2Sa 13:1-18:33
Absalom (Heb. ‘Abshâlôm, “my Father is peace”, “father of peace”; ac. abushalum, ab-shalim; aram. ‘Abîsalâmu, who in secular sources was a ruler of Gozán in upper Mesopotamia during the ss X and IX BC). 13 1. David’s third son by his wife Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur (2Sa 3:3). He was notable for his good looks (2Sa 14:25, 26). To avenge the crime committed by his half-brother Amnon against his sister Tamar, he killed him and then fled to the house of his grandfather, Talmai, to escape possible repression by David (cp 13). About 3 years later, through a wise woman from Tekoa, Joab succeeded in getting permission for him to return to Jerusalem. Two years later he reconciled with his father (cp 14). Shortly after this, Absalom began plotting against his father to displace him from the kingdom and had himself proclaimed king at Hebron (2Sa 15:1, 12). He marched on Jerusalem – forcing David to flee the capital – and took possession of the royal palace and harem. He did not accept Ahithophel’s advice to pursue David’s small force immediately, but instead followed David’s friend Hushai’s advice, who recommended that he mobilize the entire army of Israel for this task. That gave David time to reorganize his forces and prepare for the decisive encounter (15:13-17:23). The battle was fought in the “forest of Ephraim” in Gilead, probably near Mahanaim. Absalom’s forces were vastly outnumbered, and in the confusion Absalom was caught by his hair in the branches of a tree, dangling helplessly. While he was thus suspended, he was killed by Joab against David’s explicit command. He was buried as a criminal in a great hole in the forest, and a high heap of stones was raised over his grave (2Sa 17:24-18:17). During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument (a pillar) for himself in the “valley of the king” (2Sa 18:18), which according to Josephus was 2 stadia from Jerusalem (c 402 m). The so-called Tomb of Absalom, in the Kidron Valley, is a tomb-monument from the Hellenistic period. According to 2Sa 14:27, Absalom had 3 sons and a daughter, Tamar. See Abyssalom. Bib.: FJ-AJ vii. 10.3. 2. Father of Maacah mentioned in 1Ki 15: 2, 10 and 2Ch 11:20, 21. But it is very likely that she, instead of being Absalom’s daughter, was his granddaughter (cf 13: 1, 2). Sometimes the Bible uses the expression “daughter” to indicate “granddaughter.” See Daughter 1.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
See Absalom.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
(Heb., †™avshalóm, the father is peace). Third son of David, with Maacah (2Sa 3:3; 1Ch 3:2). Amnon, David’s eldest son and Absalom’s half-brother, raped Absalom’s sister Tamar (2Sa 13:1-19). David, though enraged by it, never punished Amnon (2Sa 13:21). Absalom kept his hatred alive for two years, at the end of which he deceitfully organized a plot to assassinate Amnon (2Sa 13:22-29). Absalom fled taking refuge with his grandfather with whom he stayed for three years (2Sa 13: 37-38). Then Joab, by means of a ruse, convinced David to bring Absalom back, but even though he returned, David did not see him for two more years (2Sa 14:1-24). Absalom was finally fully restored by getting Joab to intercede for him with David (2Sa 14:28, 2Sa 14:33).
In all Israel there was no man so praised for his beauty and for the abundance of his hair as Absalom (2Sa 14:25-26). He had three sons and a daughter, whom he named Tamar, after his sister. Absalom then began to act as a candidate for the throne (2Sa 15:1-6), boasting many followers and subtly indicating that he would improve the administration of justice for the people.
After four years, Absalom pretended to have a valid reason to go to Hebron and there he proclaimed himself king and attracted the discontented to his banner (2Sa 15:7-14). David hastily left Jerusalem (2Sa 15:13-18).
Ahithophel advised Absalom to attack David immediately, before David could muster much support (2Sa 17:1-4). Hushai (secretly loyal to David) advised him to delay until the entire military power of the kingdom could be organized under Absalom himself, to ensure that he had a force large enough to defeat the warrior David and his loyal soldiers (2Sa 17: 5-14). Absalom decided on this last advice and was totally defeated (2Sa 18:1-8); he got caught by his hair on the branches of an oak tree, and the mule he was riding left him hanging there helplessly. He was killed by Joab and his men by being buried in a nearby well (2Sa 18:9-17).
David’s great and prolonged grief over the death of his son nearly cost him the loyalty of his subjects (2Sa 18:33—2Sa 19:8). David’s failure to rule the entire nation justly is evident in the ease with which Absalom attracted the northern tribes (later Israel) and boded ill for the future of the united kingdom.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
David’s third son, against whom he rebelled, and thereby lost his life, 2 Sam. 13-18.
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
(Father of peace). Third of the sons of David. His mother was a princess of †¢Geshur (2Sa 3:3). Famous for his physical beauty, especially his hair (2Sa 14:25-26), he was David’s favorite son. And since he had royal descent from father and mother, he believed himself destined for the throne. Her father’s brother † ¢ Amnon fell in love with † ¢ Tamar and dishonored her (2Sa 13: 1-19), which produced great hatred in A. who was the brother of Tamar’s father and mother (2Sa 13: 14- twenty). A. killed Amnon and fled to †¢Geshur, the land of his maternal grandparents, where he spent three years in exile (2Sa 13:37-38). After a while, David was sad about the exile of his favorite son and † ¢ Joab, realizing it, used a woman with a sad story to bring the matter up with the king, who orders A. to return. Joab went to Geshur to look for him and brought him to Jerusalem, but David did not receive him in audience (2Sa 14:23-24) for about two more years, after which A. wanted to talk to Joab, and when he refused, he ordered a barley field to be burned, which forced the interview in which A. asked the king to receive him. David agreed and received him with a kiss (2Sa 14:29-33).
But A. elaborated a conspiracy against his father, going to Hebron, proclaiming himself king (2Sa 15:1-10) and marching on Jerusalem. David had to flee the city and A. occupied it. On the advice of † ¢ Ahithophel, and in order to demonstrate the radical nature of his breakup with his father, he approached, in the sight of all the people, several of David’s concubines who had stayed to take care of the house (2Sa 16:22). But David wisely left †¢Hushai, a trusted friend, to pretend to betray him by staying with A. He was to confuse Ahithophel’s advice and keep David well informed (2Sa 15:32-37), which he succeeded in doing. A. replaced Joab as general of the army, putting †¢Amasa (2Sa 17:25).
A.’s followers clashed with David’s in the forest of Ephraim, the battle being unfavorable for A., who had to flee mounted on a mule, but his hair got tangled in the branches of an oak and hung there. Joab warned, he came and killed him (2Sa 18: 6-15). David had publicly begged them to have mercy on his son. And when he found out about his death he wept bitterly. A. had three sons and one daughter. The names of the children are not given, which suggests that they died young. Some think that this is why A. † œhad taken and erected a pillar… because he had said: I have no son who remembers my name † (2Sa 14:27; 2Sa 18:18). The daughter was called Tamar. †¢Rehoboam married †¢Maaca, †œdaughter of A.† . If Maacah is not another name for Tamar, then she is probably a granddaughter of A. (2Ch 11:20-21).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG HOMB HOAT HSHA = “father of peace”. Third son of David. He was remarkable for his beauty and for the abundance of his hair (2 Sam. 1:25, 26). Amnon, another son of David, fell in love with his half-sister Tamar, Absalom’s sister on their father’s side and on their mother’s Maacah, daughter of Talmai (2 Sam. 3:3), and Talmai, in revenge, killed him (2 S. 13:1-29). He then fled to Geshur, where his grandfather on his mother’s side was king (2 Sam. 13:37-39). After three years of exile Absalom returned to Jerusalem through Joab’s intercession, but was not received by his father David until two years later (2 Sam. 14:28), when he was reconciled with him. As there were no fixed laws on succession in Israel at that time, Absalom wanted to be the heir to the throne at all costs. Absalom did his best to make known to the people his rights as the firstborn after Amnon’s death. He won favor not only among the powerful and rich, but especially among the poor, due to his simple character and his reputation as a man who was a friend of justice. Absalom knew, as did everyone in Israel, that Solomon would be David’s successor on the throne and plotted several times against David’s life, had himself proclaimed king in Jerusalem in David’s absence, and finally, having wanted to give him a one-two fight treacherous way across the Jordan, as he fled, his hair caught in a tree and he was killed by Joab, one of David’s men (2 Sam. 18:17, 18; Josh. 7:26), and buried with dishonor. His father was so sorry for his death that he silently entered Jerusalem as if he had lost the battle. In Jerusalem there is a “tomb of Absalom” built in the time of Herod.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Son of David. He murdered his brother Ammon, who had raped his sister Tamar (2 Sam. 13). After being forgiven by David, he rebelled against his father causing a civil war, in which he perished at the hands of Joab, general of the Israelite troops. (2 Sam. 16 and 17)
In Christian history he is presented as the ungrateful, rebellious, violent son, whom his father loved in spite of everything and whose love he betrayed.
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
(Father Is Peace).
The third of six children born to David at Hebron. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur. (2Sa 3:3-5) Absalom fathered three sons and one daughter. (2Sa 14:27) At 1 Kings 15:2, 10 he is given the name Abisalom. (See 2Ch 11:20, 21.)
Absalom’s family was noted for its physical beauty. Absalom’s outstanding beauty was praised throughout the nation. Every year he shaved his head, and the weight of his abundant hair, probably increased by the use of oils or ointments, was about two hundred shekels (about 2.3 kg). His sister Tamar was also beautiful, and his daughter, named Tamar after his aunt, was “exceedingly beautiful in appearance.” (2Sa 14: 25-27; 13: 1) However, far from favoring them, his beauty even contributed to certain unfortunate events that …