And Cushi answered，The enemies of my lord the king，and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt，be as that young man is.

And the king was much moved，and went up to the chamber over the gate，and wept；and as he went，thus he said，O my son Absalom！my son，my son Absalom！would God I had died for thee，O Absalom，my son，my son！

（Ⅱ Samuel，Chap.xviii）

译文　TRANSLATION

大卫数点跟从他的军兵，立千夫长及百夫长统领他们。他将这些军兵分成三路：一路在约押手下；一路在亚比筛手下，亚比筛是洗鲁雅的儿子，约押的弟弟；一路在迦特人以太手下。

大卫对这些军兵说：“我必与你们一同出战。”军兵答曰：“您不可出战。若我们逃跑，他们不会介意；纵我们死去一半，他们也不会介意。但您一人重于我们万人；因此，您莫不如必要时出城驰援我们。”大卫对这些军兵说：“你们怎样说，我就怎样行。”

大卫站在城门边，成百上千的兵士鱼贯而出。大卫叮嘱约押、亚比筛和以太看在他的面上善待那个少年，押沙龙。所有军兵都听到了王对诸将的吩咐。

于是，军兵们就到疆场上抗击以色列人；在以法莲丛林展开厮杀。以色列军队不敌大卫的兵士，当天有两万人被杀。因为战斗遍及四野，死于丛林的士兵比死于刀剑下的还要多。

押沙龙遇到了大卫的兵士。押沙龙骑在骡子上，从繁密的橡树枝丫下经过，他的头发缠在了枝条上，整个人悬在天地间；而他适才骑的那匹骡子跑走了。

有兵士看到这情景，禀告约押道：“我看见押沙龙挂在那株橡树上。”约押对那兵士言道：“吠，你既已看到他，为何不杀死他？你若杀死他，我会给你十舍客勒银子和一条腰带。”兵士答道：“纵使我得到一千舍客勒银子，我也不会加害王的儿子。因为我们听见，王命令你、亚比筛和以太，不让任何人伤害押沙龙那少年。我若加害于他，我即成虚伪不义之人；而王亦必得知，而你也必以我为敌。”

约押说：“我不能这样跟你耽搁。”他拿起三支飞镖，射穿了押沙龙的胸膛，但押沙龙并没有死，还在枝丫间挣扎。给约押拿武器的十个年轻人一拥而上，把他杀死了。然后，约押吹起号角，兵士们不再追击以色列人；约押叫住了他们。

军兵们把押沙龙扔进了林间一个大坑里，在他身上堆起一大堆石头；所有以色列人都逃走了，都回到了自己的帐篷。押沙龙生前曾在王的山谷里为自己立了一个纪念柱，因他说：“没有子嗣会忆起我的名字。”，故而以自己的名字为石柱命名。直至今日，那石柱仍唤作“押沙龙柱”。

撒度该的儿子亚希玛斯说：“容我跑去把这消息告诉王——耶和华已惩治了他的敌人，已为他复仇。”约押对他说：“你今日不可去报信，你还是改日再去；你今日断不可去报信，因王的儿子死了。”随后，约押对古实人说：“去吧，将你所见的一切告诉王。”古实人遂拜别约押，跑走了。

撒度该的儿子亚希玛斯再一次跟约押说：“求你，无论如何，让我和那古实人一起去。”约押说：“吾儿，既已无消息禀报，为何还要去？”亚希玛斯说：“无论如何，请容我去。”约押答道：“去吧。”于是，亚希玛斯取道平原超过了那个古实人。

大卫坐在城门间。瞭望的人爬到城门楼上，举目远望，见一人独自跑来。瞭望的人高声告诉王。王说：“他若是独自一人，就必是报信的。”说话间，那人一路飞奔，愈发近了。

这时，瞭望的人看到另一个人也独自朝这边跑，他向卫兵喊道：“看，又一个人独自跑来了。”王说：“那人也是报信的。”瞭望的人说：“我觉得跑在前面的那人是撒度该的儿子亚希玛斯。”王说：“他是好人，他总带来好消息。”

亚希玛斯对王说：“万事顺遂。”他匍匐于王跟前，说：“蒙主佑护，反对吾王的叛军悉已剿灭。”王问：“押沙龙那少年可还安好？”亚希玛斯答道：“当约押遣派兵士时，我只看到一阵喧哗，却不明就里。”王对他说：“且站立一旁。”亚希玛斯遂静立一旁。

这时，那个古实人到了。只听他言道：“我有消息禀报吾王。今天耶和华已将那反对你的人尽数歼灭。”王问古实人：“押沙龙那少年可还安好？”古实人答道：“那少年与所有吾王的仇敌，所有欲伤害吾王的人一样下场。”

王闻言甚为动容，他走向城门楼，涕泗交流；他边走边说：“哦，儿啊，押沙龙！儿啊、儿啊，押沙龙！上帝若让我代你而死多好！哦，押沙龙，儿啊，儿啊！”

《旧约·撒母耳记下·18 》