2 Samuel 13:18-28

18 quae induta erat talari tunica huiuscemodi enim filiae regis virgines vestibus utebantur eiecit itaque eam minister illius foras clausitque fores post eam
19 quae aspergens cinerem capiti suo scissa talari tunica inpositisque manibus super caput suum ibat ingrediens et clamans
20 dixit autem ei Absalom frater suus num Amnon frater tuus concubuit tecum sed nunc soror tace frater tuus est neque adfligas cor tuum pro re hac mansit itaque Thamar contabescens in domo Absalom fratris sui
21 cum autem audisset rex David verba haec contristatus est valde
22 porro non est locutus Absalom ad Amnon nec malum nec bonum oderat enim Absalom Amnon eo quod violasset Thamar sororem suam
23 factum est autem post tempus biennii ut tonderentur oves Absalom in Baalasor quae est iuxta Ephraim et vocavit Absalom omnes filios regis
24 venitque ad regem et ait ad eum ecce tondentur oves servi tui veniat oro rex cum servis suis ad servum suum
25 dixitque rex ad Absalom noli fili mi noli rogare ut veniamus omnes et gravemus te cum autem cogeret eum et noluisset ire benedixit ei
26 et ait Absalom si non vis venire veniat obsecro nobiscum saltem Amnon frater meus dixitque ad eum rex non est necesse ut vadat tecum
27 coegit itaque eum Absalom et dimisit cum eo Amnon et universos filios regis
28 praeceperat autem Absalom pueris suis dicens observate cum temulentus fuerit Amnon vino et dixero vobis percutite eum et interficite nolite timere ego enim sum qui praecepi vobis roboramini et estote viri fortes

2 Samuel 13:18-28 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.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.