2 Samuel 18:1-14

1Then David 1numbered the people who were with him and 2set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2David sent the people out, 3one third under the 4command of Joab, one third under the 5command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the 6command of 7Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3But the people said, “8You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But 9you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So 10the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And 11all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.

6Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in 12the forest of Ephraim. 7The people of Israel were 13defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And 14his head caught fast in the oak, so he was 15left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for 16in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘17Protect for me the young man Absalom!’ 13Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and 18there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14Then Joab said, “I will not 19waste time here with you.” 20So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the 21midst of the oak.