¹⁷ They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up^(A) a large heap of rocks^(B) over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.

¹⁸ During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley^(C) as a monument^(D) to himself, for he thought, “I have no son^(E) to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

David Mourns

¹⁹ Now Ahimaaz^(F) son of Zadok said, “Let me run and take the news to the king that the Lord has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies.^(G)”