And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

And a man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth.

And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, 'Lo, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.'

And a certain man saw it and said to Joab, I saw Absalom hanging in a tree.

Then a certain one saw this and reported it to Joab, saying, "I saw Absalom hanging from an oak."

I saw Absalom hanged in an oak - He must have hung there a considerable time. this man saw him hanging; how long he had been hanging before he saw him, we cannot tell. He came and informed Joab; this must have taken up a considerable time. Joab went and pierced him through with three darts; this must have taken up still more time. It is therefore natural to conclude that his life must have been nearly gone after having been so long suspended, and probably was past recovery, even if Joab had taken him down.

And a certain man saw it,.... Saw him in the above posture, one of David's soldiers:
and told Joab, and said, behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak; caught by the neck in one, out of which he could not disengage himself, but there he hung, though alive.

A man (one of David's men) saw him in this situation, and told Joab, Joab replied (2-Samuel 18:11), "Behold, thou hast seen it, and wherefore has thou not smitten him there to the ground? and it was for me to give thee ten silverlings and a girdle;" i.e., if thou hadst slain him, it would have been my duty to reward thee.