Absalom Revolts Against King David

David faced many upheavals during his kingship, but the most significant insurrection was that of his beloved son Absalom. After killing his brother, David banished Absalom from the palace. Three years later, David again took pity on him and allowed him to return. Soon afterward, Absalom launched a campaign to overthrow David.

David had to temporarily vacate the palace and escape via the Kidron Valley and over the Mount of Olives:

2 Sam 15: 23, 30

… and as the king passed over the brook Kidron, all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

…And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot; and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

David gathered his loyal forces against Absalom’s coup d'état. During the pursuit, Absalom’s long hair got caught in the branches of a tree, and he was killed by Joab, the commander of David’s armies.

Watch the suspenseful sequence of events in the Megallim video.