2 Samuel 13:23-39

Listen to 2 Samuel 13:23-39

Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king.
24 And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?”
25 “No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.
26 “If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.
27 But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons. [a]
28 Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”
29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.
30 While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!”
31 Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.
33 So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, [b] along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.” [c]
35 So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! It is just as your servant said.”
36 And as he finished speaking, the sons of the king came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.
37 Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son every day.
38 After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years.
39 And King David [d] longed to go to Absalom, [e] for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.

2 Samuel 13:23-39 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.

Unlock Deeper Insights: Get Over 20 Commentaries with Plus! Subscribe Now

Footnotes 5

  • [a] LXX and Vulgate include And Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.
  • [b] Or behind him
  • [c] LXX; Hebrew does not include And the watchman....
  • [d] MT; DSS and LXX And the spirit of the king
  • [e] Or ceased to go out after Absalom
The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially placed into the public domain