²¹ The king said to Joab, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

¹¹ She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger^(A) of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.”

“As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair^(B) of your son’s head will fall to the ground.^(C)”

²⁶ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

³⁹ As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives,^(A) even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan,^(B) he must die.”^(C) But not one of them said a word.