2 Samuel 18:14

“Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee, etc.] It is not worth while to talk with thee any longer, nor must I lose time, and neglect my opportunity; I do not desire you to go and smite him, I will go and do it myself: and he took three darts in his hand; or three rods, which were either all iron, or however the tops of them were iron spikes: and thrust them through the heart of Absalom; or through the midst of his body; for if he had thrust through his heart, properly speaking, he must have died instantly, whereas he seems to have lived after this: while he [was] yet alive; Joab found him alive when he came to him, and so he was when he thrust his darts through him; and so he was…”

“HE IS SLAIN BY JOAB. (2Sa. 18:14-32) he took three darts . . . and thrust them through the heart of Absalom--The deed, partially done by Joab, was completed by his bodyguard. Being a violation of the expressed wish, as well as of all the fond paternal feelings of David, it must have been deeply offensive to the king, nor was it ever forgotten (Kg1 2:5); and yet there is the strongest reason for believing that Joab, in doing it, was actuated by a sincere regard to the interests of David, both as a man and a monarch.”

“I may not tarry ... - i. e., lose time in such discourse. return to 'Top of Page'”

“18:14 plunged them into Absalom’s heart: Earlier, Joab had played the role of reconciler between David and Absalom (ch 14). It is possible Joab believed that allowing Absalom to live would only invite ongoing trouble for David and for himself. (Absalom had appointed Amasa, Joab’s first cousin, to fill Joab’s position as commander of Israel’s army; see 17:25.)”

“with thee: Heb. before thee thrust them: Sa2 18:5; Jdg 4:21, Jdg 5:26, Jdg 5:31; Psa 45:5; Th1 5:3 midst: Heb. heart, Mat 12:40 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 18:16”

“Joab replied, "Not so will I wait before thee," i.e., I will not leave the thing to thee. He then took three staffs in his hand, and thrust them into Absalom's heart. שׁבטים is rendered by the lxx and Vulgate, βέλη, lanceas; and Thenius would adopt שׁלחים accordingly, as an emendation of the text. But in the earlier Hebrew שׁלח only occurs in poetical writings in the sense of a missile or dart ( Job 33:18; Job 36:12; Joe 2:8); and it is not till after the captivity that we find it used to denote a weapon generally. There is no necessity, however, for altering the text. Joab caught up in his hurry the first thing that he found, namely pointed staff, and pierced Absalom with them to the…”