_Rebellion against our parents will surely bring misfortune._
King David was old. His hand was feeble, his eye was dim, and his
voice was weak as of one who had been ill. Absalom was his beloved
son, but he was a very wayward and rebellious boy, whom his father
could not control. He was a beautiful boy. From the sole of his
foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him, and
David loved him.
Absalom did many things to distress the old king. He stayed away
from his father’s presence for two years, and began to think of
ways to take the kingdom into his own hands. He would go out and
stand by the gate of the city, and when any one came to the king
for judgment, he would say:
“Oh, that I were made judge of the land, for I would do you
justice.” Thus Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.
Finally David fled from Jerusalem for fear of Absalom and his
followers, and Absalom came to Jerusalem and took charge of the
kingdom. David gathered an army around him of those who were still
faithful to him, and prepared to give battle to the men of Absalom
if they should come out to slay him.
Absalom started out to capture and even kill his old father, so he
might keep the kingdom for himself. David himself did not go, but
sat by the gates of the little town where he was to wait for news.
He told Joab, the captain of his men: “Deal gently for my sake
with the young man, even with Absalom.” And David’s men went into
the field to fight with Absalom and his men and there was a great
battle.
The battle was in the woods of Ephraim, and the people of Absalom
were slain before the people of David, twenty thousand, and Absalom
fled upon a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great
oak, and Absalom was caught in the tree and hung there while the
mule went away.
Some one told Joab that Absalom was hanging in the tree. Joab
quickly went, and taking three darts he threw them at Absalom, and
slew him while he was yet in the midst of the oak.
Now the old David sat by the gate and waited for news of the
battle. He had a watchman in the tower who told him he saw a man
running. “He bringeth tidings,” said David. Soon the runner reached
David and fell at his feet, saying: “The Lord hath delivered thine
enemies into thy hands.”
“Is the young man Absalom safe?” asked the king. Then the runner
told David that Absalom was dead. The old king was overcome with
grief, and cried out: “O, my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom.
Would God I had died for thee, O, Absalom, my son, my son!”