AGE: 10 - 11 YEARS
STANDARD/GRADE: V & VI
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THE REBELLION OF ABSALOM
In this lesson we are going to learn about an important incident that happened during King David’s reign. Absalom was one of the sons of King David. He was the third son of King David and his mother’s name was Maacah. Absalom was good-looking and was praised for his handsome appearance. The Holy Bible even describes that from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. He also had beautiful long hair, in which he took great pride. His hair used to get so heavy that he often had to cut them. Every year when he cut it was 200 shekels in weight (One shekel in ancient Biblical times is equal to 11 grams in present days measurement). Absalom was not only good looking, but he had a charming way with people as well. Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar.
King David had many sons and Amnon was the first-born son of King David. Being the first-born son of King David, Amnon was in line to be the next king. Amnon was a half-brother of Absalom and Tamar. Half-brother means they had the same father but different mother. One day Amnon mistreated Princess Tamar. So, she tore the long royal robe she was wearing and went to her brother Absalom’s house crying. When King David heard of this, he was angry, but did nothing to punish Amnon.
Absalom was furious at
Amnon for what he did and upset at King David for not punishing Amnon. Absalom
plotted against Amnon and took revenge on him by killing him. Absalom was
scared that King David would punish him, so he fled from Jerusalem and stayed
at Geshur with Talmai, his maternal grandfather (mother’s father), who was the
king of Geshur for three years. Joab, the captain of King David’s army,
convinced King David to bring back Absalom from Geshur. So, Absalom returned to
Jerusalem, however, he was not allowed to go into the royal court.
Absalom was of royal descent through his mother, who was the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur as well as by his father King David. He was also probably one of the oldest surviving sons of King David, so he aspired to become the king. Absalom did not want to wait till the end of his father’s reign, so he conspired to remove his father King David from the throne. As a part of the conspiracy, Absalom got himself a chariot and horses and fifty men to run before him.
Everyday Absalom rose early and stood near the highway which led to the city gate where he could meet the people of Israel who were on their way to get judgement from King David for their grievances and complaints. He would gather those people and please them by saying that their claims were right, however they would not get justice since king David had not appointed any one to hear their case. He also expressed his wish to be made the judge in the land, by saying that any man with a complaint or cause could come to him and receive justice without any difficulty. And whenever a man came near to bow before him, he would hug him and kiss him. In this way Absalom attracted the hearts of the Israelites who came to King David for justice.
Absalom did this for 4 years. King David was unaware of Absalom’s actions. Hiding his wicked intentions, Absalom met his father King David and asked permission to visit the city of Hebron, the ancient capital. He said that he wanted to fulfill a vow made by him while he was hiding at Geshur in case of his safe return to Jerusalem. But he had sent secret messengers throughout the kingdom to inform the people that as soon as they heard the sound of the trumpet, they had to chant and scream saying that “Absalom is king at Hebron!” Thus, Absalom began his rebellion against King David, his father! His plans seemed to work because the number of people who came to support Absalom kept increasing.
When David heard about the rebellion, he decided to leave Jerusalem and fled to a place called Mahanaim beyond the Jordan river. King David was not scared of his son. He was one of the greatest warriors in Israel and the most successful military commander to lead Israel before he became the king. Absalom who was inexperienced in battle was no match for his father. However, King David was not interested in hurting his son Absalom, but he did not want the country to go into chaos either. He wanted to make wise moves and decisions. King David knew that Absalom would use violence and kill everyone including the innocent people. King David left Jerusalem first followed by the people. His servants and all of his bodyguards who were good-fighting soldiers walked beside him. They all went to a place far away in the desert.
Zadok and Abiathar, the two leading priests knew how much King David valued the ark of God. So, they went so far as to carry the Ark of the Covenant with them out of Jerusalem. The king and the people crossed a valley called Kidron and started moving towards the desert. Abiathar, the priest set the Ark of God down until all the people had left Jerusalem. King David, however, forced the priests and Levites to take the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and to remain there. The two priests returned to Jerusalem and sent any information they received about Absalom’s plans to King David. The day that King David left Jerusalem was a very sad day. King David covered his face and walked barefoot as he continued up the Mount of Olives weeping. The people of Israel were sad and they too cried as they walked along with him.
When Absalom returned to Jerusalem, he found that his father King David had fled Jerusalem and took possession of the throne without any opposition. Some people saw that King David was in a disadvantaged position against Absalom and decided to join Absalom. Even Ahithophel, the chief counsellor of King David deserted him and joined Absalom. He was appointed the chief counsellor of Absalom. King David knew that Ahithophel was very shrewd and his ideas could defeat his army. King David prayed to God asking him to turn all of Ahithophel’s counsel to foolishness, which God did, that eventually led to the defeat of Absalom.
King David’s forces led by his commander Joab prepared to counterattack Absalom. King David did not go with the army, because he was persuaded by his followers to remain behind so that his life would not be in danger. King David was concerned about Absalom. He wanted his rebellious son to be subdued but not harmed. He gave clear instructions to the army to “deal gently” with Absalom, in spite of his treacherous actions. All the troops heard King David’s orders concerning Absalom. But Absalom was quite obstinate in his desire to take over the kingdom that he himself led the army against his father’s troops.
Absalom encountered his father’s army led by Joab on the borders of the forest of Ephraim. There was a heavy battle and twenty thousand of Absalom's army were killed on that day, and the rest of Absalom’s men fled from the battle. Absalom too tried to escape on a swift mule; but the mule went under the branches of a large oak tree. His long flowing hair was caught in the thick tangled branches of the oak and his mule ran out from under him. So Absalom was left hanging above the ground.
A man saw Absalom hanging from the oak tree and informed Joab. Joab asked that man why he hadn’t killed Absalom when he saw him. Joab also said that he was ready to gift him 10 shekels of silver and a belt if he had killed Absalom. But the man said that he wouldn’t kill the king’s son even if someone were to give him 1,000 shekels of silver, because the king had asked the troops to deal gently with Absalom and not to hurt him. But Joab was not ready to let Absalom go unpunished, even if it meant disobeying the king’s orders. Joab killed Absalom and put him in a large pit in the woods and covered it with a large pile of stones. Joab blew the trumpet and stopped the battle.
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, the high priest wanted to take the news of Absalom’s death to king David. King David’s forces seemed to have underestimated king David’s concern for Absalom’s welfare. They thought that God had avenged King David of his enemies with the death of Absalom, and it was good news to be quickly taken to the king. Joab tried to stop Ahimaaz from taking the message to the king knowing that David would not take the news well. Joab sent another person who was a Cushite. But Ahimaaz insisted on taking the news, so Joab let him go.
David was sitting between the gates and the watchman who was there saw a person running towards them, David knew that they would be bringing news of the battle. David asked both of them if Absalom was safe. Ahimaaz told the king of the victory in the battle but did not have the boldness to share that Absalom was dead. Ahimaaz told the king that he did not know the specifics about Absalom. Ahimaaz let the other person tell the bad news of Absalom’s death to King David.
David was terribly upset that Absalom had died. He cried for his son and mourned. King David even lamented and wondered whether it would have been better for him to die instead of his son Absalom. The people silently returned to their homes without celebrating the victory. Joab told King David that the way he was mourning for the death of his rebellious son Absalom was an insult to the people that had fought for him.
Joab told him to go out and offer assurance to the people who had served him or they might leave him. So, King David came out of his mourning, got up and sat at the gate. The people saw him and came before the king. King David returned to Jerusalem and continued his reign. King David was chosen and anointed by God to rule over Israel. Even though King David had many enemies during his reign, God helped him to defeat them all and his kingdom was established.
Bible
Reference: II Samuel 13 - 19
Memory
Verse: By humility and the fear of
the Lord
are riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in
the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.
(Proverbs 22:4, 5 NKJV)
ASSESSMENT
ACTIVITIES
Fill in the blanks:
1. Absalom had a beautiful
sister named ………………..
2.
………………… and ……………………, the two leading priests carried the Ark of the Covenant
with them out of Jerusalem..
3.
……………………, the chief counsellor of King David deserted him and joined Absalom.
4. Joab said that he was ready to gift ………………….. of silver and a ……………. if that man had killed Absalom.
Give short answers:
1. Who was
Absalom?
2. Why did
Absalom run away to Geshur?
3. Why did King
David leave Jerusalem?
4. Why was Absalom left hanging above the ground?
Answer in
brief:
1. How did Absalom attract the
hearts of the Israelites who came to King David for
justice?
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