Quick Note:
Absalom was a son of King David. This piece was based on his life as portrayed in the Bible.
Absalom was David's favourite son.
Absalom was charming, handsome, and King David's favourite son. Some said, Absalom was the most handsome man in King David's kingdom.
But he was the third child born to King David. That meant that he wouldn't become king, not when his eldest brother was still alive.
King David's eldest son was called Amnon, a brother from another mother. Amnon had the same father as Absalom: King David. They all lived in King David's house, one big happy family.
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| Absalom was handsome and his father's favourite son. He would rebel against his father and declare himself king. |
But disaster struck.
Absalom's sister, Tamar, was a beautiful virgin. She had never been touched by any man. She was pure. Innocent.
Amnon was in love with Tamar. One day, Amnon pretended to be sick, and asked Tamar to serve him food. When he was alone with her, he raped her.
Absalom was devastated. He was angry. He thought the murderous thoughts that the families of rape victims think: Kill that rapist! Cut off his ....!
But Absalom was smart. Absalom knew he could not attack Amnon openly. After all, Amnon was the first in line for the throne. Amnon, the eldest son. Amnon, heir apparent. Amnon, King David's successor!
King David was angry as well. But he didn't do anything about it. And that only fuelled Absalom's anger.
He waited. Bided his time. He waited for the chance for revenge against Amnon.
Two years later, Absalom got his chance.
Absalom threw a party. He said to his father, "We're having a grand party. Let's have all our family come enjoy!"
"It looks like too much trouble, son," King David said. "Next time?"
"Awww Dad. I know you're busy, but how about all my brothers? It's going to be a blast of a party! Could they come? "
King David thought about it. "OK son, you have my blessings. Go ahead."
That night, Absalom had his party in the palace. It was happening. There was a band on stage singing the greatest hits from King David's time. All the ancient celebrities were there too.
Then King David's sons started arriving. Absalom, cup in hand, watched lazily from a corner. One by one, they arrived and came into the hall ... and then, he saw the man he had been waiting for.
Amnon the rapist. The one who must die.
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| Amnon was King David's eldest son. He raped Absalom's sister, Tamar. |
Absalom had his men take Amnon to the back. There, he swung his warrior's sword upwards like a golf club. Amnon's head detached from his shoulders, and sailed into the sky.
That night, Absalom ran away to his grandfather's house, in the land of Geshur. His grandfather was also a king.
King David was devastated, and cried over his eldest son's death a long, long time.
After three years, King David forgave Absalom.
A letter arrived in Geshur. On it was written: "TO MR. ABSALOM".
Absalom opened the envelope and pulled out the brown parchment. A letter from his father! All was forgiven. Would he return home to his father's side?
Absalom whooped in delight. He was finally going home.
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| Absalom, the prodigal son, finally returned to his father's house. |
Absalom was back in the kingdom.
At first, Absalom was harmless. He was his usual self. Witty, handsome, ladies man.
Then he started currying favour with the public. Some of them would come to the palace, complaining of injustice. He won them over, saying that he should have been their judge. "My father's been too busy. If only I could help you get justice...!"
And then the people would look at him, in his handsome form. What a good looking man. "If only!" they would mutter to themselves. "One day!"
After four years, Absalom rebelled against his father.
Absalom declared himself King.
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| Bit by bit, person by person, Absalom won over the people to his side. When he thought he had their support, he declared himself King. |
King David ran away and hid.
On his way out, he met an old friend called Hushai. "Don't follow me, old friend. Follow my son and contradict his advisor Ahithopel."
And so Hushai joined Absalom. Absalom was suspicious, but vanity got the better of him. He thought that King David's buddy becoming his follower was a sign of his personal success.
Ahithopel asked Absalom to sleep with King David's concubines. A handsome man like Absalom didn't need to worry about pretty ladies throwing themselves at him, but he did it anyway. Just to show the old man who's boss.
Absalom liked what he saw. He thought that he could really be king.
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| David hid in the wilderness. |
Most of the country supported Absalom.
Maybe they were waiting for somebody new to take over as king. Maybe King David wasn't as good looking as Absalom. Maybe King David had been king for too long.
Whatever the reason, King David only had a handful of men with him. But they were brave and good and loyal men. Men who would die for their King at a single word. Men who would charge at a roaring bear.
Ahithopel told Absalom to kill King David.
"Strike while the iron is hot," Ahithopel said. "Strike now! Kill the old codger."
But Hushai told Absalom to gather more support. He said, "Absalom, you can try to attack your Dad, but you won't make it. He is a beast! Trust me. Grow your army first. Then you whack."
Absalom decided to follow Hushai's advice. This bought time for King David.
Ahithopel found out and he was devastated. He went back to his hometown and there, among the dignified, quiet hills, he committed suicide.
Then came the battle in the Wood of Ephraim.
King David's men fought against Absalom's men. King David's men, though few, were winning. They killed twenty thousand of Absalom's men. They were winning!
Suddenly there was a shout. Joab, King David's general, received news from a soldier. Absalom's head had gotten caught in the branches of an oak tree!
Joab told the soldier, "Kill him, and I will pay you."
The soldier refused. King David had told all his men to take Absalom alive.
Joab cursed. He took three knives and stuck them in Absalom's heart.
The tyrant twitched. Then he was gone.
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| Absalom's head was caught in the branches of the oak tree. He was killed by Joab, who had some personal grudges against him. |
King David cried when he heard that his Absalom was dead.
Absalom was his favourite son. Never mind the concubines. They were dispensable. Never mind the kingdom. He was content to lead the simple life. Never mind that Absalom wanted to kill him. He loved Absalom dearly.
Joab was angry with his king. When nobody was around, he looked his king in the face and said, as one old friend to another:
Now you’ve done it—knocked the wind out of your loyal servants who have just saved your life, to say nothing of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines. What is this—loving those who hate you and hating those who love you? Your actions give a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you. You know that if Absalom were alive right now, we’d all be dead—would that make you happy? Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants! I swear to God that if you don’t go to them they’ll desert; not a soldier will be left here by nightfall. And that will be the worst thing that has happened yet.
(Source: The Message Bible.)
King David heard Joab's words and knew them to be true. He dried his tears and came to his senses. That evening he sat at the gates of his kingdom. And his men came before him and declared him as king.
The First Lesson
Absalom was too greedy. King David was too soft-hearted and too trusting. He thought that Absalom had reformed after three years away. He forgot, Absalom was a plotter and a schemer. Absalom could simmer in anger for two years while plotting the death of his brother Amnon. So what made King David think that Absalom had been reformed?
But Absalom was his favourite son. And the most good looking one among all his children. Just like the rest of the people, King David was taken in by his son's good looks and charming ways.
The first lesson is: Good looks and charming ways sometimes conceal murderous thoughts!
The Second Lesson
Absalom was a vain bastard. He was conceited and he relished the thought that he had won the allegiance of his father's old friend, Hushai. He chucked aside his own advisor, Ahithopel, who was loyal to him.
Ahithopel was an idiot. He committed suicide after finding out that Absalom had followed Hushai's advice. He should have tried to fix things. But then it would have been his word against Hushai's.
Absalom probably didn't know that Ahithopel had died. He was too busy going around, trying to get support. He was following Hushai's advice. He didn't know that Hushai had misled him to buy time for his father.
If he had only listened to Ahithopel, life might have been different for Absalom. Death might have been different for him!
The second lesson is: Do not discard your old advisors too quickly for new advisors.
The Third Lesson
King David forgot who were the ones who stuck it out with him. He forgot who were the ones who risked life and limb when he lost power, to protect him and defend his honour. And he cried for his enemy!
King David forgot that his men were human, too. They were people with feelings and thoughts. They were his faithful followers.
Luckily for King David, Joab spoke some sense into him before it was too late. Because if he had lost his army, he would have lost everything. "Go to your men, my king. If you don't, they will be gone by this evening."
And so he did. Lucky he had Joab by his side.
The third lesson is: Never forget those who have fought hardest by your side.
The Fourth Lesson
Wait, hang on. There's a fourth lesson.
Joab was a man loyal to his king. And he spoke up when he needed to. He also did what he had to do. He knew that there was a difference between acting in the best interests of his king (which he did) and blind loyalty (which he did not).
He spoke up, rebuked his king. But he knew how to do it: in the quiet privacy of the king's chambers, when no one else was around to hear. He said what he knew needed to be said. Then he gave the king time to digest his words. No pressure. Just the truth.
It wasn't what King David wanted to hear, but it was what he needed to hear.
The fourth lesson is: Loyalty also means speaking the truth. Even if it may be unpleasant.
Thanks for Reading.
Here are some other pieces from me.
1 comment:
Great!
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