6
So the people went out into the field against Isra'el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim.
7
The people of Isra'el were defeated there by David's servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men.
8
For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword.
9
Avshalom happened to meet some of David's servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him.
10
Someone saw it and told Yo'av, "I saw Avshalom hanging in a terebinth."
11
Yo'av asked the man who told him, "Here now, you saw it; so why didn't you strike him to the ground then and there? I would have had to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt besides."
12
The man replied to Yo'av, "Even if I were to get a thousand pieces of silver, I still wouldn't raise my hand against the son of the king! After all, while we were listening, the king ordered you, Avishai and Ittai, 'Be careful that no one touches young Avshalom.'
13
Or, if I had pretended that I didn't know, the king would have known otherwise anyway; and you wouldn't have interceded for me either."
14
Yo'av said, "I can't waste time arguing with you!" He took three darts in his hand and rammed them through Avshalom's heart while he was still alive, hanging from the terebinth.
15
Then Yo'av's ten young armor-bearers surrounded Avshalom, struck him and killed him.
16
Yo'av sounded the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing Isra'el, because Yo'av held back the troops.