The Bible In Paintings, #117: ABSALOM’S DEATH

Bing Images ^ | c. 2200 BC -- c. 95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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ABSALOM’S DEATH

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2^ND. . S A M U E L . . 1 8
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd – the complete text is in your Bible
OR
TO READ 2^ND SAMUEL 18 IN FULL, Click Here
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TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF IT, Click Here
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9 7 2 . . B. C.

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9 Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.

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by JAMES TISSOT
“Absalom Hanging on the Oak Tree”

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by JAMES TISSOT
“Absalom Hanging on the Oak Tree”

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8
by ALBERT WEISGERBER
“Absolom”

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13

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10 When one of the men saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”

11 Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there?”

14 So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15 And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.

16 Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them. 17 They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.

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18

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by GUSTAVE DORÉ
“Death of Absalom”

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by FRANCESCO DI STEFANO PESELLINO
“The Death of Absalom”

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“Absolom”

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by JAMES TISSOT
“Death of Absalom”

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18 During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, “I have no son to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

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31
ABSOLOM’S MONUMENT
Wikipedia: “For centuries, it was the custom among passersby—
Jews, Christians and Muslims—to throw stones at the monument.
Residents of Jerusalem would bring their unruly children to the site
to teach them what became of a rebellious son.”

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21 Then Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed down before Joab and ran off.

31 The Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”

32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”

33 The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”

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32
by JAMES TISSOT
“David Sees The Messenger Arrive”

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34
by GUSTAVE DORÉ
“David Mourning the Death of Absalom”

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by MARC CHAGALL
“David Weeps for Absalom”

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a n d…. f i n a l l y

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37
by MARC CHAGALL
“David Mourns Absalom”

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

WHO SUCCEEDS DAVID
AS ISRAEL’S KING?

If you're sensing the Holy Spirit is suggesting
that you read ahead, we'll be in 1^ST KINGS 1-2

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

Absolom’s Death

Works are numbered to facilitate your commenting
Where no attribution appears below a work,
the source did not provide the artist's name

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Finally, here are links to the
PREVIOUS 116 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles to assist you in finding those which interest you

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

Q u a l i t y The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art:
this is The Bible in Paintings, not “Great Paintings” nor even “Good Paintings.” So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don’t need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby’s. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm asking the Holy Spirit to guide. Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

P a c i n gThe pace may seem glacial to those eager to see their favorite events. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence; if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic. But where there is no art, that Bible passage goes untold here. The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing. Always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

S e q u e n c i n g The Protestant Canon does not—indeed, cannot—follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed methodically from Genesis onward and illustrate each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I treat synoptically. Now, onward!

Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I’m just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

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YES, WE DO HAVE A

P I N G… .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

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To be alerted to each new posting,
either reply here or FRmail me.

No contracts, startup charges or monthly fees;
no hazing or initiation rituals; cancel anytime.

[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to-right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is being filmed right now. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year’s viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: “Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast.” Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent (I don’t recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 43 years ago).

[Red Badger]

Moral of the story:

Get a haircut!..................

[Hebrews 11:6]

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F o r . . y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

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[Hebrews 11:6]

Surely as peculiar an ending as any in the Bible.

[Red Badger]

Joab was a murderer..................

[Hebrews 11:6]

......................who got his in the end.

[Red Badger]

Yes...................

[Savage Beast]

Absalom! Absalom! Its very title attests to William Faulkner's genius. One of my favourite books.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Boon Hogganbeck and I never got very far with Faulkner—will have to take your word for it.

[left that other site]

I have had a pleasure of throwing a rock towards Absalom’s monument.

Absalom: the patron saint of long-haired, rebellious, disobedient, disrespectful to parents, ungrateful, unwashed, hippies.

[Mr. Dough]

Hi, can you add me to ping list for this series please?
Thanks!

[Hebrews 11:6]

How does that work, exactly? One supposes all loose rocks in the near surroundings would long ago have been chucked and then hauled away. Do they simply leave them at the base for re-use, or recycle and scatter them for rethrowing? Has a canny entrepreneur set up a rock concession, 10 shekels per rock, 3 for 25, with a helmeted kid to pick up the thrown rocks like the caged-cart scoops up striped golf balls at the driving range? Do tell....

[Hebrews 11:6]

Very pleased to add you! And it won't cost you any of your Dough, either.

Dan

[left that other site]

There are rocks EVERYWHERE in Israel. Nobody could ever corner the market on rocks, as they are everywhere. My dear late husband who was Jewish, looked upon the Promised Land, and said, in true Bosch Belt Manner:

“You Vant Rocks? Have I got ROCKS! It’s ROCKS you vant?
I’ll give you ROCKS!”

It became a little catch phrase between us for many years.

“Tanks” For The Memory, Dan!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Israel cornered the market on the biggest Rock. Followed them around the desert and became HydroRock.

[left that other site]

And the most popular song at Hanukah, Called "Maoz Tsur" translates as "Rock of Ages".

I placed a pebble, very reverently, on the Grave of Golda Meir. Placing rocks on a grave (nicely, not throwing) is a way of remembering someone. And, rocks don't fade, like flowers do.

David knocked out Goliath with a rock, and Shumei threw rocks at King David when he was fleeing from Absalom.

Rocks, we got. All KINDS of uses!

[Savage Beast]

Absalom! Absalom! is one of Faulkner's easiest books, nowhere as difficult as The Sound and the Fury.

It tells the story of civilisations, from prehistoric, illiterate barbarism through glory to decadence, decline, and fall. It is the story of all civilisations--the story of civilization itself--but Faulkner's genius allowed him to see the entire history of mankind in a small town in Mississippi, the same tale, everywhere, for all times. The scope of the book encompasses all of human history, past, present, and future.

Faulkner's long-winded descriptions get tedious, but his poignancies are unforgettable.

It begins with Quinton Compson (who commits suicide in The Sound and the Fury) relating the tale to his Harvard roommate.

Quentin was bored and utterly disinterested, having been summoned by old Miss Coldfield to her hot, dusty, stifling study to listen to her drone on and on about events that had happened long before he was born, apparently because she considered them important and wanted to pass on the information to someone so that it would not be forgotten.

But as she she talks on, he begins to find himself caught up in the tale she's telling...

The reader is also caught up in the tale and begins to realise that it's profound, more profound that Miss Coldfield herself probably realises. In fact, it's the story of humanity.

The profundity of the book is astonishing.

Faulkner's genius is also on display in his description of the smell and smoke of the burning sugar cane fields during Hatian Revolution--and the lonely boy studying this features in a piece of broken mirror in his attic room. He shows the parallels of history, and stunningly, how barbarism, in the form of illiteracy and lack of education, is always with us.

The title itself is a stroke of genius.

Absalom! Absalom! is up there with Les Misérables, Moby Dick, War and Peace, The Sound and the Fury, the best of Shakespeare, the Greek tragedies, and The Brothers Karamazov among my favourite books.

[etabeta]

Vivi, emotionally charged, dramatic pictures illustrate this event. The relationship between David and his son Absalom makes us ponder on parenting. Absalom got as far as he did only because of David’s indulgence. Even upon hearing of his death, David deeply mourned his son, was the grief that of a father or he also mourned his own role in his son’s life?

[etabeta]

Vivid

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks vary much - a truly splendid array of Biblical Art, with both Messrs. Tissot and Doré among the delicacies!

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"