²⁸ When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the Lord and took hold of the horns^(A) of the altar.

⁵⁰ But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns^(A) of the altar.

⁷ Adonijah conferred with Joab^(A) son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar^(B) the priest, and they gave him their support.

² David sent out his troops,^(A) a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai^(B) son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai^(C) the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”

¹⁴ Joab^(A) said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. ¹⁵ And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.^(B)

²⁵ Absalom had appointed Amasa^(A) over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of Jether,^[a](B) an Ishmaelite^[b] who had married Abigail,^[c] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.

² Make a horn^(A) at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze.