Abstract
The story of King David's love for his rebellious son Absalom is a poignant narrative in literature. Absalom, the third of David’s sons, is reputed to have been quite handsome with a well developed physique and long, flaxen hair, of which he was proud. Seemingly, his youthful rebellion caused him to win the hearts of the people and to enter into battle against the army of his father, David. David was caught in the unenviable position of doing what was best for Israel and at the same time wanting leniency for Absalom. As his army marched to suppress the insurrection led by Absalom's followers, David gave explicit instructions to his commanders to “deal gently with Absalom." The battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. David’s troops, experienced and more strategically prepared, dealt Absalom's forces a crushing defeat. In the course of the battle, Absalom, riding on a mule, was hung as he passed under the bough of an oak tree. Tradition says that his hair became tangled in the tree, leaving him helplessly suspended. Joab, David’s commander, took sharpened sticks and drove them through Absalom's body which was then buried under a pile of stones. The battle ended and David's troops were victorious.