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!” Now 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. They struck him and killed him.
16. Then Joab blew the trumpet. So the troops stopped chasing Absalom’s Israelites.
17. Then Joab’s men took Absalom’s body. They threw it into a large pit in the forest. Then they filled the pit with many stones. All the Israelites who followed Absalom ran away and went home.
18. When Absalom was alive, he had put up a pillar in the King’s Valley. It was a monument to himself. He said, “I have no son to keep my name alive.” So he named the pillar after himself. That pillar is called Absalom’s Monument even today.
19. Ahimaaz son of Zadok spoke to Joab. He said, “Let me 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 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. He said, “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 for the news you bring!”
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.
24. Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof by the gate walls. As he looked up, he saw a man running alone.
25. He shouted to tell King David.The king said, “If he is alone, he is bringing good news!”The man came nearer and nearer to the city.