Mentioned in the Bible by name

Absalom

And her brother Avshalom said to her, "Has Aminon [diminutive form of Amnon] your brother been with you? Now, calm down, my sister, he is your brother, do not take this to heart." [The diminutive form is probably used to emphasize how the meaning of Amnon's name, "faithful," did not match his actions. So Tamar remained abandoned (devastated, alone) in her brother Avshalom's house. ]

And it came to pass, after two years (two years of days), that Absalom had sheep shearing in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim [two miles north of Jerusalem]. So Absalom invited all the king's sons. [Absalom has a cunning plan to take revenge on Amnon, the goal being to find an opportunity to kill him. Now he had waited two years. Sheep shearing was celebrated as a festive occasion, often with wine, see Gen. 38:12; 1 Sam. 25:2, 8, 36.]

So Avshalom came to the king [David] and said, "Behold, your servants have sheep shearing. O king, I beg you, take your servants and go with us (literally: your servants)."

But the king [David] said to Avshalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, it will be too burdensome for you." Even though he [Absalom] pressed him [King David], he did not go, but he [David] gave him his blessing.
[Even though Absalom has been refused, he has managed to get David's blessing. He has also managed to manipulate his father into a social position that forces him to say yes to the next request. It comes without delay and gives the appearance of innocence: if the king himself cannot come, then let him send "my brother Amnon," the king's heir to the throne, in his place.]

Then Avshalom said [to his father David], "If you don't want to, I beg you, let my brother Amnon go with us."
And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"

But Avshalom pressed him [David], and he let Amnon and all the king's [David's] sons go with him.

And it came to pass, while they were on their way, that the report came to David, saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and none of them are left." [The report was false; only Amnon was dead.]

But Jonadab, a son of David's brother Shimeah [verse 3], answered and said, "Let not my lord believe that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon is the only one who is dead, for Absalom has determined this and has been determined from the day he raped his sister Tamar.

But Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there came a great crowd by a roundabout way on the side of the hill.

But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Amichud, king of Geshur. [Absalom flees to his grandfather, see 2 Sam. 3:3; 13:37; 1 Chron 3:2] And (David) mourned for his son all the days.

After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there for three years.

And King David's soul yearned for Avshalom, for he was comforted after Amnon was dead.
[Geshur was an Aramean kingdom east of the Sea of Galilee. Manasseh's half-tribe in Transjordan had failed to drive them out during the conquest (Deut. 3:14; Josh. 13:13), so Geshur continued as an independent kingdom. Talmai was Absalom's grandfather.]

And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, understood that the king's [David's] heart was over (his thoughts were focused on) Absalom. [Joab is David's nephew and general, see 1 Chron. 2:15–16.]

And the king said to Joab, "Behold, I have granted this matter; go and bring back the young man Absalom."

And Joab arose and went to Geshora and brought Avshalom to Jerusalem.

And the king said, "Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face." And Avshalom returned to his own house and did not see the king's face.

In all Israel there was no one as handsome as Absalom; from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head there was no blemish (no fault) in him.

And to Avshalom were born three sons and one daughter whose name was Tamar, she was a woman of beautiful appearance.

And Avshalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and he did not see the king's face.

And Avshalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but he did not come to him, and he sent for him a second time, but he did not come.

Therefore, he said to his servants, "Behold, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire." And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

And Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"

And Absalom said to Joab, "Come here, that I may send you to the king to say, 'Why have I come here from Geshur? It would be better for me to remain there. Let me see the king's face, and if there is any guilt in me, let him kill me.

And Joab came to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he bowed himself with his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared a chariot (Hebr. merkavah) and horses, and fifty men to run before him [as bodyguards/soldiers].[Absalom prepared a royal procession through the city for his coronation as king. The prophet Samuel uses similar words and phrases about kings, see 1 Sam. 8:10–11. Absalom breaks with the tradition of allowing God to choose the king of Israel and then confirming this choice through the prophetic ministry. Neither Saul nor David had sought the throne themselves, see 1 Sam. 10:9–27; 16:1–13. A few years after this event, Avshalom's younger brother Adonijah will also follow the same example, see 1 Kings 1:5]

Absalom used to get up early and stand by the road leading to the gate [into Jerusalem], and if anyone had a matter to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call him and ask, "What city are you from?" And when he answered, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,"

Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your case is good and right, but the king has no one to hear you out."

And Avshalom said [further], "Oh, if only someone would appoint me judge in the land! Then everyone who has a matter or a legal case could come to me, and I would give him justice." [Literally: "Who will make me judge?" The expression describes a desire.]

[Absalom's act of seducing the people continued for some time. This verse mentions the time period "from the end of 40 years." The text does not say what the 40 years mark the end of. It cannot mean that Absalom did this for 40 years, as David died when he was 70 years old. Some suggestions are: Saul's coronation as king, David's coronation by Samuel, David's accession to the throne, or Avshalom's age. Some believe that the writers who copied the Hebrew text made a mistake and wrote arbaim (40) instead of arba (4).]
And it came to pass at the end of the forty years [some manuscripts have four years] that Absalom said to the king, "Let me go, I beg you, and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord (Yahweh) in Hebron (Hebr. Chevrón).

And with Avshalom went 200 men from Jerusalem who were invited, they went in simplicity (innocently, naively) and they knew nothing about the matter.

And a messenger came to David and told him, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Avshalom."

And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee, lest we all flee from Absalom. Hurry to leave, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil upon us and strike the city with the edge of the sword."

And they told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among those who conspire with Absalom." And David said, "Lord (Yahweh), I pray you, turn Ahithophel's counsel into folly."

but if you return to the city and say to Avshalom, 'I will be your servant, O king, as I have been your father's servant before, so now I will be your servant. And you shall thwart Ahithophel's counsel for me.

And Hushai, David's friend, came into the city at the same time that Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

The Lord (Yahweh) has brought upon you the blood of Saul's house, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord (Yahweh) has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Avshalom, and behold, you are caught in your own wickedness, for you are a man of blood."

And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

And it came to pass, when Choshai the Arkite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, that Choshai said to Absalom, "Long live the king, long live the king."

And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness (loving care – Hebr. chesed) toward your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

And Choshai said to Avshalom, "No, but the one whom the Lord (Yahweh) and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, he shall be king, and with him I will be.

And Avshalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your advice, what should I do?"

And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

And Ahithophel's counsel in those days was as if a man had inquired of the word of God (Elohim). Such was all Ahithophel's counsel to David, and also to Absalom.

And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Now let me choose 12,000 men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight,

And his word pleased Avshalom and all the elders of Israel.

And Avshalom said, "Call, I pray thee, also Choshai the Arkite, and let us hear what he has to say."

When Choshai came to Avshalom, Avshalom spoke to him and said, "Here is what Achitofel has said [the advice he has given us]. Should we do according to his word or not? Speak."

So Choshai said to Absalom, "The advice that Ahithophel has given this time is not good."

Behold, he is now hiding in some hole or some place, and it shall come to pass when they first attack them that whoever hears it shall say, 'There is slaughter among the people who follow Avshalom,

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Ahithophel the Arkite is better than the advice of Ahithophel." For the Lord (Yahweh) had determined to thwart the advice of Ahithophel, so that the Lord (Yahweh) might bring evil upon Absalom.

And Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, "This and this is Ahithophel's counsel to Absalom and to the elders of Israel, and this is my counsel to them.

But a young man saw them and told Absalom, and they both went quickly and came to a man's house in Bahurim who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down there.

And David came to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

And Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Itra, an Israelite who had gone in to Abigail (Hebr. Avigal) [short form of Abigail], the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Zeruiah, the mother of Joab.

And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

But the king commanded Joab and Avishai and Ittai, saying, "For my sake, treat the young man Avshalom gently." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the leaders concerning Avshalom.

And Absalom happened to be in front of David's servants. And Absalom rode on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a terebinth tree, and his head got caught in the terebinth tree, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule went on. [The fact that his head got caught in the branches of the terebinth tree was probably due to his thick hair, which had become entangled in the branches, see 2 Sam. 14:26.]

And ten young men who wore Joab's armor surrounded and struck Absalom and killed him.

And they took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest and gathered a large pile of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.

And Absalom had erected a pillar for himself during his lifetime, which is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to preserve my name in remembrance." And he named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom's hand to this day.

And the king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servants and me, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was."

And the king said to the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And the Cushite answered, "My lord the king's enemies and all who rose up against you to harm you are like that young man."

And the king was very upset and went up to the chamber above the gate and wept, and as he went, he said, "My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died in your place, Absalom, my son, my son!"

And they told Joab, "Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom."

And the king covered his face, and the king cried aloud, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!"

by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you. For I know today that if Absalom had lived and we had all died today, it would have pleased you well.

But all the people were quarreling (arguing) in all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, and he saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

And Absalom, whom we anointed king over us, died in battle. And now, why is there no word about bringing the king back?"

And David said to Avishai, "Now Sheba, the son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he take fortified cities and escape from our sight."

But show mercy (loving kindness – Hebr. chesed) to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they came to me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

And the report came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah, but had not followed Absalom. And Joab fled to the tent of the Lord (Yahweh) and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Absalom, the third – son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur,
Adonijah (Hebr. Adonijah), the fourth – son of Haggith,

Lord (Yahweh), how many are my enemies!
Many rise up against me.