And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
But the man said to Joab, 'Even if you put a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. We all heard the king give you, Abishai, and Ittai a direct order, saying, "Be careful that no one harms the young man Absalom."'
This soldier is refusing to harm Absalom because he heard King David's clear command to protect his son, even though David and Absalom are at war.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, King David was engaged in a civil war against his son Absalom, who had rebelled and tried to seize the throne, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. During the battle, David explicitly commanded his generals, including Joab, not to harm Absalom, emphasizing his desire to spare his son's life. This verse captures a soldier's refusal to kill Absalom, highlighting the tension between loyalty to the king's orders and the chaos of war.
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