The Most Handsome Man In The Bible: The Story Of The Only Man The Bible Describes To Be Very Handsome
There are those who have earned the right to be called handsome, with God given features that make them look exceptionally goodlooking, some of them are detailed in the Bible but only one was described by the Bible to be “very” handsome. I imagine that a man who earned such a title must have been very goodlooking. David was goodlooking and so was Solomon but somehow they both didn’t earn the title of “very handsome”. This handsome man who the Bible describes to be exceptionally good looking was the third son of David with Maacah, called Absalom.
2 Samuel 14:25
“In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.”
The verse above gives a very detailed description of Absalom, judging from its content, one will easily assume that Absalom must have been the very definition of handsome and was Infact very good looking. So what is the story of Absalom, how did he become the man he was and most especially, how was such a man- who was gifted with everything- fall from grace.
As I have earlier established, Absalom was David’s third son, his wife Maacah. He was born in Hebron and was moved to Jerusalem when the capital of Israel was transfered. Absalom spent most of his life in Jerusalem and like the sons of Israel, he was taught everything that a man needs to know about God. From the contents of the chapters that focuses on his life, one will see that he was one of his father’s favorite if not the favorite.
He was that young man who every one loved, there was this charming attitude, the personal beauty and royal pretensions gave all he came across him a very good idea of who he was. For Absalom, it was quite easy to captivate the hearts of people – I am guessing, mostly women–with his charms. Added to his personal beauty, Absalom was born into a royal house which provided him with the things royals have; great chariots, and such a beautiful lifestyle coupled with Atleast 50 men who the Bible says “runs before him”.
There isnt much about the life of Absalom, Atleast not his family life but we do know from the Bible that he had three sons and one daughter whose name was Tamar and like her father, she is described to be a very beautiful woman (2 Samuel 14:27). Now another thing we know is that his sons died at a young age according to 2 Samuel 18:18 “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance”, from this verse it is implied that his sons died at an early age.
From his story, we can figure that he had no sons but he did later get a granddaughter who was named after his mother, Maacahm. Though we are not particularly sure if she was his daughter or granddaughter but we do know that she was loved by Absalom. Recall that Maacah later became the favorite wife of Rehoboam and was also the mother of Abijah of Judah and grandmother of Asa of Judah. Maacah served as some sort of a regent or as a queen mother for Asa, until he deposed her for idolatry. (1 kings 15:1-14) (2 Chronicles 11:20-22).
Absalom murdered his brother Amnon
Amnon who was also the eldest son of David wasn’t exactly a role model for his younger brothers, he was what you call an irresponsible young man or maybe I shouldn’t judge. However, Amnon being Amnon decided the next thing to do was to rape his half sister and sister to Absalom.
Absalom let two years slide until he got his revenge. He waited for the right moment and invited all the King’s son to a feast where he ensured that his brother Amnon was killed. To avoid the wrath of David, Absalom fled to his maternal grandfather and it took three years for him to come back home.
The pride of Absalom
It is quite a famous tale that Absalom slept with his father’s concubines but the story didn’t just start that way, it began with a good man who wanted justice for his people. Absalom saw little flaws in the judicial system and began to wonder how he could make it right if he was to be King. He won the heart of the people in Hebron and after four years, he declared himself king and began a revolt.
Absalom took over Jerusalem and got his father’s most trusted adviser, Ahitophel, on his side. Driving David to a point where had to flee. Being a wise man, David left everything in the right order and created an atmosphere for his son to be misled and defeated.
The death of Absalom (the battle of Ephraim)
In what led to the death of Absalom, a battle was fought in the wood of Ephraim and Absalom’s army was completely routed, his head was caught in the boughs of an oak tree as the mule he was riding beneath it. However, Absalom was still alive when one of Joab’s soldiers found him. To even score with Absalom for burning his field, Joab killed Absalom with three darts in the heart which specifically went against the orders of David. (2 Samuel 16:8).
“Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.”
— 2 Sam 18:18
I am VT. Ahonsi
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