Then it was toldJoab,"Behold,the kingis weepingand mournsfor Absalom."
Then allhis sonsand allhis daughtersaroseto comforthim, but he refusedto be comforted.And he said,"SurelyI will godownto Sheolin mourningfor my son."So his fatherweptfor him.
The mansaidto Joab,"Even ifI should receivea thousand[pieces of] silverin my hand,I would not putout my handagainstthe king'sson;for in our hearingthe kingchargedyou and Abishaiand Ittai,saying,Protectfor me the youngmanAbsalom!'
Then Joabsaid,"I will not wastetimeherewith you." So he tookthreespearsin his handand thrustthem through the heartof Absalomwhile he was yetalivein the midstof the oak.
But Joabsaidto him, "You are not the manto carrynewsthisday,but you shall carrynewsanotherday;however, you shall carrynonewstodaybecausethe king'ssonis dead."
The kingwas deeplymovedand wentup to the chamberoverthe gateand wept.And thushe saidas he walked,"O my sonAbsalom,my son,my sonAbsalom!WouldI had diedinsteadof you, O Absalom,my son,my son!"
The kingchargedJoaband Abishaiand Ittai,saying,"[Deal] gentlyfor my sake with the youngmanAbsalom."And allthe peopleheardwhen the kingchargedallthe commandersconcerningAbsalom.
The victorythat daywas turnedto mourningfor allthe people,for the peopleheard[it] saidthat day,"The kingis grievedfor his son."
A foolishsonis a griefto his fatherAnd bitternessto her who borehim.
"I will pourout on the houseof Davidand on the inhabitantsof Jerusalem,the Spiritof graceand of supplication,so that they will lookon Me whomthey have pierced;and they will mournfor Him, as one mournsfor an onlyson,and they will weepbitterlyoverHim like the bitterweepingovera firstborn.
