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 Afterward, 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.
18 When he was alive, Absalom had set up a pillar for himself in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.
19 Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.”