Saturday 1 February 2025
The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (v. 4)
Background
The two books of Samuel revolve around the career of David and his ascent from shepherd boy to warrior to king, ruling over the feuding tribes of the Israelites. In 2 Samuel, David defeats internal rivals and external enemies, only to find a serious challenge to his rule emerging within his own growing and increasingly fractious family, as his favourite son Absalom makes a bid for power. After gathering support by promising quick fixes to disgruntled people, Absalom launches a coup against his father (2 Samuel 15:1-12). The storyteller makes clear David’s continuing love for Absalom, so that as the army prepares for battle, David urges the commanders to "deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom" (2 Samuel 18:5). The reader or listener may guess that this is not going to end well!
David’s troops defeat Absalom’s army. Absalom is discovered by David’s soldiers and is killed by Joab, one of David’s generals. 2 Samuel 18 ends with haunting words expressing the depth of David’s grief: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (v. 33)
David’s grief continues into chapter 19, with a repetition of the lament, underlining that the father-son relationship was ruptured by Absalom’s rebellion and is now destroyed by his death. For David’s loyal troops, victory loses its savour because of the king’s distress. Joab’s matter-of-fact acknowledgment of what has happened leads on to the next episode in the story, where Joab tells David that he needs to appreciate the loyalty and achievement of his army (verses 5-8).
To Ponder:
- Can you identify with David in his profound sense of loss?
- What would you say, or do, or pray, if you met someone going through bereavement?
Prayer
Loving God, give us hearts and minds that are open to the experience of others, and may we be ready to listen, to hear, and to care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Martin Wellings
Martin Wellings is a Methodist presbyter, serving in north London.