13
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life; for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me."
14
Then said Joab, "I may not tarry thus with thee." And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15
And ten young men who bore Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab held back the people.
17
And they took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him; and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the King's Dale, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." And he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called unto this day, Absalom's Place.
19
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, "Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies."
20
And Joab said unto him, "Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead."
21
Then said Joab to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what thou hast seen." And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab and ran.
22
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, "But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?"
23
"But howsoever," said he, "let me run." And he said unto him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.