8. The battle spread throughout the country, but more men died in the forest than by the sword.
9. It so happened that David’s officers found Absalom. Absalom jumped on his mule and tried to escape, but the mule went under the branches of a large oak tree. The branches were thick, and Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. His mule ran out from under him, so Absalom was left hanging above the ground.
10. Someone saw this happen and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
11. Joab said to the man, “Why didn’t you kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you a belt and ten pieces of silver!”
12. The man said to Joab, “I would not try to hurt the king’s son even if you gave me 1000 pieces of silver. We heard the king’s command to you, Abishai, and Ittai. The king said, ‘Be careful not to hurt young Absalom.’
13. If I had killed Absalom, the king himself would find out, and you would punish me.”
14. Joab said, “I will not waste my time here with you!” Absalom was still alive and hanging in the oak tree. Joab took three sticks in his hand and hit him in the heart.
15. Ten of Joab’s young helpers gathered around Absalom and killed him.
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.”
23. Ahimaaz answered, “No matter what happens, I will run to David.” Joab said to Ahimaaz, “All right, run to David!” Then Ahimaaz ran through Jordan Valley and passed the Ethiopian.
24. David was sitting between the two gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof over the gate walls and saw a man running alone.