11 And Joab saith to the man who is declaring 'it' to him, 'And lo, thou hast seen—and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth—and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one girdle?' 12 And the man saith unto Joab, 'Yea, though I am weighing on my hand a thousand silverlings, I do not put forth my hand unto the son of the king; for in our ears hath the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Observe ye who 'is' against the youth—against Absalom; 13 or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou—thou dost station thyself over-against.' 14 And Joab saith, 'Not right—I tarry before thee;' and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he 'is' alive, in the midst of the oak. 15 And they go round—ten youths bearing weapons of Joab—and smite Absalom, and put him to death.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:11-15

Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:9-18

(Read 2 Samuel 18:9-18)

Let young people look upon Absalom, hanging on a tree, accursed, forsaken of heaven and earth; there let them read the Lord's abhorrence of rebellion against parents. Nothing can preserve men from misery and contempt, but heavenly wisdom and the grace of God.