Absalom
Theme:
Offense and Conflict resolution
Business Application:
Unresolved issues fester and lead to bigger problems later
Who he was:
Absalom was David’s third son and brother to Tamar. He was considered the most handsome man in the land, with a thick head of hair and no blemish in his appearance. He was deeply affected by the rape of his sister Tamar by their half-brother Amnon. He exacted revenge by entrapping him and having him killed at a sheep-shearing event outside the city.
Following the murder, Absalom fled to his maternal grandfather, the king of Geshur. Three years later, he worked through Joab to get David’s permission to return to their land without retribution. But he still wasn’t allowed to see the king, so he lobbied Joab again and burned his fields when he didn’t respond. Joab again intervened so David would welcome his son back.
Absalom used his position to form a conspiracy against David by lamenting the lack of justice and saying he would do things differently. At an opportune moment, Absalom started an insurrection which was ultimately defeated and ended in his death.
Why his story matters:
Absalom’s story is a tragedy that started with very legitimate concerns. However, he chose to undermine the king to get attention and never achieved the outcome he sought.
What we can learn from him:
Absalom’s story demonstrates the importance of preventing anger and resentment from consuming us. It also shows the outcome of allowing issues to fester rather than resolving them.
Where we see his archetype today:
We see Absalom when people foment discontent and play to people’s fears. We also see Absalom in people who lead others in rebellion without resolving the underlying issues or bringing lasting transformation.
How we can learn more about him:
Absalom’s story is found at the end of 2 Samuel 13 and continues through chapter 19. He is introduced in 1 Chronicles 3:2.