¹¹ Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike^(A) him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels^[a] of silver and a warrior’s belt.^(B)”

¹² But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels^[b] were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.^[c]’ ¹³ And if I had put my life in jeopardy^[d]—and nothing is hidden from the king^(C)—you would have kept your distance from me.”