2 Samuel 18:13

Against mine own life. Literally, “against his life.” The reading of the KJV is found in the margin of the Hebrew Bible and in a number of Hebrew manuscripts. If the soldier had taken the life of Absalom, inquiry would have immediately been made, and when it was discovered who had disobeyed the king’s command, the offender would have been slain. Joab himself would probably have taken his stand against him and issued the order for the execution. Joab was a valiant commander, but he was self-willed and unscrupulous. Happy though he might have been over Absalom’s death, he might have feigned great indignation at such a gross violation of the king’s command and have ordered the violator put to death.