Tunnetaan myös nimellä: Absjalom, Abishalom, Absjalon
Yhdistynyt kuningaskuntaPrinceRebelPretender to the throneLeaderc. 1000 BC
Absalom, David's third son by Maacah from the Aramean kingdom of Geshur, was renowned for his exceptional beauty and thick hair. When his half-brother Amnon raped their sister Tamar, Absalom harbored his hatred in silence for two years before orchestrating Amnon's murder at a sheep-shearing festival in Baal-Hazor. The following three years he spent in exile with his maternal grandfather King Talmai in Geshur. After a long process to regain his father's favor – first through Joab's scheme involving the wise woman from Tekoa, then after waiting two more years – Absalom devised a calculated plan to seize power. By stationing himself at Jerusalem's city gate and undermining trust in David's legal system, he systematically won the people's loyalty. The rebellion culminated when he had himself proclaimed king in Hebron, forcing David to flee his own capital. Theologically, the uprising can be understood as a fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy that the sword would never depart from David's house, as a consequence of the sin against Uriah and Bathsheba. Absalom's end came in the forest of Ephraim, where his head became caught in an oak tree and he was pierced by Joab – despite David's explicit order to spare him. David's heart-wrenching lament, "O my son Absalom, my son!" is one of Scripture's most moving expressions of a father's grief.
25"No, my son," the king replied. "We should not all go; we would only be a burden to you." Although Absalom pressed him, he still refused to go, but he gave him his blessing.
28Absalom ordered his men, "Watch closely. When Amnon is in high spirits from the wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Have no fear. Have I not given you the order myself? Be strong and courageous."
Through Joab's trick with the wise woman from Tekoa, Absalom was granted permission to return to Jerusalem, but had to wait another two years before he could appear before his father again.
22Joab fell with his face to the ground in homage and blessed the king. "Today," Joab said, "your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant's request."
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.
Absalom stationed himself at the city gate and undermined trust in David's legal system by promising justice to anyone who brought a case. In this way, he won the hearts of the people and laid the groundwork for his rebellion.
2He would rise early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a case to bring before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and ask, "What town are you from?" And when the man answered, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,"
4And Absalom would add, "If only I were made judge in this land! Then everyone with a case or a claim could come to me, and I would see that he got justice."
Absalom had himself proclaimed king in Hebron and forced David to flee from Jerusalem. Following Ahithophel's advice, he took his father's concubines on the roof of the palace as a public sign of his seizure of power.
10Then Absalom sent messengers secretly throughout all the tribes of Israel with this word: "As soon as you hear the sound of the ram's horn, say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron!'"
12Absalom also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from his town of Giloh. And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, the conspiracy gained strength, and his following kept growing.
14Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come, we must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Go quickly, or he will overtake us, bring disaster down on us, and put the city to the sword."
21Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."
During the battle in the Forest of Ephraim, Absalom's head became caught in a large oak tree. Joab pierced him with three spears, contrary to David's explicit order to spare him. David's lament over his son is among the most moving passages in all Scripture.
9Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding on his mule, and as the mule passed under the thick branches of a great oak, Absalom's head caught fast in the tree. He was left hanging between heaven and earth while the mule beneath him went on.
14Joab said, "I will not waste time with you like this." He took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the heart of the oak.