16. Joab blew the trumpet and called the people to stop chasing Israelites.
17. Then Joab’s men took Absalom’s body and threw it into a large hole in the forest and covered it with stones. All the Israelites ran away and went home.
18. While Absalom was alive he put up a memorial stone in King’s Valley. He said, “I have no son to keep my name alive.” So he named that monument after himself. It is called “Absalom’s Monument” even today.
19. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said to Joab, “May I run and take the news to King David? I’ll tell him the Lord has destroyed the enemy for him.”
20. Joab answered Ahimaaz, “No, you will not carry the message today. You can do it some other time, but not today because it is the king’s son who is dead.”
21. Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Ethiopian bowed to Joab and ran to tell David.
22. But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again, “No matter what happens, please let me also run after the Ethiopian!” Joab said, “Son, why do you want to carry the news? You will not get any reward for the news you bring.”