³⁹ And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, ^(A)are too harsh for me. ^(B)The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

⁵ Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” ^(A)And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

¹² But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. ^(A)For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ^[a]‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’

¹⁴ Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.