2 Samuel 18:15

15 and 10 young men who were Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed 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 If I had jeopardized my own life-and nothing is hidden from the king-you would have abandoned me."

14 Joab said, "I'm not going to waste time with you!" He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the oak tree,

15 and 10 young men who were Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

16 Afterwards, Joab blew the ram's horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.

17 They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.