The subject was David's son, without blemish from head to foot, his heavy hair cut but once a year. When his half-brother Amnon violated his sister Tamar, the subject nursed his hatred two years, then had Amnon killed at a feast and fled into exile.

Brought back to Jerusalem through Joab's device, the subject stood each morning at the city gate, judging the people's causes and winning their affection, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

He had himself proclaimed king at Hebron, and the conspiracy grew strong, so that David fled from Jerusalem weeping. The subject entered the city and took his father's counsel Ahithophel, whose advice was as the oracle of God.

But David's friend Hushai frustrated Ahithophel's counsel, and the subject delayed his pursuit. When at last the armies met in the forest of Ephraim, David's men prevailed, and twenty thousand fell that day.

Fleeing on a mule, the subject was caught by his head in the branches of a great oak and left hanging. Joab thrust three javelins into his heart against the king's command. When David heard, he wept, crying, "O Absalom, my son, my son! Would I had died instead of you."