The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-15
LESSON STORY.

Absalom is to be both pitied and de-
tested.
He is to be pitied because he was the
son of David the polygamist His moth
or was Maacah, the daughter of the
idol worshipping Talmai, king of Ges-
hur. 1t is safe to infer that she did not
nurture her son in the religion of Israel.
AS she had, lik the other wives of the
king, her separate house. it is not unlike
ly that she reared her children to dis
trust of Jehovah. She could not be the
loyal wife and the devoted mother she
might have been had she been an Israe-
lite and Davd's only wife. Envy of the
seven other wives of David and the nat
ural suspicion that their children might
be favored above her own. must have
embittered her life. That Absalom was
the son of such mother that he had
only small section of a sons claim on
his many wived father, should lead US
to pity him.
He is detestable because he was
treacherous.
Seven years before our l,sson date his
half brother Amnon, the IN of his ia
theirs wife Ahinoam. and heir presump-
tive to the throne. committed bastard
ly crime towards Absalom's sister.
David did not punish the crime of his
oldest son. After two years Absalom.
by treachery, murdered Amnon, to
avenge his sister. David now was un-
der necessity of acting as his sons judge:
but Absalom fed Three years he re-
manned in the court of his grandfather
in Geshur. Then, by the interposition
of Joab. he was permitted to return to
Jerusalem. But David, although he
had a fathers fondness for his son.
would not for two years suffer him to
appear at court or grant him personal
interview. David's treatment of him
was whiting and doting. At the end of
two years, through Joab's second inter
position, David became reconciled to his
son; he granted to him a reconciling
kiss; he restored him to the privileges
which belonged to the heir of the throne.
L. AbsalOm the DemagOgue,-
vs. 1-6.
Absalvm was not content to wait to
enter on his royal career. With few
erish and impatient ambition he entered
into conspiracy to wrest the throne
from his father. He must have fore.
seen that assassination or its equivalent
that is, parricide, would be the condi-
tion of his seizure of the throne.
Absalom was physically very beauti
full. He was without blemish from the
crown of his head to the soles of his
feet. He possessed head of hair mar
vellous for quantity and quality. At its
annual cutting it was reported as weigh
ing two hundred of the kings shekels,-
weighing which scholars conjecture to
b. about six pounds. 1t was considered
b. the Arabsa sign of manliness to
wear the hair long, after the fashion of
the Nazarites. Absalom added to his
physical attractions the beguiling trap
pings of royalty. He rode through the
streets of Jerusalem in a chariot, or
state carriage, attended by fifty forerun-
ners to herald his approach. He would
also, in the early morning. stand in the
way to the gate, where justice was ad-
ministered, and intercept those who had
petitions to present; and he would,
wherever it was possible. prejudice each
case in the petitioners favor, and imply
that every mans cause would be safe it
he was made judge. He played the dem
agogue yet further. When any man
came nigh to do him ObeiSance. he put
forth has hand and took hold of him, and
kissed him. What citizen could fail to
do the bidding of royal prince who had
greeted him with a friendly kiss and
promised him his favor? He stole the
hearts Of the men of Israel.
He found fellow conspirator in Ahi-
thophel, David's most trusted counsel
lor, and grandfather of his favorite wife
Bathsheba. No man of the period was
more esteemed for wisdom than Ahitho