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.
17. Then Joab’s men took Absalom’s body and threw it into a large pit in the forest and filled the pit with many stones. All the Israelites ran away to their homes.
18. When Absalom was alive, he had set up a pillar for himself in the King’s Valley. He said, “I have no son to keep my name alive.” So he named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument even today.
19. Ahimaaz son of Zadok said to Joab, “Let me run and take the news to King David. I’ll tell him the Lord has saved him from his enemies.”
20. Joab answered Ahimaaz, “No, you are not the one to take the news today. You may do it another time, but do not take it today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21. Then Joab said to a man from Cush, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran to tell David.
22. But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again, “No matter what happens, please let me go along with the Cushite!”Joab said, “Son, why do you want to carry the news? You won’t get any reward.”
23. Ahimaaz answered, “No matter what happens, I will run.”So Joab said to Ahimaaz, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the Jordan Valley and passed the Cushite.