Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 15. Ten. Naharai alone is specified. Calmet. 23:37. Why he had ten does not appear. Calmet.—Slew him, inflicting many wounds on him; though Joab had already done sufficient. Bible.—These men abused his corpse, as if to revenge the insult offered to David’s ten wives. Salien.—It is asked whether Joab did wrong? He consulted the public welfare, rather than the parental affection of the king for a son, whom the law condemned to die for rebellion, incest, and murder. Leviticus 18:29. Calmet. 13:28. But still he was not a proper judge to inflict this death in cold blood; and thus to render the salvation of Absalom’s soul more desperate. David would, however, have done well to have punished this son, as incorrigible and dangerous to the state. Bible.