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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:23 - 13:39
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Absalom's Revenge
v. 23. And it came to pass after two full years, during all of which time Absalom carried his grudge toward Amnon in his heart, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim, some miles northeast of Bethel, where he had a ranch; and Absalom invited all the king's sons, for sheep-shearing was a joyous festival.
v. 24. And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant, The invitation had originally been made to the king and his body-guard.
v. 25. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee, too large a number of invited guests might make the festival too expensive for Absalom. And he, Absalom, pressed him, tried to make him change his mind; howbeit he would not go, but blessed him, wished him success for the festival.
v. 26. Then said Absalom, who craftily saw that this arrangement favored his plans of revenge, if not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? He may have had some premonition of evil in hesitating about letting the heir apparent go along at this time.
v. 27. But Absalom pressed him that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. Here was another instance of David's weakness in yielding to Absalom's urgent request.
v. 28. Now, Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, when, under the influence of wine, he would throw aside caution, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? He would take the responsibility of the murder upon himself, his purpose being chiefly to avenge his sister Tamar, but probably also to remove the crown prince, an act which would make him the heir apparent to the throne. Be courageous, and be valiant. The servants of Absalom needed this encouragement very much since they stood in awe of the king and his anger.
v. 29. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon, in the course of the festival meal, as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule and fled, fearing for his own life.
v. 30. And it came to pass, while they, the princes, were in the way, on their flight to Jerusalem, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. This shows the usual exaggeration of rumors.
v. 31. Then the king arose and tare his garments, in token of his great grief, and lay on the earth; and all his servants, following the example of their master, stood by with their clothes rent.
v. 32. And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, who had followed the development of matters with sharp eyes, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar, his determination to avenge the crime had been written in his features, in the fixed position of his mouth.
v. 33. Now, therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead, that was not the state of affairs; for Amnon only is dead.
v. 34. But Absalom fled; having accomplished his purpose, he thought it best to evade the king's wrath. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, watching the return of the people from the festival with double interest, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hillside behind him, the princes coming in from the west, the shortest and quickest way.
v. 35. And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come; as thy servant said, so it Isaiah This confirmed Jonadab's keen guess.
v. 36. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept, in deep mourning over the death of Amnon; and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
v. 37. But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, his grandfather, 2Sa_3:3. And David mourned for his son, namely, for Amnon, every day, literally, "all his days," all his life.
v. 38. So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
v. 39. And the soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom, literally, "And held back, refrained, David, the king, from going forth to Absalom"; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead, the grief gradually became less sharp, and therefore David abandoned the idea of calling Absalom to account for his revenge. The word of the Lord that the sword would not depart from the house of David had begun to be fulfilled. A sin is quickly committed, and there may be a momentary gratification, but in the end the consequences are such as to make all its fruits appear apples of Sodom, as they really are.