¶ Now Absalom met the servants of David, and Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule came under a great thick oak: and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up [a]between the heaven and the earth: and the mule that was under him went away.

10 And one that saw it, told Joab, saying, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

11 Then Joab said unto the man that told him, And hast thou indeed seen? why then didst thou not there smite him to the ground, and I would have given thee ten (A)shekels of silver, and a girdle?

12 Then the man said unto Joab, Though I should [b]receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not lay mine hand upon the King’s son: for in our hearing the King charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Beware, lest any touch the young man Absalom.

13 If I had done it, it had been [c]the danger of my life: for nothing can be hid from the King: yea, thou thyself wouldest have been against me.

14 Then said Joab, I will not thus tarry with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them [d]through Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

15 And ten servants that bare Joab’s armor, compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16 Then Joab [e]blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great [f]pit in the wood, and laid a mighty great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his life time had taken and reared him up a pillar, which is in the (B)King’s dale: for he said, I have no [g]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.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 18:9 This is a terrible example of God’s vengeance against them that are rebels or disobedient to their parents.
  2. 2 Samuel 18:12 Hebrew, weigh upon mine hand.
  3. 2 Samuel 18:13 Hebrew, a lie against my soul.
  4. 2 Samuel 18:14 Hebrew, in the heart of Absalom.
  5. 2 Samuel 18:16 For he had pity of the people, which was seduced by Absalom’s flattery.
  6. 2 Samuel 18:17 Thus God turned his vain glory to shame.
  7. 2 Samuel 18:18 It seemed that God had punished him in taking away his children, 2 Sam. 14:27.

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