See II Samuel xv, xvi, xvii, xviii.

ABSALOM, as the third son of King David, his other being Maacah, daughter of Talmal king of Geshur. He was greatly admired among the Israelites for his beauty. “From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him." Especially was he distinguished for the beauty of his hair, which grew so luxuriantly that when at the end of each year he was sham, its weight was equal to two hundred shekels of silver. But he was vain and deceitful of heart; and his ambition and perhaps envy of his brother Solomon, led him to plot against the king his father and to conspire with his enemies for his overthrow. He set himself diligently to work in various subtle ways to win over the people to himself, affectionately embracing all who approached to salute him, and saying to those who came to the king for judgment, O that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice.” Thereby he won their hearts and alienated them from King David. When he had thus gathered around him a sufficient number, he proceeded to Hebron-first obtaining his father's permission, under the pretense that he wished to pay a vow unto the Lord-and was there proclaimed king. When the news was brought to David by a messenger that the hearts of the men of Israel were with Absalom, he fled in haste from Jerusalem, attended by his servants and such men of the city as were still loyal, and passed over the Jordan, finding an asylum in the city of Mahanaim.

Absalom took possession of Jerusalem, and was there solemnly anointed king. Afterwards he set out with a large army in pursuit of his father, following him across the Jordan. David gathered together his devoted people, and wished to lead them to battle himself but they restrained him, saying, “Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us; but now thou art worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that thou succor us' out of the city. So David sent forth his army under the command of three trusted leaders, after charging them to deal gently with Absalom, whom he still greatly loved. The king's people met the hosts of Absalom in the wood of Ephraim and overwhelmed them, slaying twenty thousand men. Absalom sought to escape on the back of a mule, but in passing under an immense oak, his hair caught in the boughs, and the mule fled from under him, leaving him suspended in the air. When a messenger who had witnessed this informed Joab, the chief captain in David's army, he hastened to the spot, and, unmindful of the command of the king, he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while yet he was alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bore Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.” Then he was cast into a pit in the forest, and stones were thrown upon him in token of bitter hostility.

In the engraving the fate of Absalom is strikingly portrayed. From one of the gnarled branch~ of the spreading oak we behold the wretched victim, held tightly by his strong locks- perhaps conscious that death is speedily to overtake him; for Joab and his followers, mounted .on swift steeds, are seen galloping towards him, their stern features, wild shouts and angry gestures showing the spirit of vengeance that inflames their hearts.