2 Samuel 18:12-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 18
12But the man said to Joab, 'Even if I were to receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘ Protect the young man Absalom for me!’ 13Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have avoided me.' 14Then Joab said, 'I will not waste time here with you.' So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the midst of the oak. 15And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
17And they took Absalom and threw him into a deep pit in the forest, and erected over him a very large pile of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, 'I have no son to continue my name.' So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, 'Please let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has freed him from the hand of his enemies!'
20But Joab said to him, 'You are not the man to bring news this day, but you shall bring news another day; however, you shall bring no news this day, because the king’s son is dead.'
King James Version
Chapter 18
12And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 13Otherwise 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.
14Then 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.
15And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17And 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.
18Now 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.
19Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
20And 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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 18
12The man replied to Joab, "Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’ 13If I had jeopardized my own life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me."
14Joab said, "I’m not going to waste time with you!" He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree,
15ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.
17They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and raised up a huge mound of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
New Living Translation
Chapter 18
12I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver, ' the man replied to Joab. 'We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’ 13And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son — and the king would certainly find out who did it — you yourself would be the first to abandon me.'
14Enough of this nonsense,' Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree.
15Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.
English Standard Version
Chapter 18
12But the man said to Joab, "Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king 's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’ 13On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof." 14Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. 15And ten young men, Joab 's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them.
17And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King 's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom 's monument to this day.
New International Version
Chapter 18
12But the man replied, "Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake. ’ 13And if I had put my life in jeopardy —and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have kept your distance from me."
14Joab said, "I’m not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.
15And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
New King James Version
Chapter 18
12But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’ 13Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
14Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
15And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.
