2 Samuel 18:4-13

4“I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the city gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.

5The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the people heard the king’s orders to all the commanders about Absalom.

6Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.

7Israel’s army was defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day — twenty thousand dead.

8The battle spread over the entire area, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.

9Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.

10One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

11“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten silver pieces and a belt!”

12The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’

13If I had jeopardized my own life — and nothing is hidden from the king — you would have abandoned me.”