ABSALOM

Absalom was third son of King David. The word 'Absalom' means father of peace. He was born at Hebron while men of Judah had anointed David as their King. Isoboseth, son of King Saul, ruled Israel that time. David had a very strenuous period, as Isoboseth was claiming the Kingdom. Over a period of years, David acquired eight wives, and had many sons. Absalom was born to David through his wife Maacha, daughter of Talmai who was the king of Geshur, a small territory between Hermon and Bashan. At childhood itself Absalom moved to Jerusalem and spent most his life there as David tranferred the Capital to Jerusalem. Absalom was favorite of his father and of the people as well.

In all Israel there was none as handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him. He had beautiful hair when shorn, weighed over ten ounces that he cut and sold at the end of every year. He was also with charming manners. Absalom nourished a natural desire to be one-day reach the magnificent power created by his father. By his well-mannered attitudes and love of royal pretension, he won over the hearts of the people of Israel. Absalom used to rise early in the morning and stand beside the way to the gate. When any one come to appeal to the king of his grievance, Absalom would call him and ask him and say, "From what city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel." Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king." Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice." And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom captivated the hearts of the people of Israel from the beginning. Absalom had a very lavish style of living. He lived in great style, drove in a magnificent chariot and had fifty men run before him. Other Princes of the Royal court very jelous of seeing such magnificence and royal style of living of Absalom.

David's eldest son, Amnon, born of a Jezrahelite mother, and prospective heir to the throne by reason of his seniority, had conceived a violent passion for Thamar, Absalom's beautiful sister. He wanted to have her as his wife, but because she was his half-sister, that was not permissible. Absalom and Tamar had the same mother who was the daughter of the king of Geshur in Philistia. Absalom was very protective of his sister. His desire came to be known to close friend Jonadab who also his cousin brother. Jonadab gave Amnon some very bad advice concerning Tamar. Amnon, on the advice of Jonadab, pretended to be ill and requested King that Thamar be permitted to nurse him. It was thus that Amnon found opportunity to wrong the innocence of his stepsister and he started hating her afterwards.

Thamar, in the bitterness of her sorrow, met Absalom informed him the secret of Amnon's violence to her. The crime was made known to David too. Amnon's sin against Tamar was worthy of a death sentence. David was extremely displeased with his son's actions, however unwilling to let the disgrace of his prospective heir become public; he failed to punish Amnon for his crime. As David shut his eyes to the grave crime to his sister, Absalom quietly nourished his anger against him. He took his sister Thamar into his house and told her not to disclose this to anybody and she lived in seclusion there. Absalom never spoke to Amnon, neither good nor evil, but he hated him with hatred unto death and determined his heart to avenge him. After the lapse of two years of his resentment in silence, Absalom found occasion to act openly to avenge his sister's wrongs. Very cunningly he took permission from the king to arrange for a public festival of thanksgiving the annual sheep shearing with his entire princely brother including Amnon present. He made a great feast for the king's sons, at Baalhazor, to which, among others, Amnon also came.

When the banquest was at its esteem and Amnon was in the pleasure of wine, Absalom gave a signal to his trusted servants and they fell upon Amnon and beaten to death by his trusted servants. Sensing the danger of the fury of Absalom all other Princes flee from the scenario. To avoid punishment he fled to the house of his maternal grandfather in Geshur, where he remained for three years. After three years, through the intervention of Joab, David's nephew and his trusted general, He was allowed to return to the city, without being permitted to show his face to the king. In this condition Absalom lives for two years, seeking all the while to regain through the recommendation of Joab the favor of his father. Eventually Absalom was admitted to the royal presence after being five years away from Jerusalem.

Restored to his former princely dignity and the apparent confidence of his father, he made up his mind to succeed his father upon the throne. He could capture the goodwill of the people and succeeded in preparing the minds of the disaffected for a general uprising. He prepared a small army of men. Then he rode in a beautiful horse-drawn chariot with fifty men to run beside him as he traveled throughout the land making friends with the people. After four years of planning his revolt, Absalom was ready to carry out his plans. He went to David and obtained permission from the king to visit Hebron, the ancient capital, on pretense of paying a vow made by him while at Geshur in case of his safe return to Jerusalem. With two hundred men he repaired to Hebron. Preparations had already been made in different parts of the country for the proclamation of Absalom as the new King. Very large numbers responded to the call of Absalom to assemble under his flag at Hebron. Achitophel, one of David's oldest and shrewdest counselors, had joined the conspirators, and by his design a strong current was being directed against David.

Reports of the conspiracy at Hebron soon reached the ears of David. David and whole his folks became thoroughly frightened and decided to leave Jerusalem for safety. He quickly called his trusted followers and flew towards Mount Olivet, hoping to cross the Jordan to save themselves from the fury of his son. On the way he meets his faithful officer Chusai, whom he advises to join Absalom. Absalom and his men crossed over the Jordan River in pursuit of his father. David organized his army, which he divided into three divisions under the efficient command of three veteran generals: Joab, Abishai and Ittai. A fierce battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim east of Jordan. Absalom's army was badly defeated. Twenty thousand men were killed on the battlefield, and an even greater number of men died in the forest that surrounded the field of battle.

Absalom fled on a swift mule, and as he rode through the forest, his long hair became entangled in the forked branches of a huge oak tree. His mule kept running, leaving Absalom suspended in mid-air, unable to free himself. One of Joab's men saw the accident of Absalom, and he reported the incident to Joab. As Joab's henchmen refused to kill the king's son, Joab without a moment's hesitation, notwithstanding David's positive orders, thrust three darts into the heart of Absalom. To make his death certain and encouraged by the action of their general, ten of Joab's young men smote Absalom, and slew him. A great pile of stones was heaped over his body. The death of Absalom caused great grief to the fond and aged father.

Little is known of Absalom's family life, but we read in 2 Samuel 14:27 that he had three sons and one daughter. It is inferred that the sons died at an early age.