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Absalom....
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Absalom, from the Hebrew meaning father of
peace, was the third son of King David, and
Maacah, one of the king's numerous wives and concubines (2 Samuel 3:3).
Contrary to his name, Absalom was not a man of peace. His personal vanity
and disloyalty to his father due to selfish ambition caused great strife
and open warfare in the royal family.
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King David was a brilliant
and successful warrior (see David And
Goliath), God's chosen leader for that stage in
Bible History. But his family life was one disaster
after another. The situation with David's numerous wives and concubines
created a highly competitive environment among all of the children - after
all, there could only be one successor to the throne. |
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The troubles began when Amnon, David's oldest son,
assaulted his half-sister Tamar, Absalom's sister (2 Samuel 13-1-22).
Absalom bided his time, and when the opportunity arose two years later
during the sheep shearing time at Baal Hazor, he had
his brother Amnon killed (2 Samuel 13:23-29). Thinking that it was the start
of a general massacre of competitors to the throne, all of the king's other
sons fled for their lives back to Jerusalem (2
Samuel 13:29-33). Absalom then took refuge with his mother's father at
Geshur, northeast of The Sea Of Galilee,
where he remained for three years (2 Samuel 13:37-38). |
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King David mourned for his dead
son, Amnon, and also for the fugitive Absalom, although guilty of
fratricide (2 Samuel 13:39). Eventually, David permitted Absalom's return
to Jerusalem, although two more years would
go by before the king agreed to meet with him. Although David mourned
Absalom's absence, the king still couldn't stand the sight of him. (2
Samuel 14:28). Absalom then made his move, not merely to succeed his
father as king, but to replace his father while he was still reigning.
Through scheming politics, he managed to gain the support of a large
portion of the people. Absalom then moved to Hebron,
the previous capital city of Judah, and
declared himself king - thereby triggering a civil war between himself and
his father. (2 Samuel 15:1-12). |
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