Lexicon :: Strong's H53 - 'ăbyšālôm

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God ​— ​such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

This proposal seemed right to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite also. Let’s hear what he has to say as well.”

So Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom told him, “Ahithophel offered this proposal. Should we carry out his proposal? If not, what do you say? ”

Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given this time is not good.”

“He’s probably already hiding in one of the caves[fn] or some other place. If some of our troops fall[fn] first, someone is sure to hear and say, ‘There’s been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

Since the LORD had decreed that Ahithophel’s good advice be undermined in order to bring about Absalom’s ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.”

Hushai then told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “This is what[fn] Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what[fn] I advised.

However, a young man did see them and informed Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? ”

“They passed by toward the water,”[fn] the woman replied to them. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

David had arrived at Mahanaim by the time Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.

Now Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in Joab’s place. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra[fn] the Israelite;[fn] Ithra had married Abigail daughter of Nahash.[fn] Abigail was a sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.

And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.[fn]

One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree! ”

The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver[fn] in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’[fn]

Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you! ” He then took three spears[fn] in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree,

ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and raised up a huge mound of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.

When he was alive, Absalom had taken a pillar and raised it up for himself in the King’s Valley, since he thought, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he named the pillar after himself. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.

The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right? ”

Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a big disturbance, but I don’t know what it was.”

The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right? ”

The Cushite replied, “I wish that the enemies of my lord the king, along with all who rise up against you with evil intent, would become like that young man.”

The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son! ”

But the king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son! ”

“by loving your enemies and hating those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you![fn]

People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies, and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

“But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king? ”

The news reached Joab. Since he had supported Adonijah but not Absalom, Joab fled to the LORD’s tabernacle and took hold of the horns of the altar.

and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s[fn] name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. He acquired eighteen wives and sixty concubines and was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.