Whose hair when cut annually weighed two hundred shekels by the king's weight?

Did you know that Absalom's hair wasn't just a detail in his character but almost a symbol of his entire life? 2 Samuel 14:26 tells us his annual hair cut weighed two hundred shekels, which is nearly five pounds! This weight raises eyebrows for a number of reasons. Hair isn't typically considered a key feature in ancient warrior cultures, where strength and valor reigned supreme. Yet, Absalom’s flowing locks set him apart visually as much as his troublesome charisma did emotionally.

Let’s pause to think about the significance of this hairstyle. Absalom’s hair became a picturesque emblem of his pride and vanity—a subtle echo of the proverb about pride coming before a fall, as he bitterly rebelled against his father, King David. In fact, famous connections abound; during the time of the Judges, another character with cascading locks, Delilah, also wielded great influence through pointers like that!-- hair played a potent role in biblical stories.

And, in an ironic twist, later Absalom met his fate due to his hair. During the revolt against David, he got his locks tangled in a tree, leading ultimately to his demise. Talk about poetic justice! His beautiful hair brought him both admiration and calamity, illustrating the tangled (pun intended) ties between beauty, pride, and downfall throughout biblical narratives. So remember, sometimes the most outward attributes tell rich, compelling stories—not just of who we are, but who we could become.