2Samuel:18:6-17

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* So the people went out into the field against Israel : and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ; * Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David , and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men . * For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country : and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured . * And Absalom met the servants of David . And Absalom rode upon a mule , and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak , and his head caught hold of the oak , and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth ; and the mule that was under him went away . * And a certain man saw it , and told Joab , and said , Behold , I saw Absalom hanged in an oak . * And Joab said unto the man that told him , And , behold , thou sawest him , and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground ? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver , and a girdle . * And the man said unto Joab , Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand , yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king 's son : for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai , saying , Beware that none touch the young man Absalom . * Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life : for there is no matter hid from the king , and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me . * Then said Joab , I may not tarry thus with thee . And he took three darts in his hand , and thrust them through the heart of Absalom , while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak . * And ten young men that bare Joab 's armour compassed about and smote Absalom , and slew him . * And Joab blew the trumpet , and the people returned from pursuing after Israel : for Joab held back the people . * And they took Absalom , and cast him into a great pit in the wood , and laid a very great heap of stones upon him : and all Israel fled every one to his tent .

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