This week on edJEWcation, the saga of King David gets darker, messier, and more painfully human. Forget the Sunday-school highlight reel, we’re diving into the tragedy of Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom.
It’s a story of lust, betrayal, revenge, and rebellion: a prince consumed by desire, a sister left broken and silenced, a brother plotting justice with the patience of a viper, and a father-king paralyzed between love and duty. By the time Absalom’s flowing hair gets tangled in a tree, the whole House of David is tangled in grief, power struggles, and unanswered questions.
We break down:
The eerie echoes of Jacob’s family drama in David’s palace
Why David’s own sins with Bathsheba haunt every chapter that follows
Absalom’s charisma, ambition, and ultimate downfall
The raw pain of David’s cry: “My son, Absalom, my son, my son…”
How these ancient family fractures mirror today’s power, politics, and inconvenient loyalties
Plus, in true edJEWcation fashion, we wander from burned hot dogs to Hunter Biden to the IRA, proving once again that Torah and modern life are never as far apart as they seem.