2 Samuel 18:4-13

4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So 1the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And 2all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.

6Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in 3the forest of Ephraim. 7The people of Israel were 4defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand 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 encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then 5his head caught firmly in the oak, and he was 6left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11Then Joab said to the man who had informed him, “So behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And it would have been 7my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to 8receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for 9in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘10Protect the young man Absalom for me!’ 13Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against 11his life (and 12there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have 13avoided me.”