Oh Absalom (1)

If only you’d calmed down. If only you’d not given in to that beast. If only you’d spoken out your hurt and not hid it in. Why did you decide to stay mute but continue in internal ramblings and grumblings? So much that the sore festered and grew and starting having bold effects all around. 

The nation of Israel would never forget in a lifetime the ruckus you caused in their history. Neither would Spiritual Israel fail to take lessons from your story either.

Yes, I understand that you were wronged. I feel your pain. You were third in line to the throne and was living the life of royalty. Your princess mother married a powerful shepherd boy turned king, the mighty giant slayer King David. Life was perfect and all was going smooth with your two older brothers ahead of you and five more after you. (2 Samuel 3:2-5)

“…; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;” 2 Sam 3:3b

I’m guessing royal picnics and family vacations to the relaxing pools of Bashan and Alexandria. Menservants and maidservants at your beck and call. You even had your own sheep business running smoothly under it all. Cattle rearing was big money in your days, so it was not hard to have your own house, quickly too. In my nation today, na by special grace or by ‘special leg’ that kind thing dey occur. Why? Your father even made you guys priests and judges over Israel. Authority, power, influence, money, family and love. Happy family eh. (2 Samuel 8:18, 13:23, 14:24)

“And it came to pass that after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim…”

“And the king said, ‘Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face’. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.”

“…; and David’s sons were chief rulers”

But the happy family was not to last too long. You had a beautiful younger sister, whom was very fair to look upon. Mehn, she was beautiful. Of course, she was a princess and had all the care and attention in the world. But, beauty is beauty, and Tamar was beautiful. She was the cynosure of all eyes in Israel. Whenever she walked, heads turned in her direction. Her Instagram page would have probably always buzzed with traffic and reactions from admirers far and near. The men wanted her hand in marriage, the ladies wanted to know her skin care routine. King David probably held her in high esteem and looked forward to the day he would give her hand out in marriage to a mighty warrior deserving of her. And you, her loving elder brother was always proud that the same womb produced the both of you. You could have sworn on your life just like any elder brother that you would protect your sister from any stranger. (2 Samuel 13:1)

“And it came to pass that after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her” (2 Sam 13:1)

Unfortunately, it was not a stranger your sister needed protection from. It was from an insider, a family member. In fact, he was the heir apparent to the throne, your elder brother and first son of your father- though from another mother, Prince Amnon the great! He was the family turned stranger who began to nurse evil intentions towards his own sister. And with the advice of an ungodly friend, your cousin Jonadab, whom the bible describes as a crafty man, he carried out his plans and succeeded. 

(2 Samuel 13: 1-15)

“And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. And Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man... Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.”

I won’t join the train of people who blame Princess Tamar for being raped. Why in the world should she have to be careful around her own brother meant to protect her from strangers without? Even Sister Dinah, who was raped partly as a result of her own foolishness had her elder brothers, Egbon Simeon and Levi who destroyed a whole city because of her, even when it was obviously against their father, Jacob’s wish. 

“And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that the two sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.” (Gen 34:25)

So why did it have to be Amnon, her own elder brother, who should cause this pain to her? Why did it have to be him? More often than not, there is usually first a problem with the rapists before we address the victims. She even pleaded with him and told him the King could have even allowed them to get married if he went the proper way. Whether to save herself or she meant it, I do not know, but Amnon turned deaf to reason and went ahead with the dastardly act. (Genesis 34)

Broda Absalom, you were coming back from inspecting one of your many fields when you heard that your sister was weeping, sitting among the ashes with torn robes. Instantly the Israelite in you told you that meant something bad had happened. You rushed down home to meet a disheveled Tamar, and upon hearing what had happened, you encouraged her. wait, did I just read that well?

To be continued... 

©Leye Abiola