Absalom

Absalom (Heb. father of peace), the handsome and beloved son of David, by Mascah, daughter of Talmai. His ambition led him to form a party, and to organise an armed rebellion against his father, who fled beyond Jordan. A battle ensued in the forest of Ephraim, the conspirators were utterly defeated, and Joab, finding Absalom caught in a tree near Mahanaim, killed him with his own hand (2 Sam. xviii.), whereupon David gave vent to the well-known words of lamentation.