Absalom
The handsome and ambitious third son of David, famed for his hair. After his half-brother Amnon raped his sister Tamar and David did nothing, Absalom waited two years and had Amnon killed, then fled into exile. Restored to Jerusalem, he stood at the city gate stealing the hearts of Israel, then raised a revolt that drove his father out of the capital. The rebellion ended in the forest of Ephraim, where his head caught fast in an oak and Joab killed him against David's explicit order — leaving the king to cry, 'O Absalom, my son, my son.'
What we know — and how we know it
Where in scripture
2 Samuel1 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesPsalmsand his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
2 Samuel 3:3
Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:6 — Steals the people's hearts
Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on 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 the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
2 Samuel 18:9 — Caught in the oak
Joab was told, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.”
2 Samuel 19:1
The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 19:4
in that you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared today, that princes and servants are nothing to you. For today I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
2 Samuel 19:6
All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
2 Samuel 19:9
Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don’t you speak a word of bringing the king back?”
2 Samuel 19:10
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 15 recorded sayings
“And her brother Absalom said to her, Has your brother Amnon been with you? but now, let there be an end to your crying, my sister: he is your brother, do not take this thing to heart. So Tamar went on living uncomforted in her brother's house.” — 2 Samuel 13:20
“And Absalom came to the king and said, See now, your servant is cutting the wool of his sheep; will the king and his servants be pleased to come?” — 2 Samuel 13:24
“Then Absalom said, If you will not go, then let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Is there any reason for him to go with you?” — 2 Samuel 13:26
“Now Absalom had given orders to his servants, saying, Now take note when Amnon's heart is glad with wine; and when I say to you, Make an attack on Amnon, then put him to death without fear: have I not given you orders? be strong and without fear.” — 2 Samuel 13:28
“So he said to his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley in it; go and put it on fire. And Absalom's servants put the field on fire.” — 2 Samuel 14:30
“And Absalom's answer was, See, I sent to you saying, Come here, so that I may send you to the king to say, Why have I come back from Geshur? it would be better for me to be there still: let me now see the king's face, and if there is any sin in me, let him put me to death.” — 2 Samuel 14:32
“And Absalom got up early, morning after morning, and took his place at the side of the public meeting-place: and when any man had a cause which had to come to the king to be judged, then Absalom, crying out to him, said, What is your town? and he would say, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.” — 2 Samuel 15:2
“And Absalom would say to him, See, your cause is true and right; but no man has been named by the king to give you a hearing. And more than this, Absalom said, If only I was made judge in the land, so that every man who has any cause or question might come to me, and I would give a right decision for him!” — 2 Samuel 15:3-4
…and 7 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Events
In art
