10. When one of the men saw it happen, he told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
11. Joab said to him, “You saw him? Why didn’t you kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you a belt and four ounces of silver!”
12. The man answered, “I wouldn’t touch the king’s son even if you gave me twenty-five pounds of silver. We heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Be careful not to hurt young Absalom.’
13. If I had killed him, the king would have found out, and you would not have protected me!”
14. Joab said, “I won’t waste time here with you!” Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, so Joab took three spears and stabbed him in the heart.
15. Ten young men who carried Joab’s armor also gathered around Absalom and struck him and killed him.
16. Then Joab blew the trumpet, so the troops stopped chasing the Israelites.