2 Samuel 18:5-15, 2 Samuel 19:5-7 - LSB - Legacy Standard Bible

2 Samuel 18:5-15

5 Then the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And ^aall the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6 Then the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle took place in ^athe forest of Ephraim. 7 And the people of Israel were ¹defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8 And the battle there was scattered over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Then Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And ^ahis head caught fast in the oak, so he was ¹left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him passed onward. 10 Then a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 So the man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive one thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not send forth my hand against the king’s son; for ^ain our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘¹Keep for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and ^athere is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not wait around here before you.” ^aSo he took three ¹spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the ²midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and put him to death.

2 Samuel 19:5-7

5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed the faces of all your servants, who today have provided escape for your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have informed all of us today that ¹princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, surely then it would be right in your eyes. 7 So now, arise, go out and speak to the heart of your servants, for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go out, surely ^anot a man will pass the night with you, and this will be of greater evil for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”