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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadGreater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 315. Absalom
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Literature
Chandler, S., A Critical History of the Life of David (1853), 431.
Edersheim, A., History of Judah and Israel, v. (1880) 9.
Foakes-Jackson, F. J., The Biblical History of the Hebrews (1903), 177.
Greenhough, J. G., in Comradeship and Character (1903), 287.
Greenhough, J. G., in Men of the Old Testament: Solomon to Jonah (1904), 13.
Hunt, A. N., Sermons for the Christian Year, ii. (1891) 50.
Kittel, R., A History of the Hebrews, ii. (1896) 168.
McFadyen, J. E., The Messages of the Historians (1901), 167.
Macgregor, W. M., Some of God's Ministries (1910), 122.
Maclaren, A., Expositions: 2 Samuel, etc. (1906), 73, 84, 106.
Ottley, R. L., A Short History of the Hebrews (1901), 142.
Pentecost, G. F., Bible Studies: Mark, and Jewish History (1888), 337.
Plumptre, E. H., Biblical Studies (1870), 87.
Stanley, A. P., Lectures on the History of the Jewish Church, ii. (1889) 96.
Taylor, W. M., David, King of Israel (1894), 233.
Wade, G. W., Old Testament History (1901), 262.
Waller, C. H., The Names on the Gates of Pearl (1903), 287.
Whyte, A., Bible Characters; Gideon to Absalom (1898), 236.
Christian World Pulpit, xxii. (1882) 395 (G. T. Coster).
Church of England Magazine, lii. (1862) 168 (W. Tringham).
Expositor, 2nd Ser., viii. (1884) 176 (S. Cox).
Absalom was of royal descent on both sides, for his mother was a king's daughter. He was undoubted heir to the throne, and the favourite, even the idol, of his father. He was gifted with graces of person so extraordinary that he had won the admiration of all Israel: and even the sacred writer is almost betrayed into raptures in describing it: “From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.” He had the commanding presence, the natural dignity, the boldness in enterprise, and the fearlessness in danger which give a man sway over his fellow-men. And he was not without mental endowments of a distinguished kind. Great was that charm of eloquence and persuasiveness which won the hearts of all Israel, which made the wronged believe that in him they would have a defender, and the oppressed to see in him their God-sent judge and champion. He knew well how to play on the weaknesses and prejudices and susceptible emotions of men. What cleverness it needed to sit at the gates of the city and give answer to all appeals, and settle disputes, and gratify every suppliant, and do it all with so much grace and apparent disinterestedness that he made everybody feel that he was their best friend. What ability too, almost genius indeed, was required to organize that great rebellion, and to carry it forward in the face of immense difficulties to the verge of success. There was everything in the man's favour. He seemed to be one of Heaven's favourites, elected to fill a foremost position, and leave a great name in history-endowed with every grace except that grace which we call the grace of God. And all that came of it was a brief, comet-like career, full of folly and mischief and cruelty, which ended in a shameful death and a dishonoured grave, and which was lamented by none except the father whom he had most grievously wronged.