Absolom

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#1
Just wondered what people think of David's son Absolom and any thing you learned from his story in the Bible.

I keep thinking he had huge curly hair for some reason but it doesnt actually say it was curly in the Bible?

Also do you think David spoiled his son?
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
#2
Just wondered what people think of David's son Absolom and any thing you learned from his story in the Bible.

I keep thinking he had huge curly hair for some reason but it doesnt actually say it was curly in the Bible?

Also do you think David spoiled his son?
In one sense he represents the devil, and in another he is a type of Christ Jesus having taken upon himself the sins of the world. If you would like to see the latter, let me know.

Here's the verses about his hair:

2Sam 14:26: "And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight."

2Sam 18:9: "And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away."
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,700
6,886
113
#3
THE RECORD OF ABSALOM IN SCRIPTURE

2 Samuel 18:33 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

2 Samuel 13:23 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

2 Samuel 16:22 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextSo they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2 Samuel 15:10 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextBut Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

2 Samuel 13:22 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 17:6 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

2 Samuel 15:6 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 13:29 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

2 Samuel 19:4 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextBut the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

2 Samuel 15:12 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

2 Samuel 13:20 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

2 Samuel 16:16 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

2 Samuel 18:5 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:33 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextSo Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 17:14 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,700
6,886
113
#4
(continued)

2 Samuel 15:2 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

2 Samuel 18:18 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextNow Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

2 Samuel 18:9 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

2 Samuel 17:26 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextSo Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

2 Samuel 16:20 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextThen said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

2 Samuel 14:28 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextSo Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.

2 Samuel 17:7 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

2 Samuel 17:5 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextThen said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

2 Samuel 14:23 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextSo Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 13:38 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextSo Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

2 Samuel 19:10 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

2 Samuel 19:1 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:1 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextNow Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

2 Samuel 15:13 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextAnd there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

2 Samuel 13:27 | View whole chapter | See verse in contextBut Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#5
what...thats not a story its a jumble of all the different verses with Absolom in them not even in any order! Do you actually read the Bible like that? It doesnt make any sense.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#6
In one sense he represents the devil, and in another he is a type of Christ Jesus having taken upon himself the sins of the world. If you would like to see the latter, let me know.

Here's the verses about his hair:

2Sam 14:26: "And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight."

2Sam 18:9: "And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away."
what does 'polled' mean...? Cut? Sheared? Put into dreadlocks?
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#7
Hold on were Amnon and Absolom brothers or just had David as their father but differenr mothers. This is where I need a family tree. COs why would Amnon sleep with his own sister and then Absolom killed him.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#8
Yea I'd like to see where Absolom is a type of Christ. It seemed like he had the charisma his dad had but...he squandered it.

Maybe have to read 2 Samuel all over again cos reading it piecemeal and mixed up doesnt help.
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
721
113
#9
what...thats not a story its a jumble of all the different verses with Absolom in them not even in any order! Do you actually read the Bible like that? It doesnt make any sense.
Pretty much agreed. It's even lacking an interesting detail about Absolom:

"But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him." - 2 Samuel 14:25 KJV​

And polled means "cut". He got a yearly haircut.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
#10
Yea I'd like to see where Absolom is a type of Christ. It seemed like he had the charisma his dad had but...he squandered it.

Maybe have to read 2 Samuel all over again cos reading it piecemeal and mixed up doesnt help.
Short version.

In the Typology of 2 Samuel 18:9,10,14 KJB, we read of Absalom [the son of David; whose name means the "Father's peace"] was, because of sin, rebellion against the King, hung upon a tree [by his hair, his glory], and was suspended between Heaven and Earth, and struck with three piercings, or as one work says, "three spikes", as large nails, and then in his death buried as wicked.

2 Samuel 18:9 KJB - And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

2 Samuel 18:10 KJB - And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

2 Samuel 18:14 KJB - Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

Just as Jesus (Son of David, the Father's peace, full of glory), who also rode upon a mule, took our sins upon himself, was hung upon a Tree, the son of David, the Father's peace towards man, suspended between Heaven and Earth, pierced by three nails upon the Cross (tree), then in His death, taken down and buried as with the wicked [Isaiah 53:9 KJB].

There's a lot more, but hope that helps you look deeper.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#13
Sorry I just noticed I keep spelling Absalom incorrectly. Absalom has two as.
 
Sep 15, 2019
9,991
5,546
113
#14
Just wondered what people think of David's son Absolom and any thing you learned from his story in the Bible.

I keep thinking he had huge curly hair for some reason but it doesnt actually say it was curly in the Bible?

Also do you think David spoiled his son?
Yeah. David didn't take proper care of his children. If David had punished his dirty rapist son, Absalom wouldn't have had to take vengeance. That said, Absalom was responsible for many deaths, and I'm glad Joab speared him in the tree. Absalom was responsible for the deaths of many, and deserved to face capital punishment, in my opinion.