Talmai

King of Geshur

The united kingdomKingc. 1050–980 BC

Talmai was king of Geshur, a small Aramean kingdom northeast of Israel. He is best known as the father-in-law of King David, since his daughter Maacah became one of David's wives and the mother of Absalom. Geshur served as a place of refuge for Absalom after he killed his half-brother Amnon.

Family

ChildMaacah (Princess of Geshur)

Key events

Talmai mentioned as king of Geshur

Talmai is identified as king of Geshur, and his daughter Maacah is mentioned as David's wife and the mother of Absalom.

2 Sam 3:3 Show in context →

3his second, Kileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ כִלְאָ֔ב *לאביגל **לַאֲ‍ֽבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֣ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֑י וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֔ה בַּת־תַּלְמַ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ גְּשֽׁוּר׃ ‬

David's marriage to Maacah

David took Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur, as his wife while he was reigning in Hebron. This marriage was likely a political alliance.

1 Chr 3:2 Show in context →

2the third, Absalom, son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah, son of Haggith;

הַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ לְאַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֔ה בַּת־תַּלְמַ֖י מֶ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר הָרְבִיעִ֖י אֲדֹנִיָּ֥ה בֶן־חַגִּֽית׃ ‬

The birth of Absalom

Absalom, son of David and Maacah, daughter of Talmai, was born in Hebron. He would later become a central figure in Israel's history.

2 Sam 3:3 Show in context →

3his second, Kileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

Absalom flees to Geshur

After Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon in revenge for the rape of his sister Tamar, he fled to his grandfather Talmai in Geshur, where he stayed for three years.

2 Sam 13:37 Show in context →

37Absalom, however, had fled to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And the king mourned for his son day after day.

וְאַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בָּרַ֔ח וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־תַּלְמַ֥י בֶּן־*עמיחו‪[t]‬*ד **עַמִּיה֖וּד מֶ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל עַל־בְּנ֖וֹ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ ‬

2 Sam 13:38 Show in context →

38After Absalom had fled to Geshur, he stayed there three years.

וְאַבְשָׁל֥וֹם בָּרַ֖ח וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר וַיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם שָׁלֹ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃ ‬

Absalom's stay with Talmai

Absalom lived with his grandfather Talmai in Geshur for three years while David mourned the situation. Geshur provided Absalom protection outside of David's jurisdiction.

2 Sam 13:38 Show in context →

38After Absalom had fled to Geshur, he stayed there three years.

וְאַבְשָׁל֥וֹם בָּרַ֖ח וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר וַיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם שָׁלֹ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃ ‬

2 Sam 13:39 Show in context →

39And King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon's death.

וַתְּכַל֙ דָּוִ֣ד הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָצֵ֖את אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם כִּֽי־נִחַ֥ם עַל־אַמְנ֖וֹן כִּֽי־מֵֽת׃ ס ‬

Joab brings Absalom back

After three years in Geshur with Talmai, Joab persuaded King David to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem, even though David initially refused to see him face to face.

2 Sam 14:23 Show in context →

23Then Joab set out for Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.

וַיָּ֥קָם יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּרָה וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ פ ‬

2 Sam 14:24 Show in context →

24But the king said, "He must go to his own house; he is not to see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king's face.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ יִסֹּ֣ב אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֣א יִרְאֶ֑ה וַיִּסֹּ֤ב אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֹ֥א רָאָֽה׃ ס ‬

2 Sam 14:32 Show in context →

32Absalom answered Joab, "Look, I sent word to you and said, 'Come here, so I can send you to the king to ask why I have come home from Geshur. It would be better for me if I were still there.' Now let me see the king's face, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death."

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם אֶל־יוֹאָ֡ב הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁלַ֣חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ ׀ לֵאמֹ֡ר בֹּ֣א הֵ֠נָּה וְאֶשְׁלְחָה֩ אֹתְךָ֨ אֶל־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֗ר לָ֤מָּה בָּ֙אתִי֙ מִגְּשׁ֔וּר ט֥וֹב לִ֖י עֹ֣ד אֲנִי־שָׁ֑ם וְעַתָּ֗ה אֶרְאֶה֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאִם־יֶשׁ־בִּ֥י עָוֺ֖ן וֶהֱמִתָֽנִי׃ ‬

2 Sam 14:33 Show in context →

33So Joab went to the king and told him. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed with his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.

וַיָּבֹ֨א יוֹאָ֣ב אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ וַיַּגֶּד־לוֹ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֨חוּ ל֧וֹ עַל־אַפָּ֛יו אַ֖רְצָה לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לְאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ פ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (6)

Numbers 13:22 Joshua 15:14 Judges 1:10 2 Samuel 3:3 2 Samuel 13:37 1 Chronicles 3:2