Story of the Death of Absalom

Today I want to share with you one of the most dramatic stories from the Bible about the death of Absalom. This is a story that teaches us important lessons about family, rebellion, and the terrible consequences that can come from pride and disobedience.

Absalom was King David's handsome son with flowing hair who turned against his own father. It's a sad tale that shows us how even people from good families can make terrible choices that lead to tragedy. Let me tell you what happened and why it still matters today!

The Death of Absalom

Chapter 1: Absalom's Rebellion Begins

Absalom was King David's son, and he was known throughout Israel for his incredible good looks. The Bible specifically mentions his amazing hair, which was so thick and beautiful that when he cut it once a year, it weighed about five pounds!

But Absalom had a problem - he was filled with pride and ambition. He desperately wanted to be king instead of waiting for his father to pass the throne to him or one of his brothers. So he began a clever campaign to win the hearts of the people.

2 Samuel 15:2-3 tells us, "Absalom would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, 'What town are you from?' And after he told him, Absalom would say, 'Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.'"

Chapter 2: The Conspiracy Grows

For four years, Absalom worked on turning the people's loyalty away from David and toward himself. He would greet people coming to see the king, listen to their problems, and then suggest that if only he were judge in the land, he would make sure everyone received justice.

When people would try to bow to him out of respect, he would pull them up and kiss them, treating them as equals rather than subjects. Through these tactics, he gradually "stole the hearts" of the people of Israel.

Finally, Absalom was ready to make his move. He asked his father's permission to go to Hebron, claiming he wanted to fulfill a vow. But his real plan was to declare himself king there!

2 Samuel 15:10 reveals his plan: "Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, 'As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"

Chapter 3: David Flees Jerusalem

When King David heard about Absalom's rebellion, he was deeply troubled. He learned that the conspiracy was growing stronger, and many people were joining Absalom's side. Instead of immediately fighting his son, David made a difficult decision to leave Jerusalem.

David didn't want the beautiful city of Jerusalem to be destroyed in a battle, so he and his loyal followers fled the city. As they left, David was weeping, walking barefoot with his head covered as a sign of his grief.

The Bible describes this sad moment in 2 Samuel 15:30: "But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up."

Chapter 4: A Father's Concern

Even though Absalom was trying to take his throne and possibly kill him, David still loved his son deeply. As he prepared his loyal troops for battle against Absalom's forces, David gave them specific instructions about how to treat his rebellious son.

David told his army commanders – Joab, Abishai, and Ittai – to be gentle with Absalom. He didn't want his son harmed, despite everything that had happened. All the troops heard the king's orders regarding Absalom.

2 Samuel 18:5 records David's plea: "The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, 'Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.' And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders."

Chapter 5: The Battle in the Forest

David's army and Absalom's forces met in the Forest of Ephraim for a great battle. Despite Absalom having more soldiers, David's experienced fighters won the battle. The Bible says that twenty thousand men died that day, and strangely, "the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword."

This likely means that many of Absalom's soldiers, unfamiliar with the dense forest, became lost, fell into ravines, or encountered wild animals as they tried to escape David's army.

2 Samuel 18:7-8 tells us: "There Israel's troops were routed by David's men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword."

Chapter 6: Absalom's Strange Predicament

During the battle, Absalom was riding his mule through the forest when something bizarre happened. His famous long, thick hair got caught in the branches of a large oak tree! As his mule continued running, Absalom was left hanging in the air, unable to free himself.

This strange situation perfectly illustrates how the very thing Absalom took pride in – his beautiful hair – became the instrument of his downfall. His vanity literally left him suspended between heaven and earth.

The Bible describes this unusual predicament in 2 Samuel 18:9: "Now Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going."

Chapter 7: Joab Takes Action

One of David's soldiers saw Absalom hanging in the tree and reported it to Joab, the commander of David's army. The soldier said he wouldn't harm the king's son because he had heard David's orders to protect Absalom.

But Joab had different ideas. He believed that as long as Absalom lived, there would be no peace in Israel. Despite the king's orders, Joab took three javelins and thrust them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive and hanging in the tree. Then ten of Joab's armor-bearers surrounded Absalom and struck him, ensuring he was dead.

2 Samuel 18:14 records Joab's decision: "Joab said, 'I'm not going to wait like this for you.' So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree."

Chapter 8: Absalom's Burial

After Absalom died, Joab blew the trumpet to stop the battle, preventing further bloodshed among the Israelites. They took Absalom's body down from the tree and disposed of it in a very dishonorable way.

Instead of bringing his body back for a proper royal burial, they threw Absalom into a large pit in the forest and piled a huge heap of rocks over it. This was a shameful burial, very different from the grand monument Absalom had built for himself during his lifetime.

2 Samuel 18:17-18 tells us: "They took Absalom, threw him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Meanwhile all the Israelites fled to their homes. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, 'I have no son to keep my name in remembrance'; he called the pillar by his own name. It is called Absalom's Monument to this day."

Chapter 9: David Receives the News

After the battle, runners were sent to tell King David what had happened. When the first messenger arrived, David immediately asked about Absalom's safety: "Is the young man Absalom safe?"

When David finally learned that his son was dead, he was overwhelmed with grief. Despite Absalom's rebellion and attempt to take his throne, David's heart was broken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept bitterly.

2 Samuel 18:33 records David's heartbroken cry: "The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: 'O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!'"

Chapter 10: The Aftermath of Grief

David's extreme grief over Absalom dampened the victory celebration. Instead of rejoicing over their win, the soldiers crept back into the city as if they were ashamed of fleeing from battle. The king covered his face and continued to cry loudly, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Finally, Joab confronted David, telling him that his excessive mourning was dishonoring the loyal soldiers who had saved his life. Joab warned that if David didn't go out and encourage his troops, he might lose their support too.

David listened to Joab's harsh but necessary advice. He washed his face, composed himself, and went to the city gate to reassure and thank his faithful soldiers, showing that even in his grief, he still had responsibilities as king.

What Can We Learn From THE DEATH OF ABSALOM?

1. Pride leads to downfall - Absalom's vanity and ambition ultimately led to his destruction, reminding us that pride often comes before a fall.
2. Actions have consequences - Absalom's rebellion against his father had terrible consequences, showing that our choices can lead to outcomes we never intended.
3. A parent's love is powerful - Despite everything Absalom did, David still loved his son deeply, demonstrating the unconditional love parents often have for their children.
4. Balance emotions with responsibility - David had to balance his personal grief with his responsibilities as king, teaching us that we sometimes need to manage our feelings while still fulfilling our duties.
5. Disobedience to authority brings trouble - Joab disobeyed David's orders about Absalom, which later caused more problems between David and his commander.

Trivia Quiz About Absalom for Kids

What physical feature was Absalom especially famous for?

Absalom was famous for his thick, beautiful hair. The Bible says when he cut it once a year, it weighed about five pounds (200 shekels by the royal standard)!

How did Absalom try to win the people's loyalty away from King David?

Absalom would stand by the city gate, listen to people's problems, and tell them he would give them justice if he were judge. He'd also treat everyone as equals by not letting them bow to him.

What strange thing happened to Absalom during the battle?

During the battle, Absalom's head (or hair) got caught in the branches of a large oak tree while his mule kept running, leaving him hanging in midair.

Who killed Absalom despite King David's orders to protect him?

Joab, the commander of David's army, killed Absalom by thrusting three javelins into his heart while he was still hanging alive in the tree.

How did King David react when he heard about Absalom's death?

King David was heartbroken and wept bitterly, crying out, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you - O Absalom, my son, my son!"

If you enjoyed this dramatic Bible story, you might also want to hear about "Joseph and His Brothers" - another amazing story about family conflict, forgiveness, and how God can work things out for good even when terrible things happen!