David's men were getting ready to go to war. David's men told him not to go saying, "If we have to flee they will only pursue you, for a thousand of our men isn't important to them and our whole army isn't important to them, your what their after." So David did not go. Do you think that was right off David? If he was the King, no matter what the danger, I think he should go. He's their King. So David told them all, 'spare my son for my sake.' Absalom was fleeing. He was riding on a mule. The mule passed a large branch. Absalom's hair got stuck on the branch, and he hung there. When one of the men saw him he reported him to Joab. Joab scolded him for not killing Absalom and killed Absalom himself. David was heart broken. The men came back rejoicing until they heard David weeping for his son. Joab went up and said to David, 'Today you have put all your men in humiliation! You showed that you love those who hate you and hate those who love you! If you don't go out and thank and congratulate the troops, then no mman will be with you by nightfall!' So david went out to his troops. I wouldn't be so bold to go up there if I was the one who killed Absalom!