Absalom’s Rebellion

Absalom, David’s son, gets himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him. At the city gate, he intercepts people on their way to ask the king for justice: “Oh that I were made judge in the land!” He steals the hearts of the men of Israel. Under the pretext of fulfilling a vow, he goes to Hebron, from where his messengers proclaim: “Absalom reigneth in Hebron.” Ahithophel, David’s counselor, joins him. David flees Jerusalem, weeping as he climbs the Mount of Olives, and sends his friend Hushai to defeat Ahithophel’s counsel. In the forest of Ephraim, Absalom, riding a mule, is caught by his head in a great oak and left hanging; Joab thrusts three spears through him, despite the king’s order: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.” David weeps: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee!”