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]

. .

. .

ABSALOM’S DEATH

. .

. .

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
TO HEAR MAX McLEAN READING IT, Click Here
TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF IT, Click Here
TO WATCH AN OVERVIEW OF 2^ND SAMUEL , Click Here

. .

9 7 2 . . B. C.

. .

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.

. .

1

. .

2

. .

3

. .

4

. .

5

. .

6
by JAMES TISSOT
“Absalom Hanging on the Oak Tree”

. .

7
by JAMES TISSOT
“Absalom Hanging on the Oak Tree”

. .

8
by ALBERT WEISGERBER
“Absolom”

. .

9

. .

10

. .

11

. .

12

. .

13

. .

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.

. .

14

. .

15

. .

16

. .

17

. .

18

. .

19
by GUSTAVE DORÉ
“Death of Absalom”

. .

20

. .

21
by FRANCESCO DI STEFANO PESELLINO
“The Death of Absalom”

. .

22

. .

23

. .

24

. .

25

. .

26

. .

27

. .

28

. .

29
“Absolom”

. .

30
by JAMES TISSOT
“Death of Absalom”

. .

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.

. .

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.”

. .

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!”

. .

32
by JAMES TISSOT
“David Sees The Messenger Arrive”

. .

33

. .

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

. .

35
by MARC CHAGALL
“David Weeps for Absalom”

. .

36

. .

a n d…. f i n a l l y

. .

37
by MARC CHAGALL
“David Mourns Absalom”

. .

֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

. .

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

. .

֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

. .

R E S O U R C E S

. .

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

. .

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

. .

Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

. .

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

. .

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

. .

---

. .

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!

. .

---

. .

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.

. .

. .

---

. .

. .

YES, WE DO HAVE A

P I N G… .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

… .

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.

[punknpuss]

I really enjoy your posts. Thank you for your time and meticulous research.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thank you for that very interesting and informative explanation. You have raised considerably the intelligence of this rock-throwing thread. My sixtyish American Literature professor, phlegmatic by nature and utterly bored to be teaching this class of disinterested college freshmen fulfilling their lower division English requirement, failed completely to excite in me a deep appreciation of Faulkner with his assignment of a tedious paper on The Bear.

Inevitably, Hemingway must surface, with this anecdote perhaps best contrasting the two authors: the Dodgers used to visit Havana during spring training, and manager Burt Shotten became friendly with Ernie. They often pushed back the living room furniture and boxed, until Mrs. Hemingway couldn't stand it anymore and threw all of them out.

At 71 now with much more to do than time in which to do it, that will have to be the final score. Glad you've had such a rewarding literary life.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Well, you’ll have the chance to ask him! Very perceptive question, one that off the top of my head he never answered in his voluminous writings.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Today’s final tally: Tissot 4, Doré 2. My PR (personal record) of Tissot pictures in a single thread is SEVEN! You can be fully assured that, if there is a Tissot or a Doré on a given subject, I will hunt it down and post it. They’re the best!

[ConorMacNessa]

I think you meant for your comment to go to Hebrews 11:6, FRiend.

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

[Hebrews 11:6]

Well, assuming pompously and pretentiously that Conor is correct: Glad to hear it! Being meticulous is necessary for this, and it is only one of the characteristics He has created me with and developed in me which suit me to this project He invented to keep me busy.

[punknpuss]

Well, I thank you for your inspiring posts. :)

[Hebrews 11:6]

THAT, that the Lord can and will use these amalgamations of Scripture and art to inspire (and, where needed, to convict), is my chief hope and prayer, every day.

[Savage Beast]

Thanks! I've had a fabulous life in every way.

I had to read The Bear in college too. How I passed that exam was a miracle because everything I studied in college was aimed at getting good grades. I didn't enjoy reading anything.

When I retired (at age 53) (as a self-made multimillionaire), I astonished myself by suddenly enrolling in college again with a full time freshman load. I wanted an A in everything--and I got it; however, this time, I did it because I loved what I was learning.

I have continued studying to this day. I was astonished to learn that I love studying. All those years of working and studying hard paid off because it all had become habit. I loved it when I didn't have to do it.

I read The Sound and the Fury five times. I didn't understand it. I read Faulkner's explanation, and it confused me even more.

Then, one night at a party, at my sister's house, I met a friend of hers who taught Faulkner at the local college. I said to her: "You're not leaving here tonight until you tell me what The Sound and the Fury is about!"

She sat on the sofa with me for two or three hours, explained everything to me, answered all my questions.

Then I read it again. It was crystal clear.

[Hebrews 11:6]

So, in fifty words or less, what’s it about?

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Dore wins this thread with me. I like his picture the best.

Tissot disappointed me. He showed Absalom on a horse, not a mule.

For creativity, I like the picture of Joab stabbing Absalom with a medieval lance.

[Hebrews 11:6]

And Tissot in #30 showed him full of arrows, when the text clearly states, “And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.” Not an arrow in sight. Clearly an off-day for ol’ Jacques Joseph.

[Savage Beast]

Whether life has any meaning.

The title is from MacBeth:

(Life) "is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

Faulkner's tale is told by four people, one an idiot.

Faulner presents the sound and fury. The reader must decide whether there is any meaning.