King David had 8 wives, and many concubines, from whom he had 23 children.

The third son born to David, about 1074BCE was Absalom. His mother was Maacah. 2 Sam 3:2-5 Physical beauty ran strong in Absaloms family. He was known throughout the land for his outstanding good looks; his luxuriant growth of hair, possibly made heavier by the use of oil or ointments, weighed some 200 shekels (5 lb) when annually cut. 2 Sam 14:25-26 His daughter Tamar, named after her aunt, was most beautiful in appearance. 2 Sam 14:27 His sister Tamar was also beautiful, but the family beauty caused a major problem. 2 Sam 13:1, 2 The beauty of Absaloms sister Tamar caused his older half brother Amnon to become infatuated with her. Pretending to be ill, Amnon manoeuvred to have Tamar sent to his quarters to cook for him. 2 Sam 13:6, 11-15 He raped her. Amnons passion turned to contempt and he had Tamar evicted, but she was met by Absalom. He quickly sized up the situation and voiced immediate suspicion of Amnon, indicating a prior alertness to his half brothers passionate desire. Absalom instructed his sister to raise no accusation at this time, and took her into his home to live. 2 Sam 13:19, 20 Hereafter Absalom was bitter toward other family members. Two years later Absalom arranged a feast, inviting all his half-brothers. At the feast, when Amnon was in a merry mood with wine, Absalom ordered his servants to kill him. 2 Sam 13:28, 29 The other sons headed back to Jerusalem, and Absalom went into exile in the territory of his maternal grandfather. 2 Sam 13:38 Three years later the pain of losing his firstborn had subsided and David felt paternal longing for Absalom. His nephew Joab, aware of Davids feelings, devised a plan to open the way for David to offer a provisional pardon allowing Absalom to be come home, although not allowing him to appear in his fathers court. 2 Sam 13:39; 14:21, 23, 24 Absalom endured this situation for two years and then began manoeuvring for full pardon. Joab relayed this message and David welcomed his son, who then fell on the ground in false display of respect and the king kissed him, symbolic of a full pardon. 2 Sam 14:28, 29, 33 However, any natural affection that Absalom had for his father had evaporated during their five years apart. Since Daniel who was the second of Davids sons had possibly died, this left Absalom as Davids oldest surviving son. He might have considered himself as now destined for the throne, especially because of his being descended from royalty on both his mother and fathers sides of the family. Once he was accepted back into the royal family, Absalom began a political scheme. He pretended he had great concern for the welfare of the Israelites. He implied to the people, that the king lacked interest in their problems and that they were in need of a warm-hearted man like himself. 2 Sam 15:2-6 When he was satisfied that he had built up a strong following, he used an excuse to his father to go to Hebron. 2 Sam 15:7, 9 From there he quickly organized a full-scale conspiracy for the throne, including a nationwide web of spies to proclaim his kingship. After having invoked Gods blessing on his rule by offering sacrifices, he obtained the support of his fathers most respected counsellor, Ahithophel. Many now swung to Absaloms side. 2 Sam 15:11, 12 Faced with a possible large-scale attack, David chose to evacuate the palace along with all his household. 2 Sam 15:14, 16

Fleeing from Jerusalem, over the Mount of Olives, David was met by his friend Hushai. He dispatched him to Jerusalem to thwart Ahithophels scheming. 2 Sam 15:30, 32-34, 37 Feeling secure but perhaps complacent, Absalom welcomed Hushai onto his side. 2 Sam 16:15-19 Then, in a terrible sign of disrespect and aggression toward his father Absalom publicly had relations with his fathers concubines. 2 Sam 16:22 Ahithophel asked Absalom for authority to lead an army against David that very night so he could deliver the deathblow before David could get his own forces organized. 2 Sam 17:1, 2 Before deciding, Absalom thought it wise to hear Hushais opinion. Realizing David needed time to get well away, Hushai recommended a delay whilst Absalom built up for himself up a large army. By Jehovahs direction, Hushais counsel was accepted. 2 Sam 17: 7, 8, 10, 11, 14 Ahithophel, feeling humiliated, and perhaps realizing that Absaloms revolt would fail, committed suicide. 2 Sam 17:23 Preparing for the conflict, David organized his expanding forces into three divisions. 2 Sam 18:1, 2 But David showed no anger toward Absalom, by requesting his captains to treat him kindly. 2 Sam 18:5 When the battle got underway, Absaloms newly formed army suffered a crushing defeat by Davids experienced fighters. 2 Sam 18:7-8 A possible explanation is that Absaloms men, who were fleeing in panic through the rocky forest, perhaps fell into pits and hidden ravines, and became entangled in dense underbrush. Absalom himself tried to escape on his mule. 2 Sam 18:9 He must have passed under the low branches of a large tree; he apparently got his head entangled in the fork of a branch so that he was left suspended in the air. What happened then? 2 Sam 18:10-12 The man who reported to Joab that he had seen him said he would not disobey Davids request by slaying Absalom. Joab, though, felt no such restraint and drove three shafts (spears?) into Absaloms heart, after which ten of his men joined their captain in sharing the responsibility for Absaloms death. 2 Sam 18:14, 15 Absaloms body was then thrown into a ditch and covered with a mound of stones, not even getting himself a proper burial. 2 Sam 18:17, 21 This occurred about 1051BCE, so Absalom was only about 23 years of age. When messengers reached David, his first concern was for his son. Learning of Absaloms death, David paced the floor of the roof chamber, crying and mourning 2 Sam 18:32, 33 Only Joabs blunt, straightforward speech and reasoning brought David out of his great grief due to the tragedy that befell this ambitious, rebellious young man. 2 Sam 19:1, 5-8 Interestingly, look at 2 Sam 18:18 There is a stone monument a pillar of rock in the Kidron Valley, in Jerusalem, that has been called the Tomb of Absalom. It is approximately 47 feet in height. The lower half is a large solid block, about twenty feet square by twenty-one feet high. The upper half is hollow. Inside this portion is a room eight feet square, with a small burial place. For centuries, it was traditionally ascribed to Absalom, and it was the custom among passersby to throw stones at the monument. Residents of Jerusalem would bring their unruly children to the site to teach them what became of a rebellious son. An analysis of the architecture used indicates that the monument's construction is from the GrecoRoman period, perhaps of the time of Herod, in the first century C.E. So it is not Absaloms Monument.