⁵ The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.’ All the people heard the king’s orders to all the commanders about Absalom.

¹² The man replied to Joab, ‘Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver^[a] 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.”^[b](A)

¹⁴ Joab said, ‘I’m not going to waste time with you! ’ He then took three spears^[a] in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree,