Thus perished the instigators of rebellion in Israel. Ahithophel had died by his own hand. The princely Absalom, whose glorious beauty had been the pride of Israel, had been cut down in the vigor of his youth, his dead body thrust into a pit, and covered with a heap of stones, in token of everlasting reproach. During his lifetime Absalom had reared for himself a costly monument in the king's dale, but the only memorial which marked his grave was that heap of stones in the wilderness.

Sådan gik det de mænd, som gjorde oprør i Israel. Akitofel begik selvmord. Prins Absalom, hvis overvældende skønhed havde været Israels stolthed, var blevet dræbt i sin ungdoms styrke, og hans lig blev kastet i en grube og begravet under en stendynge som tegn på evig skam. Mens Absalom endnu levede, havde han rejst et kostbart monument for sig selv i kongedalen, men det eneste, der markerede hans grav, var en stendynge i ørkenen.