page_title: Absalom
section_title: Murder of Amnon
hierarchical_section_title: Absalom / Biblical account / Murder of Amnon
caption_attribution_description: The reverse side of the Morgan Picture Bible leaf continues the story of David and his rebellious son Absalom. On the upper left, the armies of David and Absalom meet in a fierce battle. Horses and knights overlap each other in the confusion of combat, with the knights raising their weapons above their heads, ready to strike. In the next scene to the right, Absalom's hair catches on the branches of a tree as his mule passes under it. Taking advantage of the situation, David's servants pierce the helpless Absalom with their spears. In the scene below, David anxiously awaits news of the battle, his eyes directed up at a servant, who points to the approaching riders, and at the scene of his son's death above. His pained expression and upraised hand seem to indicate that he expects unwelcome news. An architectural structure and variation in the background color give structure to the miniature's various scenes, echoing the forms and colors of contemporary stained-glass windows.
context_page_description: Absalom, according to the Hebrew Bible, was the third son of David, King of Israel with Maacah, daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur.
  2 Samuel 14:25 describes him as the most handsome man in the kingdom. Absalom eventually rebelled against his father and was killed during the Battle of Ephraim's Wood.
context_section_description: Absalom's sister, who was also called Tamar, was raped by Amnon, who was their half-brother. Amnon was also David's eldest son. After the rape, Absalom waited two years, and then avenged Tamar by sending his servants to murder a drunken Amnon at a feast, to which Absalom had invited all the king's sons.
  After this murder Absalom fled to Talmai, who was the king of Geshur and Absalom's maternal grandfather. It was not until three years later that Absalom was fully reinstated in his father's favour and finally returned to Jerusalem. (see Joab).
caption: Leaf from the Morgan Picture Bible, "Scenes from the Life of Absalom", c. 1250
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