2 Samuel 18:13-21
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 18
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.'
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, 'Go, tell the king what you have seen.' So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.
King James Version
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
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
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
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.
19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies."
20And Joab said to him, "You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king 's son is dead."
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran.
New International Version
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
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.
