Absalom’s hair was so abundant that he cut and weighed it yearly.
Absalom, King David’s son (David reigned over Israel from approximately 1010 to 970 BC), is remembered in Scripture for his remarkable appearance and hair. He lived part of his life in Jerusalem, the center of Israel’s worship and royal authority, though he later led a rebellion against his father (2 Samuel 15-18). Absalom’s story illustrates the interplay between outward appearance and inward character, reminding readers that focusing on physical attributes can sometimes mask deeper issues and motives.
In 2 Samuel 14:26 it says: “When he cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king’s weight” (v.26). This annual practice demonstrates just how luxurious Absalom’s hair was, since it grew so thick and lengthy that he chose to cut it for his own comfort and then weigh it. In the ancient world, hair could be a symbol of strength or status (Judges 16:17), and the fact that Absalom kept such meticulous record of his hair’s weight hints at the pride or significance he placed on his outward appearance. His hair later played a tragic role in his downfall: Absalom was ensnared by it while riding his mule during battle, leading to his death (2 Samuel 18:9).
Spiritually, Absalom’s hair can remind us that external qualities, no matter how substantial, are fleeting. His eventual fate shows how focusing excessively on appearance or earthly splendor can distract from a humble walk before God (1 Peter 3:3-4). In contrast, the life and mission of Jesus the Messiah calls us not to rely on external impressions, but rather to live in humility and obedience to God’s will (Matthew 23:12). The biblical narrative presents Absalom’s magnificent hair as both a blessing and a source of vanity that foreshadowed his undoing, pointing us to the importance of developing inner devotion to the Lord.
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2 Samuel 14:26 meaning
Absalom, King David’s son (David reigned over Israel from approximately 1010 to 970 BC), is remembered in Scripture for his remarkable appearance and hair. He lived part of his life in Jerusalem, the center of Israel’s worship and royal authority, though he later led a rebellion against his father (2 Samuel 15-18). Absalom’s story illustrates the interplay between outward appearance and inward character, reminding readers that focusing on physical attributes can sometimes mask deeper issues and motives.
In 2 Samuel 14:26 it says: “When he cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king’s weight” (v.26). This annual practice demonstrates just how luxurious Absalom’s hair was, since it grew so thick and lengthy that he chose to cut it for his own comfort and then weigh it. In the ancient world, hair could be a symbol of strength or status (Judges 16:17), and the fact that Absalom kept such meticulous record of his hair’s weight hints at the pride or significance he placed on his outward appearance. His hair later played a tragic role in his downfall: Absalom was ensnared by it while riding his mule during battle, leading to his death (2 Samuel 18:9).
Spiritually, Absalom’s hair can remind us that external qualities, no matter how substantial, are fleeting. His eventual fate shows how focusing excessively on appearance or earthly splendor can distract from a humble walk before God (1 Peter 3:3-4). In contrast, the life and mission of Jesus the Messiah calls us not to rely on external impressions, but rather to live in humility and obedience to God’s will (Matthew 23:12). The biblical narrative presents Absalom’s magnificent hair as both a blessing and a source of vanity that foreshadowed his undoing, pointing us to the importance of developing inner devotion to the Lord.