What biblical story inspired the title Absalom, Absalom!?

The title of William Faulkner’s 1936 novel Absalom, Absalom! is inspired by the biblical story of Absalom, the rebellious son of King David found in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament).1

The narrative of the biblical Absalom, recorded in 2 Samuel 13–19, details his revolt against his father, King David, in an attempt to seize the throne. After his forces were defeated, Absalom was killed while fleeing, having become caught in an oak tree. Upon hearing of his son's death, King David uttered a famous, poignant lament: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" Faulkner’s use of this reference underscores the novel's themes of familial conflict, betrayal, and the tragic consequences of ambition.2341