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Meaning: father of peace; i.e., “peaceful.”

This is King David’s son by Maacah (2 Samuel 3:3; compare 1 Kings 1:6).

He was noted for his personal beauty and for the extra-ordinary profusion of the hair of his head (2 Samuel 14:25-26). The first public act of his life was the blood-revenge he executed against Amnon, David’s eldest son, who had basely wronged Absalom’s sister Tamar. This revenge was executed at the time of the festivities connected with a great sheep-shearing at Baal-hazor. David’s other sons fled from the place in horror, and brought the tidings of the death of Amnon to Jerusalem. Alarmed for the consequences of the act, Absalom fled to his grandfather at Geshur, and there lived for 3 years (2 Samuel 3:3; 13:23-38).


Absalom was now probably the oldest surviving son of David, and as he was of royal descent by his mother as well as by his father, he began to aspire to the throne. His pretensions were favored by the people. By many means, he gained their affection; and after his return from Geshur (2 Samuel 15:7; margin notes, Revised King James Version) he went up to Hebron, the old capital of Judah, along with a great body of the people, and there proclaimed himself king.

The revolt was so successful that David found it necessary to leave Jerusalem and flee to Mahanaim, beyond Jordan; where upon Absalom returned to Jerusalem and took possession of the throne without opposition.

Ahithophel, who had been David’s chief counsellor, deserted him and joined Absalom, whose chief counsellor he now became. Hushai also joined Absalom, but only for the purpose of trying to counteract the counsels of Ahithophel, and so to advantage David’s cause. He was so far successful that by his advice, which was preferred to that of Ahithophel, Absalom delayed marching an army against his father who thus gained time to prepare for the defense.




Absalom’s three sons (2 Samuel 14:27; compare 18:18) had all died before him, so that he left only a daughter, Tamar, who became the grandmother of Abijah.
