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ABSALOM

(Heb. ʾaḇšālōm; Gk. Apsalōmos, Abessalōm) (also ABISHALOM)

1. The third son of David, born to Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur (2 Sam. 3:3 = 1 Chr. 3:2); presumably an ancestor of Maacah the wife of Rehoboam and mother of Abijam (1 Kgs. 15:2, Abishalom). Absalom plays a major role in narratives reporting the punishment prophesied by Nathan for David’s crimes of adultery and murder (2 Sam. 12:11-12). David suffered many of the promised consequences for his crimes through the actions of a son portrayed as a negative image of himself: handsome (1 Sam. 16:12; 2 Sam. 14:25), charismatic (3:36; 15:1-6), and cunning in dealing with enemies (ch. 13; 1 Kgs. 2:5-6).

Absalom planned and ordered the murder of Amnon in retaliation for the rape of Tamar and fled to exile in Geshur, his grandfather’s city (2 Sam. 13). Soon after his return and reconciliation with David, orchestrated by Joab (2 Sam. 14), Absalom attempted to wrest control of the kingdom from his father. When people seeking justice arrived in Jerusalem, he assured them of their case’s merit and bemoaned his lack of a position that would allow him to help. He embraced and kissed those who came to bow before him (2 Sam. 15:1-6). On the pretext of fulfilling a vow, he traveled to Hebron, where David had been crowned king, and sent agents throughout the kingdom to announce his coronation at the sound of trumpet signals. News of Absalom’s rebellion spread quickly, and David was forced to flee for refuge to Mahanaim, the city E of the Jordan River where Saul’s general, Abner, had failed to continue Saul’s dynasty through Ishbaal. Hushai, the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the priest’s sons remained in Jerusalem as David’s agents. After entering Jerusalem, Absalom demonstrated his claim to the throne by taking 10 of David’s concubines. His decision to wait as Hushai advised, rather than immediately pursue and kill David as Ahithophel counseled, sealed his doom. David’s followers were ready and defeated Absalom’s forces. While riding a mule, Absalom’s head was caught in an oak. He was killed by Joab, and his body thrown into a pit in the forest and covered with a heap of stones.

Bibliography. C. Conroy, Absalom Absalom! Narrative and Language in 2 Samuel 13–20. AnBib 81 (Rome, 1978); J. P. Fokkelman, Narrative Art and Poetry in the Books of Samuel, 1: King David (Assen, 1991); R. Polzin, David and the Deuteronomist: 2 Samuel (Bloomington, 1993); R. N. Whybray, The Succession Narrative. SBT, 2nd ser. 9 (Naperville, 1968).

2. One of two messengers said to be involved in negotiations between Judas Maccabeus and Lysias, the governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia (2 Macc. 11:17); possibly the same as the father of Mattathias (1 Macc. 11:70) and Jonathan (13:11), commanders in the Maccabean army.

Keith L. Eades

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ABSALOM

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)