2 Samuel 18:15
ESV
And ten young men, Joab 's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
NIV
And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
NASB
And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.
CSB
ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
NLT
Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.
KJV
And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
NKJV
And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.
What does 2 Samuel 18:15 mean?
A soldier found the traitorous prince Absalom hanging from a tree, defenseless. Striking him would end the war between Absalom and David. But the soldier had heard David command that no one should harm his son. The soldier knows that if he kills Absalom, no one will come to his defense—not even the general Joab who most wants Absalom dead (2 Samuel 18:5, 9–13). Irritated, and probably convicted by the soldier's wisdom, Joab finds Absalom and thrusts three javelins—short throwable spears—into his heart (2 Samuel 18:14). Since Joab took the first strike, his armor-bearers feel free to finish the job.Joab then sounds his trumpet, signaling the end of both the battle and the war. Soldiers take Absalom off the tree and bury him in a pit (2 Samuel 18:16–17). To die on a tree is a dishonor. To remain hanging overnight is a curse of God (Deuteronomy 21:22–23).
The soldier believed Joab wouldn't defend him if he killed David's son. David does apparently discipline Joab, but not with execution. He fires Joab and gives his job to Absalom's general Amasa (2 Samuel 19:13), Joab's and Absalom's cousin (2 Samuel 17:25). David will later tell Solomon to execute Joab, but not because he killed Absalom (1 Kings 2:5–6). Joab has already murdered Abner, Saul's former general who had made a peace treaty with David (2 Samuel 3:27), for killing Joab's brother in battle (2 Samuel 2:22–23). And the first chance he gets, Joab will murder Amasa and reclaim his role as military commander (2 Samuel 20:10). Joab dies for those murders, not for killing Absalom who is a legal combatant in war and a traitor.
