2 Samuel 18:11
“Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver, and a sash.””
What does 2 Samuel 18:11 mean?
Joab, King David's military commander, is reacting with shock and anger when he learns that someone spotted David's rebellious son Absalom but didn't kill him. Joab is offering a reward (silver and a belt, which signified honor and status) to show how valuable he considered this task. The question reveals Joab's frustration: in his view, this was an obvious opportunity that should have been taken without hesitation. This moment captures the brutal calculus of ancient warfare and politics, where a commander expected his soldiers to act decisively in critical moments, even when it meant killing the king's own son.