2 Samuel 18:15

15 And ten young men, servants of Joab, came round Absalom and put an end to him.

2 Samuel 18:15 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 18:15

And ten young men that bare Joab's armour
That waited upon him in the battle, to carry his armour, and supply him with it as he should have occasion; these, by his orders,

compassed about, and smote Absalom, and slew him;
they enclosed him that none might rescue him, and smote him with their spears or swords, or whatsoever armour they had, until it was a clear case that he was really dead. Joab in this disobeyed the king's order, but provided for the good of the nation, and the safety of the king. The Jews observe {m}, that measure for measure was given to Absalom; he was proud of his hair, ( 2 Samuel 14:25 2 Samuel 14:26 ) , and therefore was hanged by it, ( 2 Samuel 18:9 ) ; he lay with ten concubines of his father, ( 2 Samuel 16:21 2 Samuel 16:22 ) , and therefore was smitten with ten lances or spears by ten young men; and he stole three hearts, the heart of his father, the heart of the sanhedrim, and the heart of the men of Israel, and therefore three darts were fixed in him, ( 2 Samuel 18:14 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 Misn. Sotah, c. 1. sect. 8.

2 Samuel 18:15 In-Context

13 And if I had falsely put him to death (and nothing may be kept secret from the king), you would have had nothing to do with me.

14 Then Joab said, I would have made it safe for you. And he took three spears in his hand, and put them through Absalom's heart, while he was still living, in the branches of the tree.

15 And ten young men, servants of Joab, came round Absalom and put an end to him.

16 And Joab had the horn sounded, and the people came back from going after Israel, for Joab kept them back.

17 And they took Absalom's body and put it into a great hole in the wood, and put a great mass of stones over it: and every man of Israel went in flight to his tent.