2 Samuel 18:11   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

Joab said to the man who had told him this, "What! You saw him? Why didn't you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver and a warrior's belt."

2 Samuel 18:12   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

But the man replied, "Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king's son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, 'Protect the young man Absalom for my sake. '

2 Samuel 18:13   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

And if I had put my life in jeopardy -and nothing is hidden from the king-you would have kept your distance from me."

2 Samuel 18:14   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

Joab said, "I'm not going to wait like this for you." So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.

2 Samuel 18:20   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

"You are not the one to take the news today," Joab told him. "You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king's son is dead."

2 Samuel 18:21   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

Then Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed down before Joab and ran off.

2 Samuel 18:22   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, "Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite." But Joab replied, "My son, why do you want to go? You don't have any news that will bring you a reward."

2 Samuel 18:28   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against my lord the king."

2 Samuel 18:29   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king's servant and me, your servant, but I don't know what it was."

2 Samuel 18:31   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

Then the Cushite arrived and said, "My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you."

2 Samuel 18:32   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

The king asked the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The Cushite replied, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man."

2 Samuel 18:33   (Read all of 2 Samuel 18)

The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!"

2 Samuel 19:5   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.

2 Samuel 19:6   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.

2 Samuel 19:7   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now."

2 Samuel 19:10   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

2 Samuel 19:11   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

2 Samuel 19:12   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?'

2 Samuel 19:13   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.' "

2 Samuel 19:14   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men."

2 Samuel 19:19   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.

2 Samuel 19:20   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."

2 Samuel 19:22   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

David replied, "What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel?"

2 Samuel 19:23   (Read all of 2 Samuel 19)

So the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king promised him on oath.