2 Samuel 18:9-15 ▼

9 And it happened that Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and Absalom's head caught fast in the great oak, and he was hanging between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.

11 And Joab said to the man who told him, When you saw him, why then did you not smite him there and throw him to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a garment.

12 And the man said to Joab, Though you should count to me a thousand shekels of silver, I would not put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Be careful not to harm the young man Absalom for my sake.

13 And if I should have done it, then I would have been guilty; and nothing would have been hidden from the king, and you yourself would have stood against me.

14 Then Joab said to him, That is not true, I will do it now myself. Then Joab took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive and hanging from the oak.

15 And ten young men who bore Joab's armor circled about and smote Absalom and slew him.