Absalom: Bible Character Study

Introduction

Absalom was David's third son, and no one in Israel was praised for his beauty as much as he was. When his half-brother Amnon raped his sister Tamar and David did nothing, Absalom waited two years, then had Amnon killed at a feast. He fled to his grandfather in Geshur for three years. When he was allowed back, David would not see him for two more.

Then he began to stand by the city gate, telling everyone with a complaint that if only he were judge, they would get justice. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. He had himself made king in Hebron and drove David out of Jerusalem. In the battle in the forest of Ephraim, his head caught in an oak and Joab killed him, against David's orders. David wept: O my son Absalom, would I had died instead of you.

So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
(ESV)

Name means: “Father of peace” (Hebrew)
Home: Jerusalem, three years in Geshur
Role: Prince of Israel; rebel king
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Absalom's story

Beginning
Tamar's brother
He takes in his sister and waits.
Low point
Revenge at the feast
Amnon is killed; Absalom flees to Geshur.
Turning point
Home but not seen
Two years before his father kisses him.
Turning point
At the gate
He steals the hearts of Israel.
High point
King in Hebron
David flees Jerusalem.
Low point
The oak
Caught in a tree and killed.
Ending
O my son
David weeps for him.

Starts as a beautiful prince. Ends as a rebel his father wept over.

Where Absalom lived and went

Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.

HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.

How Absalom is wired

The Achiever

Enneagram 3, Individualist wing

To be admired and to win.

This one is debated. Here's why we land here.

At their best, toward 6 Under stress, toward 9

Why we think so

Image. No one in Israel was so praised for his beauty. ()
Campaigns. Chariot, horses and fifty men to run before him. ()
Legacy. He set up a pillar named after himself. ()

His grievance and sense of being wronged run deep. ()

Other lenses

Big Five. Read from what is recorded in Kings and Chronicles.

ReservedOutgoing

SteadyReactive

ChallengingAccommodating

SpontaneousDisciplined

TraditionalCurious

DISC style: Charismatic, persuasive, ruthless.

Strengths & struggles

What's good in Absalom

Protected his sister (). Patient and persuasive (). A natural leader ().

Where Absalom struggles

Murder and revenge (). Vanity (). Rebellion against his father ().

What Absalom wanted most

To be seen, and to be king; he set up a monument so his name would be remembered ().

What Absalom feared most

Being shut out; he set Joab's field on fire to get the king's face ().

Absalom's people

David

Solomon

Family

TamarHis sister, whom he sheltered ().

SolomonHis younger half-brother, who became king (1 Kings 1:30).

Friends

AhithophelDavid's counselor who joined his conspiracy ().

Tension

DavidHis father, whom he drove from Jerusalem and who wept for him (2 Sam 15:14; 18:33).

JoabBrought him home, then killed him ().

Opposed

AmnonHis half-brother, whom he had killed ().

Family of Faith

See where Absalom fits

AbrahamJesus

c. 1010–979 BC (debated). Connected to Jesus through David → Jesse → Obed → Ruth → Rahab.

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Where this points to Christ

Absalom stole hearts; the Son of David wins them by giving his life.

Absalom grabbed for his father's throne. Jesus, David's greater Son, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but humbled himself to death on a cross (). David cried, would I had died instead of you (). God the Father did what David could not: he gave his Son for rebels ().