¹⁸ On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.”

²⁸ Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and valiant!” ^{(A) 29} So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on his mule.

¹⁴ Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you!” He then took three spears^[a] in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, ¹⁵ ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him. ¹⁶ Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them. ¹⁷ They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and raised up a huge mound of stones over him.^(A) And all Israel fled, each to his tent.^(B)

¹⁸ When he was alive, Absalom had taken a pillar and raised it up^(C) for himself in the King’s Valley,^(D) since he thought, “I have no son^(E) to preserve the memory of my name.” So he named the pillar after himself. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.

²² King Solomon answered his mother, “Why are you requesting Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my elder brother,^(A) you might as well ask the kingship for him,^(B) for the priest Abiathar, and for Joab son of Zeruiah.”^{[a](C) 23} Then King Solomon took an oath by the Lord: “May God punish me and do so severely^(D) if Adonijah has not made this request at the cost of his life. ²⁴ And now, as the Lord lives—the one who established me, seated me on the throne of my father David, and made me a dynasty as he promised^(E)—I swear Adonijah will be put to death today!” ²⁵ Then King Solomon dispatched Benaiah son of Jehoiada,^(F) who struck down Adonijah, and he died.

Athaliah Usurps the Throne

11 When Athaliah,^(A) Ahaziah’s mother,^(B) saw that her son was dead,^(C) she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.