7. The people of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day — 20,000 casualties.
8. The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
9. Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.
10. One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree! ”
11. “You just saw him! ” Joab exclaimed. “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you 10 silver pieces and a belt! ”
12. The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of 1,000 pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’
13. If I had jeopardized my own life — and nothing is hidden from the king — you would have abandoned me.”
14. Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you! ” He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the oak tree,
15. and 10 young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
16. Afterward, Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.
17. They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
18. When he was alive, Absalom had set up a pillar for himself in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.
19. Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.”
20. Joab replied to him, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren’t taking good news, because the king’s son is dead.”
21. Joab then said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
22. However, Ahimaaz son of Zadok persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite! ”Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to run since you won’t get a reward? ”
23. “No matter what, I want to run! ”“Then run! ” Joab said to him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
24. David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gate and over to the wall. The watchman looked out and saw a man running alone.