Absalom
Absalom (אַבְשָׁלוֹם "Father of peace", Standard Hebrew Avšalom), in the Bible, was the third son of King David and leader of a major rebellion which nearly dethroned his father. He was deemed the most beautiful man in the kingdom.
Biblical story
Born at Hebron while David, who ruled only over Judah, was still at war with the house of Saul, Absalom was David's third listed son. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. After David succeeded in unifying the kingdom, Absalom was his most promising offspring, considered to be the heir apparent.
The rape of Tamar
However, after David had unfied the kingdom and settled his royal family in Jerusalem, Absalom faced a severe crisis. His sister Tamar had been raped by David's eldest son, Amnon, who was temporarily in love with her but came to hate her after he had defiled her. Absalom comforted and protect the distraught Tamar, waiting two years to avenge her disgrace. He then invited Ammon and several other princes to a feast at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, during a sheep-shearing celebration. After Ammon had drunk his fill of wine, Absalom order his servants to murder him.(2 Samuel 13).
Absalom took with refuge with Talmai of Geshur (see Joshua 12:5 or 13:2), his maternal grandfather. Although David "longed" for him, it would take three years for him to return in safety to Jerusalem, largely through the influence of Joab, David's cousin and commander-in-chief of the army. Back in the capital, Absalom lived in his own home and was still not admitted into the King's presence.
Reconciliation with David
During this period, he busied himself raising a family consisting of three sons and a daughter, the beautiful Tamar, named after his sister. He developed a national reputation for his good looks and charm, and his own good looks became was legendary (2 Sam. 14). Yet, after two more years, Absalom still had not met face to face with his father, King David. Joab, apparently fearful to approach the king further on Absalom's behalf, also refused to meet the prince. Deciding on desperate measures, Absalom had Joab's fields set aflame, later declaring to him: "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there! Now then, I want to see the king's face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death."
Somewhat surprisingly, this unorthodoxy diplomatic strategy proved effect, as Joab intervened again with the King and David finally received Absalom, greeting him with a kiss after the prince offer his obeisance.
Over the next four years, Absalom ingratiated him with the outlying tribes by meeting with travelers to the capital and sympathizing with their complaints, promising them justice "If only I were appointed judge in the land." (2 Sam 15:4) After having established what he believed to be an adequate foundation for his plans, he asked the King for permission to travel to Hebron, David's former capital, in order to fulfill a religious vow at that city's sacred altar.
Absalom's revolt
At Hebron Absalom dispatched messenger to raise a revolt. "All Israel," meaning the northern tribes, and much of Judah rallied to his side, dedclaring "Absalom is king in Hebron!" Ahithophel, one of David's chief advisors, soon joined the rebellion, along with major elements of the arming, leaving David protected mainly by mercenary troops. So effective was Absalom's strategy that the King decided to abandon Jerusalem, fleeing across the Kidron Valley toward the desert.
Priests secretly loyal to David remained behind in Jerusalem, and their sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz served as his spies. Absalom soon reached the capital on the advice of Ahithophel, publicly demonstrated his kingship by having sex with David's concubines on the palace rooftop "in the sight of all Israel." (2 Samuel 16)
The retreating David took refuge beyond the Jordan River. However, David took the precaution of instructing a servant, Hushai, to infiltrate Absalom's court and subvert it. To that end, Hushai convinced the new king to ignore Ahithophel's advice to press his advantage. Informed by his spies of Absalom's plans, David used this critical opportunity to cross the Jordan and prepare for the upcoming conflict, receiving much needed aid from Gileadite and Ammonite allies.
The decisive battle was fought in a "wood of Ephraim." David, unwilling to kill his own son despite his teachery, ordered is generals to "be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." David had chosen his ground wisely, as Absalom's army was completely routed, and "the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword." Absalom himself, sporting the long hair for which he was famous, found himself entangled helpless by his locks in the boughs of an oak tree. Joab, being informed of the situation by one of his soldiers, did not hesitate to act. He thrust three spears through the Absalom's heart as he struggled in the branches. Joab's armor-bearers then moved in to finish the job.
Legacy
Despite the revolt, David was overwhelmed with grief and ordered a great heap of stones to be erected where Absalom fell, while another monument near Jerusalem (not the modern "Absalom Tomb" - "Yad Avshalom" which is of later origin) was erected by Absalom in his lifetime to perpetuate his name 2 Samuel 18:
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a monument, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's monument."
Allusions to Absalom
- The single verse, 2 Samuel 18 v33, regarding David's grief at the loss of his son, is the setting of several pieces of choral music, usually entitled When David Heard (Such as Eric Whitacre's When David Heard) although this does not appear in the actual scripture.
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