7
The people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
8
For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9
Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
10
A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
11
Joab said to the man who told him, Behold, you saw it, and why didn't you strike him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten [pieces of] silver, and a sash.
12
The man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in my hand, I still wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against [me].
14
Then said Joab, I may not wait thus with you. 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
Ten young men who bore Joab's armor compassed about and struck Absalom, and killed him.
16
Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people.
17
They took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled everyone to his tent.