Absalom's Revolt

979 BC Israel Status: ended Casualties: Twenty thousand in the wood of Ephraim; Absalom hanged by his hair from an oak

David's son Absalom stole the hearts of Israel and proclaimed himself king at Hebron. David fled barefoot over the Mount of Olives. The decisive battle was fought in the wood of Ephraim — Absalom's mule went under a great oak, and his long hair caught in the branches. Joab thrust three darts through his heart. 2 Samuel 15–18.

Open on the interactive globe → Wikipedia ↗

Belligerents

David & Joab
Absalom & all Israel

Casualties

Twenty thousand in the wood of Ephraim; Absalom hanged by his hair from an oak

Key events

Absalom steals the hearts of the men of Israel at the gate of Hebron
David flees barefoot weeping over the Mount of Olives
Hushai foils Ahithophel's counsel; Ahithophel hangs himself
Absalom's mule passes under a great oak; his hair caught fast
Joab thrusts three darts; ten armour-bearers finish him
David: 'O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee'

Aftermath

David returned to Jerusalem but his house was never the same; the prophet Nathan's word — 'the sword shall never depart from thine house' — held to the end of the dynasty.

Weapons & matériel

Twenty thousand of Israel; three companies under Joab, Abishai, Ittai
Three darts in the heart

Sources

2 Samuel 13–19

From World at War, an interactive atlas by Jairus Pereira. Figures are approximate, drawn from Wikipedia, UCDP, ACLED and academic sources — a design artefact, not an authoritative register. Contact.