Absalom (2 Samuel 3:2–5; 2 Samuel 13:1–22; 2 Samuel 13:23–39; 2 Samuel 14:1–33; 2 Samuel 15:1–12; 2 Samuel 15:13–16:23; 2 Samuel 17:1–26; 2 Samuel 18:1–18; 2 Samuel 18:19–19:10; 2 Samuel 20:6; 1 Kings 1:5–6; 1 Kings 2:7; 1 Kings 2:28; Psalms 3:1)

Son of David, Who Stole the Hearts of Israel

The third son born to David in Hebron, who hated his brother Amnon for forcing their sister Tamar, had Amnon slain, fled to Geshur, was brought back by Joab, stole the hearts of the men of Israel, was proclaimed king in Hebron, drove David out of Jerusalem, and was slain by Joab and his armor-bearers after his head caught in an oak.

Second Samuel names him as “the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur” (2 Samuel 3:3). His sister Tamar was forced by their brother Amnon, and “Absalom spake unto Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar” (2 Samuel 13:22). After two full years Absalom invited the king's sons to his sheep-shearing, and “the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded” (2 Samuel 13:29). Absalom fled to Talmai king of Geshur, his mother's father, and was there three years.

Joab brought him back to Jerusalem, but the king said, “let him not see my face” (2 Samuel 14:24), and two more years passed before the king kissed him. Then Absalom prepared a chariot and horses and stood beside the way of the gate, and “on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6). From Hebron his spies cried, “Absalom is king in Hebron” (2 Samuel 15:10), and a messenger told David, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:13). David fled, and Absalom came into Jerusalem, where at Ahithophel's counsel “Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel” (2 Samuel 16:22).

Against Ahithophel's counsel Absalom and all the men of Israel took the counsel of Hushai, “For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom” (2 Samuel 17:14). In the forest of Ephraim his head caught in a great oak, and Joab's armor-bearers slew him. When the tidings came, David wept: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee” (2 Samuel 18:33). The title of Psalm 3 reads “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son” (Psalms 3:1), and when his days drew nigh that he should die, David recalled those who “came to me when I fled from Absalom thy brother” (1 Kings 2:7).

Weaknesses

• Hated his brother Amnon
• Commanded his servants to kill Amnon
• Set Joab's field on fire
• Stole the hearts of the men of Israel
• Conspiracy against his father
• Went in unto his father's concubines

Themes

• Sons of David
• Hatred and vengeance
• Stolen hearts
• Conspiracy at Hebron
• Counsel defeated
• A father's lament

Born in Hebron, the third son (2 Samuel 3:2–5)

Absalom is the third of the sons born to David in Hebron, the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur.

Tamar's wrong and Absalom's silence (2 Samuel 13:1–22)

Amnon, David's firstborn, forces Absalom's sister Tamar; Absalom bids her hold her peace, she remains desolate in his house, and he speaks to Amnon neither good nor bad, for he hates him.

Amnon slain at the sheep-shearing (2 Samuel 13:23–33)

After two full years Absalom invites all the king's sons to Baal-hazor and commands his servants to smite Amnon; Jonadab tells David that Amnon only is dead.

Three years in Geshur (2 Samuel 13:34–39)

Absalom flees to Talmai king of Geshur, his mother's father, and is there three years, while David mourns and his soul longs to go forth unto Absalom.

Joab brings him back (2 Samuel 14:1–33)

Joab perceives that the king's heart is toward Absalom, sends a wise woman of Tekoa to David, and fetches Absalom from Geshur; after two more years Absalom sets Joab's field on fire and at last sees the king, who kisses him.

Joab brings him back

“Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman” (2 Samuel 14:1-2), and “Joab put the words in her mouth” (2 Samuel 14:3). Afterward the king said to Joab, “go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back” (2 Samuel 14:21), and Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

“And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king's face” (2 Samuel 14:24). The text adds: “Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him” (2 Samuel 14:25). It tells of the weight of his hair (2 Samuel 14:26), and “unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar” (2 Samuel 14:27).

“And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem; and he saw not the king's face” (2 Samuel 14:28). He sent twice for Joab, who would not come; then he said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire” (2 Samuel 14:30). Joab came and asked why, and Absalom answered, “let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me” (2 Samuel 14:32). “So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom” (2 Samuel 14:33).

Steals the hearts of Israel (2 Samuel 15:1–12)

Absalom prepares a chariot, horses and fifty runners, stands at the gate to speak to every man with a suit, steals the hearts of the men of Israel, and at Hebron has it proclaimed that he is king.

Steals the hearts of Israel

“Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate” (2 Samuel 15:1-2). To each man with a suit he said, “See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee” (2 Samuel 15:3), and “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!” (2 Samuel 15:4).

“And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:5-6).

“At the end of forty years” (2 Samuel 15:7) he asked the king, “let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron” (2 Samuel 15:7), and the king said, “Go in peace” (2 Samuel 15:9). “But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron” (2 Samuel 15:10). He sent for Ahithophel, David's counselor: “And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:12).

David flees; Absalom enters Jerusalem (2 Samuel 15:13–16:23; Psalms 3:1)

A messenger tells David that the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom; David flees, and Absalom comes into Jerusalem, where at Ahithophel's counsel he goes in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Hushai's counsel is preferred (2 Samuel 17:1–26)

Ahithophel asks to pursue David that night with twelve thousand men; Absalom also calls Hushai, David's friend, whose counsel is preferred, and Ahithophel hangs himself.

Hushai's counsel is preferred

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night” (2 Samuel 17:1), and “the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel” (2 Samuel 17:4). Then Absalom said, “Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith” (2 Samuel 17:5). Hushai answered, “The counsel that Ahithophel hath given this time is not good” (2 Samuel 17:7), and counseled that all Israel be gathered and that Absalom go to battle in his own person (2 Samuel 17:11).

“And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom” (2 Samuel 17:14). “And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself” (2 Samuel 17:23).

Absalom passed over the Jordan with all the men of Israel, and “Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab” (2 Samuel 17:25); Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead (2 Samuel 17:26).

Caught in the oak (2 Samuel 18:1–18)

David sends out his people in three companies and charges them to deal gently with Absalom; in the forest of Ephraim Absalom's head catches in a great oak, and Joab and his armor-bearers slay him.

Caught in the oak

David set a third part of the people under Joab, a third under Abishai, and a third under Ittai the Gittite, and “the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:5). “So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim” (2 Samuel 18:6).

“And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth; and the mule that was under him went on” (2 Samuel 18:9). A man told Joab, but said he would not put forth his hand against the king's son, “for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom” (2 Samuel 18:12). Joab “took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him” (2 Samuel 18:14-15).

“And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones” (2 Samuel 18:17). The text adds that in his lifetime he had reared up the pillar 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 Absalom's monument, unto this day” (2 Samuel 18:18). The text does not say what became of the sons named in 2 Samuel 14:27.

David's lament (2 Samuel 18:19–19:10)

Ahimaaz and the Cushite bring tidings; David asks twice whether it is well with the young man Absalom and weeps for him, until Joab rebukes him and the people dispute about bringing the king back.

David's lament

Ahimaaz told the king, “All is well” (2 Samuel 18:28), and the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” (2 Samuel 18:29). The Cushite came, and to the same question answered, “The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is” (2 Samuel 18:32).

“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33). “And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people” (2 Samuel 19:2).

Joab came to the king and said, “for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well” (2 Samuel 19:6); the king arose and sat in the gate. Meanwhile the tribes of Israel were at strife, saying, “And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?” (2 Samuel 19:10).

David (2 Samuel 13:21; 2 Samuel 14:33; 2 Samuel 15:14; 2 Samuel 18:33)

His father, who was very wroth at Tamar's wrong, longed for him in Geshur, kissed him, fled from him, and wept for him when he died.

Amnon (2 Samuel 3:2; 2 Samuel 13:22–29)

David's firstborn, of Ahinoam, who forced Tamar and whom Absalom's servants slew at the sheep-shearing.

Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1; 2 Samuel 13:20; 2 Samuel 14:27)

His sister, who remained desolate in his house; a daughter of Absalom is also named Tamar.

Maacah (2 Samuel 3:3; 1 Chronicles 3:2)

His mother, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur.

Talmai king of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3; 2 Samuel 13:37–38)

His mother's father, to whom Absalom fled after Amnon's death and with whom he stayed three years.

Joab (2 Samuel 14:23; 2 Samuel 14:30–33; 2 Samuel 17:25; 2 Samuel 18:14)

Brought him back from Geshur, came when his field was set on fire, was replaced by Amasa, and thrust three darts through his heart.

Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Samuel 16:23; 2 Samuel 17:23)

David's counselor, whom Absalom sent for at Hebron and whose counsel was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God; he hanged himself when it was not followed.

Hushai the Archite (2 Samuel 15:32–37; 2 Samuel 16:16–19; 2 Samuel 17:5–16)

David's friend, sent back to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, who came to Absalom saying Long live the king and whose counsel Absalom preferred.

Amasa (2 Samuel 17:25)

Set by Absalom over the host instead of Joab.

The LORD (2 Samuel 17:14)

Ordained to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Major sections

• 2 Samuel 3:2–5
• 2 Samuel 13–14
• 2 Samuel 15–17
• 2 Samuel 18–19
• 1 Kings 1–2
• Psalms 3

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