The story of King David is filled with them. It wasn't just Hushai who proved a faithful friend during David's trials. Some allies came from the most unlikely places.
Take Shobi, the son of Nahash, for instance. Could this be the same Hanun, the Ammonite king who was initially David's enemy? According to the Legends of the Jews, yes! This is a fascinating case of former foes becoming allies. Then there's Barzillai. He, too, surprised David with his loyalty, especially considering his... less-than-perfect moral compass. It just goes to show, doesn't it? People are complex, and motivations aren't always what they seem.
But what about Absalom, David's rebellious son? His end was… well, let's just say it wasn't pretty. Imagine this: he's caught in the branches of an oak tree. Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews paints a vivid picture: He's about to cut his hair free with his sword, but then he sees something terrifying. Hell itself is yawning open beneath him! Suddenly, hanging in the tree seems like the better option.
According to tradition, Absalom's crime was so severe that he is one of the few Jews believed to have no portion in the world to come, the olam ha-ba. His place, we’re told, is in Gehenna, hell, where he’s in charge of ten heathen nations in the second division. That's quite a demotion, isn't it?
And here's where the story takes another turn. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, even in hell, Absalom receives a strange kind of protection. Whenever the avenging angels are judging the nations and want to punish Absalom, a heavenly voice rings out: "Do not chastise him, do not burn him. He is an Israelite, the son of My servant David." So, he's placed back on his throne and treated like royalty.
Why this mercy? Well, it’s said that David's eightfold repetition of Absalom's name in his lament had a powerful effect. And, incredibly, David's intercession even reattached Absalom's severed head to his body! What a poignant reminder of a father's love, even for a son who betrayed him so deeply.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? About the power of loyalty, the complexity of relationships, and the enduring strength of a parent's love, even in the face of the most profound betrayal. And it leaves us pondering the mysteries of justice, mercy, and the afterlife. What do we truly deserve, and what power does love have to change our fate, even in the darkest of places?