The third son of David, born to Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, renowned for his extraordinary beauty and the thickness of his hair. Absalom killed his half-brother Amnon to avenge the violation of their sister Tamar, then fled into exile. Upon returning, he won the hearts of the people and led a full-scale rebellion against David, briefly seizing the throne in Jerusalem. Absalom died when his hair caught in an oak tree during battle, and David's agonized cry—'O my son Absalom, my son!'—is one of the Bible's most heartbreaking moments.
The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”2 Samuel 18:33 · Berean Standard Bible
Abner's Defection
Abner switches sides to David, then Joab murders him. David mourns publicly — politics and grief tangled in the same breath.
After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her. Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man, and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”…
David's son Amnon assaults his half-sister Tamar. David is furious but does nothing. Absalom waits — and the silence festers into violence.
Absalom doesn't appear in the direct line from Adam to Jesus, but stands one step from it through David, who does. See the whole line.
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