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.