2 Samuel Chapter 13
1 After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
4 He said to him, "Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."
5 Jonadab said to him, "Lay down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.' "
6 So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him."
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was lying down. She took dough, and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9 She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, "Have all men leave me." Then every man went out from him.
10 Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand." Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.
11 When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister!"
12 She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don't you do this folly.
13 As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you."
14 However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone!"
16 She said to him, "Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!" But he would not listen to her.
17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, "Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her."
18 She had a garment of various colours on her; for the king's daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.
19 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colours that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
20 Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
24 Absalom came to the king, and said, "See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant."
25 The king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let's not all go, lest we be burdensome to you." He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." The king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"
27 But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "Mark now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Don't be afraid. Haven't I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!"
29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got up on his mule, and fled.
30 While they were on the way, the news came to David, saying, "Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left!"
31 Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered, "Don't let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33 Now therefore don't let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead; for only Amnon is dead."
34 But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him.
35 Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons are coming! It is as your servant said."
36 As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.
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2 Samuel Chapter 13 Guide
The story of Amnon's sin is of a sin committed by a child of David similar to his own. When the story was told to him, we are told that he was wroth. We are not told that he disciplined Amnon. How could he? He had rendered his arm nerveless by his own sin.
In Amnon we have the picture of one mastered by passion. In pondering the narrative it is said of Jonadab that he was a friend of Amnon. The word "friend" is desecrated by its use in such a connection. Any who out of friendship will aid in the pathway of sin, prove themselves enemies rather than friends. Jonadab might have saved Amnon, even though for the moment he had offended him. The picture of Amnon hating Tamar is common as the story of sin. Passion illegally indulged becomes transmuted into a destructive fire.
The troubles of David continued. Absalom slew Amnon, and then took flight. Absalom probably was moved by mixed motives. He wanted vengeance on the man who had wronged his sister. His subsequent actions, however, show that he saw in Amnon a hindrance to carrying out his own secret ambitions. It is noticeable that Jonadab the "friend," who had aided Amnon, was still on hand, and the same cool, calculating traits were manifest in his character. In all these things David was reaping the result of the sin that had cursed his life, and the full harvest was not yet.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Samuel Chapter 13 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Ammon's violence to his sister. -- (1-20)
- Absalom murders his brother Ammon. -- (21-29)
- David's grief, Absalom flees to Geshur. -- (30-39)
Verses 1-20
From henceforward David was followed with one trouble after another. Adultery and murder were David's sins, the like sins among his children were the beginnings of his punishment: he was too indulgent to his children. Thus David might trace the sins of his children to his own misconduct, which must have made the anguish of the chastisement worse. Let no one ever expect good treatment from those who are capable of attempting their seduction; but it is better to suffer the greatest wrong than to commit the least sin.
Verses 21-29
Observe the aggravations of Absalom's sin: he would have Ammon slain, when least fit to go out of the world. He engaged his servants in the guilt. Those servants are ill-taught who obey wicked masters, against God's commands. Indulged children always prove crosses to godly parents, whose foolish love leads them to neglect their duty to God.
Verses 30-39
Jonadab was as guilty of Ammon's death, as of his sin; such false friends do they prove, who counsel us to do wickedly. Instead of loathing Absalom as a murderer, David, after a time, longed to go forth to him. This was David's infirmity: God saw something in his heart that made a difference, else we should have thought that he, as much as Eli, honoured his sons more than God.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.