• Jacob Chanikuzhy

“Rare is the unity of beauty and purity,” writes the celebrated Roman poet Juvenal. Although inner purity can impart an admirable glow to one’s personality, the statement of Juvenal apparently holds true, at least in the case of Prince Absalom, the third son of King David. The Bible describes Prince Absalom as the most handsome man in all of Israel (2 Samuel 14,25). A factor that added to his beauty was his long hair. It seems that he was fond of and proud of his long hair that he always preferred to keep it and cut it only once a year. He was stylish and liked to show off his royal privileges. He rode on horses, whereas his father, King David, preferred a donkey as the royal carrier. Absalom arranged for fifty soldiers to run before his chariot to make an impressive entourage. “Handsome,” however, “is what handsome does.” Absalom did not have many beautiful deeds in his account. If his deeds were to be painted on his face, he would indeed have an ugly face.
Rabbis observe that Absalom had unusually bigger eyes, indicating his ambition. In addition to his ambition to succeed in the throne of his father, he was a murderer (He killed Prince Amnon, the firstborn of King David, avenging the rape of his sister Tamar), a rapist (He engaged in open sex with his father’s concubines), and a betrayer (He led a coup against his own father, King David). But what is intriguing is King David’s love for Absalom! When Absalom was killed, David cried his heart out: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I had died instead of you…” (2 Samuel 18, 33).
After the murder of Amnon, Absalom had to flee to the kingdom of his maternal grandfather and the king of Geshur. He lived in exile for three years. King David was at the same time a king and a father. As the king and the dispenser of justice, he had to punish his son Absalom for the crime of murder. Nevertheless, as the father of Absalom, he missed his beloved son.
What happens when a child becomes disobedient, rebellious, a drug addict, or even a criminal? Should a parent abandon him/her forever? The story of Absalom’s reinstatement in the court of David offers us some guidelines. “Life for life” was the legal principle in the Old Testament. If such a rule were applied strictly in the case of Absalom, he would have no future, no life. But, David did not allow the law that kills to have the last word, and extended a life-giving mercy to his son Absalom. This is how God treated Cain and how Jesus treated his murderers.
However, Absalom continued to be an ungrateful son, continuously trying to discredit his father, David, and his government. Although he himself was a murderer, he considered himself worthy of becoming a judge. After plotting for a couple of years, he proclaimed himself king and led an army against David. In utter humiliation, King David had to flee barefoot from the palace. Asserting his kingship, Absalom engaged in sex with the concubines of David in the sight of the public. However, in the final battle against the army of Absalom, King David instructs his three generals: “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake” (2 Samuel 18,5). There are scholars who think that David gave this instruction to the generals in public to get the sympathy of the people and not to be blamed for the blood of Absalom, and Joab fulfilled the wish of David by piercing the chest of Absalom. As the text now stands, the Davidic intent to forgive Absalom models the unconditional forgiveness of God the Father. Although David was no replica of God the Father, his willingness to forgive Absalom in spite of the latter’s continued ingratitude and hatred towards his father, David, shows the unconditional forgiveness God the Father extends towards humanity. It is this unfathomable forgiveness of God the Father that makes reconciliation, a new beginning, a prosperous future, and salvation itself possible, even for the callous sinners. Families torn by infighting, jealousy, and hatred will do well if they are open to forgiveness and reconciliation, which will guarantee a new future that is peaceful and joyful.