2 Samuel 13:23-33

23 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom 1had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

Absalom Avenges Tamar

24 Absalom came to the king and said, "Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant."
25 But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you." Although he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then 2Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"
27 But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "See now, 3when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant *."
29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose and each mounted 4his mule and fled.
30 Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left."
31 Then the king arose, 5tore his clothes and 6lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn.
32 7Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, responded *, "Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar.
33 "Now therefore, do not let my lord the king 8take the report to heart, namely, 'all the king's sons are dead,' for only Amnon is dead."

2 Samuel 13:23-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 13

This chapter relates some of the evils that were to arise out of David's house, and which were similar to the evils committed by him; the deflowering of his daughter, and the murder of his eldest son: the story is this; Amnon falls in love with Tamar, his sister, and grew thin upon it, which being observed by a friend of his, inquires the reason of it, which having got out of him, forms a scheme for obtaining his desire, and which succeeded; for by it he had the opportunity of ravishing his sister, 2Sa 13:1-14; the consequences of which were extreme hatred of her, hurrying her out of doors, lamentation and mourning on her part, grief to David, and enmity in the heart of Absalom to Amnon, which put him upon meditating his death, 2Sa 13:15-22; and which was brought about after this manner. Absalom had a sheep shearing, to which he invited the king and all his sons, and to which they all came excepting the king, 2Sa 13:23-27; when Absalom gave orders to his servants to observe Amnon when he was merry, and at his word smite him and kill him, as they did, 2Sa 13:28,29; tidings of which soon came to the ears of David, and these aggravated, that all the king's sons were killed, which threw the king into an agony; but Jonadab endeavoured to pacify him, by assuring him that only Amnon was dead, the truth of which soon appeared by the coming of the king's sons, 2Sa 13:30-36; but Absalom fled to Geshur, where he remained three years, when David's heart began to be towards him, and to long for him, who was to bring more evil against him, 2Sa 13:37-39.

Cross References 8

  • 1. 1 Samuel 25:7
  • 2. 2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 11:13-15
  • 3. Judg 19:6, 9, 22; 1 Samuel 25:36-38
  • 4. 2 Samuel 18:9; 1 Kings 1:33, 38
  • 5. 2 Samuel 1:11
  • 6. 2 Samuel 12:16
  • 7. 2 Samuel 13:3-5
  • 8. 2 Samuel 19:19

Footnotes 7

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