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133.

THE JEWISH ENCY(

133

Jinny of the ritual and ceremonial laws and customs <if themselves into disuse; olliers «erc either abolished or modified l)y the various nibl)inical conferences held durinj; the last half century in (idmany and in th(' L'nited States. The authority (jf these conferences has tjcen recognized by the re fonn Jews only. See Conkkuexces, R.xiiiii.Nic.vi,. fell

Abrogation

l.ol'KDlA

Absalom

represented as a handsome and full-grown man. His beauty, in combination with au amiable dispo.sition, rendered him popular among the people, and he took advantage of this popularity to strengthen is

I). Hpr.lielmpr In (ielper's Witwiimeli. Ziil. l.«ew, a--1I; Sti'lnsctineldur, l'ulcini.iclic i;((i«/it LiUrutur, pp. Sii, SSi.

BriiLIOfiRAPnv



Jlhl.

till-

Sihrifltn,

M. M.

ABSALOM

('The Fat li<r of Pence '').— Biblical son of Kin;; David, born in lliliron His mother, in the early years of that l<inf;'s reij;n. Maachali, was the dauybter of Talniai, Uini; of

Data:

'I'hinl

GeshurdI Sam, iii, :i; 11 Sam. .iii. JiT; IC'hion. iii, 2). Absidom appears as llu' avenger of his sister Tainar,

who

hail

been entrapped, outra,se(l, and shame-

fully cast aside by her half brother Amnon. David's eldest .son. Ilavin.g heard of the crime, the king was greatly irrilaled, but he had not the courage to punish .Vnuion, on aecoimt of his love for his firstThe vi<-lim scnight refuge in the house of .bborn. salom, who adviseil lier to bear the insult in silence. Ab.salom himself did not at lirst resent it ollierwi.se

than by.systennilieally ignoring Amnon (II Sam. .iii. 1-22), but on the occasion of a banciuet two years later, at which all David's sons were present, Absalom's servants, at the command of their master, fell upon Anmon and slew him (H Sam. .iii. 2:i-8;i). The other sons of David hurried back to Jerusalem, when^'a rnnior had alri-ady spreail that Absalom bad killed all bis l)rothers; and the king deeply nLoiiriicd over the death of Amnon. As for Absalom, he lli'd to Talmai, his grandfather, in Geshur, and remained there three years (II Sam. xiii. 3;!-;W) Hut soon David longed to see Ab.salom, and Joab, David's nephew, moved by s^'mpathy for the murderer, availed himself of this ojiportunily to jiersuadi! the king to recall Abs;dom. David eonsenled,

and Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem, where he was restored to his house and

The Traditional Tomb

<it

.b.^luiu.

(From a photograph.)

ow n position and to arouse dissatisfaction with David (iliitl. S.")-;!.")). Absidom asked his father's leave to go to Hebron, and he used the opportunity to cncoura.ire a rebc'llion against David (II Sam. .v.

his

Ahithophel. David's counselor, joined Absii1-0), lom, w bile Joab remained f.'nlhful to David. The rebellion assumed such large pro)iortions as to oblige seek refuge beyond the )avid lo leave Jerusalem and JoitD.vN. Absalom entered Jerusalem, anil, on the advice of Ahithophel, ajipropriated the harem of David as a symbol of havin.ir entered upon royal eonlrol (II Sam. .v. 10-.vi. 2;l). .Miilhophel proposed to pui-sue David with 12,0(M) pieked soldiers and to brin.s back to Absalom all This plan llie people lliat had tied with David. was fnislralid by Ilusliai. who counseled thai all Israel be galhired from Dan lo Hier sheba. unto Absalom, and that the latter shoiilil then go to batIt is tle in Ins own person (II Sam. .wii. 7-13). verv likelv thai, during this inlcrval, Absidom was anoinled Iking (II Sam. .ix. 11). I?ul the delay gave David lime to reach the Jordan unmolesled and also In slreiiglheii his army. AVhile the king himself remained in Mahanaim he sent forth his warriors divided into line columns (II Sam. xviii. The eneounliT took place in the forest of II). Kplimim. Absidom was defeated, and while lie wii.s llei iiig through Hie forest his long hair was caught One of Joab's men fouiul ill the bnmches of a tree. hiiii siispeiidid from the tree and nporled the fuel I

Atisiileiii i'tiiitflit In

m

th- Vl.Miih "

H Tree,

YMlfpon,"

nnh,

!:**.»

family, but was gninted no prtvilepi'S of rank at court. Through the influence of Joab a reimi rilialion

about

(II

liilween

Sam.

falh<r

xiv. 1-2-t).

and son was brought At Ibis time .bs-dom

I