¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”

⁴ For the word of the king is supreme, and ^(A)who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

²⁸ Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's ^(A)heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.”