Absalom

Absalom, in the Old Testament, third son of David, king of Israel and Judah. According to the Bible (see 2 Samuel 13-19), Absalom killed his brother Amnon for the rape of Tamar, their sister. Later he rebelled against David and after driving the king out of Jerusalem was defeated in battle in the forest of Ephraim. He was caught by his hair in an oak tree and killed by Joab, David's general. David lamented his son with the words: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33).