Why Absalom Cut His Hair and the Sages on His Nazirite Vow

"And in all Israel there was no man so handsome as Absalom, etc.," "And when he cut the hair of his head, etc." (2 Samuel 14:25-26). Rabbi Yudan said: He was a perpetual Nazirite, and he would cut his hair every twelve months, as it is said, "And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king: Let me go and pay, etc." (2 Samuel 15:7). Rabbi Nehorai says: He was a Nazirite of days, and he would cut his hair once every thirty days. This is what is written: "And it was at the end of days, from time to time, when he cut his hair, etc." (ibid., ibid.). Rabbi Yose says: Every Sabbath eve he would cut his hair, for such is the way of the sons of kings, to cut their hair from Sabbath eve to Sabbath eve. Rabbi Hanina said: It was like a carob branch. And if you would say it was like a club, was it not made in rods upon rods? And so is the halakhah.