Absalom

Title Ideas:Absolom’s plans. Consequences from sin and revenge. King David’s sorrow [grief].

King David’s first son was named Amnon, and his third son was named Absalom. Absolom had a beautiful sister named Tamar.Amnon lusted for Tamar, and one day he raped [forced] her [had sex with her]. Afterwards, he hated her.

Absolom wanted to avenge his sister’s [Tamar’s] shame. So, one day, Absalom invited all David’s sons to come [from Jerusalem to] eat a feast together [at another town]. During the feast, Absalom’s friends attacked Amnon and killed him [with their swords/knives].

Quickly, all of the other sons mounted their mules [donkeys / horses] and hurried back to Jerusalem.Absalom fled [ran away] to stay with his grandfather [in another city/kingdom] for some years.

King David felt sad and mourned [wept] many days for his son Amnon.After three years, David longed for [wanted to see] Absalom [again].

David had an army [warriors]. The army commander [leader] was named Joab.

When Joab realized [saw; had seen] that King David longed for Absalom, Joab sent a wise old woman to beg David, “Please, allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem!”

So David ordered Joab, “Go find Absalom and bring him here [to Jerusalem]!” Joab did so.Then David told Joab, “Absalom must stay at his own house. He must not come see me [at my palace]!”

For two more years, Absalom did not see King David.Absalom let his hair grow long, and many people admired [praised] him because he was handsome [beautiful].

One day, when Absalom wanted to see [his father] David, he sent for Joab, and shouted at him, “Go to the king! Ask him why he has brought me [Absolom] to Jerusalem?’”

Joab did so, and King David summoned [sent for] Absalom. Absalom came and bowed down to the king. Then the two embraced [gave each other a family kiss.].

After this, Absalom bought a chariot [beautiful light-weight carriage] pulled by horses. He hired [paid] [50] men to run before him when he would climb into his chariot and go places [in the city and country].

Every morning, he went and stood beside a city gate. When people came to Jerusalem to talk with the king about their complaints, Absalom would offer to listen to them [first].

He would say to them, “Your complaint is just [valid], but the king and his judges will not listen to you. If I become [were] a judge, then I will [would] listen to your complaint and would give you justice [a right decision].

When people wanted to bow down before Absalom, he stopped them from doing so, and he embraced them [with a friendly kiss or greeting]. Many people in Israel began to like Absalom more than [they liked] King David.

Four years later, Absalom conspired [secretly planned] to kill [assassinate] King David and to become king over Israel in his place

One day, Absalom said to King David, “Let me go [to Hebron town] to worship the Lord!”David replied, “Go in peace [Yes, you may go]!”

At Hebron, Absalom sent messengers to all Israel’s [northern] tribal leaders. They said, “Order everybody, when they hear men blowing [making sounds with] trumpets [horns], they must shout, ‘Absalom is king [at Hebron]!’”

But a man [ran] hurried to report to King David, saying, “The Israelite [northern] tribes have made Absalom their king! They are going to come here with an army, and kill you and everyone in your palace!”

So David told everyone in the palace, “We must leave Jerusalem now [quickly], or Absalom and the norther tribes will kill us and destroy Jerusalem!”

King David ordered his army to be ready to fight against Absalom’s army. But he told Joab and the commanders, “Do not kill Absalom; keep him alive for me [so I won’t have more sorrow]!”

The two armies battled in a forest [area with many trees]. David’s army defeated Absalom’s army. While Absalom was escaping on a mule [donkey / horse], his long hair became entangled [caught] in the branches from a strong [solid] tree.

Joab and some soldiers found Absalom alive, hanging from the tree by his hair. But they disobeyed David’s order and killed Absalom with a spear [long knife].

Then Joab blew a trumpet, signaling to David’s army to stop fighting Absalom’s army. They threw Absalom’s dead body into a deep pit, and then threw stones into the pit to cover it.

Joab sent two messengers who ran to King David. They reported to him, “We bring you good news! Today, the Lord has rescued you from your enemies!”

When David asked them, “Is Absalom alive?” they replied, “Absalom is dead! May the same [may death] happen to all your enemies!”

Then King David felt overcome with grief [very sad]. He began to weep and cry bitterly, “Absalom! My son! Absalom! I wish I had died, and that you had lived!”