"O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"--_2 Samuel 19:4._
GOOD King David had more sons besides the little one who died. One was
named Absalom. He was a very fine, handsome young man, and had most
beautiful hair; but he was fierce and proud, and wanted to be king.
And when David was old, this wicked Absalom gathered men together,
and drove his father away, that he might be king instead. Good King
David had to go away, weeping and barefoot, down the steep rocky pass,
for fear of his wicked son; and cruel men called him names, and threw
stones at him as he went, while Absalom was made to reign in his
father's palace, and did all he pleased there. But God will not let
wicked men prosper; and all David's faithful old soldiers came together
to help him. They had a great battle with Absalom and his men; and
Absalom was beaten, and fled away on a mule.
[Illustration: SHIMEI CASTING STONES AT DAVID.--2 Sam. 16:5, 6.]
But when he came into a wood, his thick hair was caught in an oak tree,
and he could not get it loose; and his mule went away, and left him
still with his hair caught in the tree.
Now, though Absalom had been so wicked, his father loved him still, and
had begged all his men to take care not to hurt the young man Absalom.
So when one of the men saw Absalom caught by the hair in a tree he
would not hurt him, and only went and told Absalom's cousin, Joab, who
was the captain of David's army.
[Illustration: ABSALOM]
Joab had no pity; he thought Absalom richly deserved to die, and he was
afraid the king would pardon him; so he went at once, with three darts
in his hand, and killed Absalom as he hung in the tree.
King David was grieved to the heart. No words can say how sad he was to
think that his son had died in his sin, and never asked his pardon. He
wept, and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would
God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" It was not like
his grief for the innocent little baby he had lost before; for Absalom
had been a bad man, and for that there is no comfort.
And when all the people came joyfully to bring King David home to his
palace, to be king again, still his heart mourned for his son Absalom.
[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ABSALOM.--2 Sam. 18:9.]