But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’
Here is Absalom quite at a loss, at his wit's end first, and then at his life's end. He that began the fight, big with the expectation of triumphing over David himself, with whom, if he had had him in his power, he would not have dealt gently, is now in the greatest consternation, when he meets the servants of David, Sa2 18:9.
Commenting on 2 Samuel 18:9-18
And the man said unto Joab,.... Disdaining his proposal: though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand; or such a sum should be offered to me; the Arabic version is a million: yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son; to smite him, and slay him: for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abishai, and...
2Sa 18:12-13 But the man replied, “And I ... not weighing a thousand shekels in my hand ... might not stretch out my hand to the king’s son,” i.e., I could not do it for a reward of a thousand shekels.
Commenting on 2 Samuel 18:12-13