seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Samuel 13:23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his attendants please join me?”
25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go but gave him his blessing.
26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.”
The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.
28 Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.” 29 So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.
30 While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.” 31 The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33 My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.
Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, “I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill.”
35 Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come; it has happened just as your servant said.”
36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly.
37 Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.
38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death.
Here's the link to the commentary I used.Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor: Sheep shearing was a festive time, and it was natural that Absalom had a great feast and invited Amnon and all the king’s sons.
When Amnon’s heart is merry with wine: As a cunning killer, Absalom waited until Amnon was relaxed and vulnerable. Amnon probably came to the feast nervous about being with Absalom, but after a few cups of wine he was relaxed. At that moment, Absalom gave the order to “Strike Amnon!” and they murdered him.
Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left: It is significant that David did not react to this news with disbelief. He sensed that Absalom was capable of such evil. David reacted with mourning instead of disbelief.
Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men: Jonadab brought the “good” news to David that only Amnon is dead, and dead because he forced his sister Tamar. Jonadab probably hoped to gain favor with David by bringing this more favorable news, but God knew that Jonadab set the whole course of events in motion with his wicked advice to Amnon (2 Samuel 13:3-5).
Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur: Absalom did not go to a city of refuge because he was guilty, and the cities of refuge were only meant to protect the innocent.
OK... Amnon and Absalom are step brothers. Amnon raped Tamar who was Absolom's sister and Amnon's step sister. Meanwhile Jonadab, David's brother, was egging Absolom on. First, Jonadab helped Amnon get alone with Tamar, and now Jonadab is intervening in how they tell David his son murdered his other son. Jonadab let the word get out that all David's sons had perished. Then David was told, no it's only Amnon. I'm surprised there isn't a verse where David would have said "Well that makes everything better, only one is dead!".
Jonadab reminds of that wicked character that is always skulking in the dark corners waiting to stir up poop for "his baby brother the king". I wonder if he was still stinging from the fact Samuel anointed David instead of him.
Absolom had been waiting two years to exact his revenge on Tamar's rapist.
David had to know Absolom would not let it go. Oops, I'm supposing that David was human and noticed Absolom's sulking and anger.
Absolom didn't go to a "city of refuge". He accepted his part in the murder. He had been planning it for some time. It was premeditated.
Was David relieved that Absolom killed Amnon and erased the rapist so it wouldn't happen again?
Did David say to himself, "First Bathsheba's baby and now Amnon"? Did David rue the night that he walked out on the roof for a cool breath of night air?
The commentary points out that David didn't punish Absolom.
King David longed to go to Absalom: After three years, the sting of Amnon’s murder was not as sharp. David simply longed to be reconciled to Absalom again — without correcting his son for his evil. David’s indulgence towards Amnon is repeated towards Absalom and he will meet a similar end.
See, the Bible isn't about a bunch of righteous people who never did wrong. There's a lot of drama in the Bible. David let Amnon walk around free after he raped David's daughter. Now it appears he is going to let Absalom get away with a revenge murder.
If a stranger, non-family-member, had raped David's daughter and another had murdered his son, or if another set the whole thing in motion, David would have followed them to the end of the earth to exact revenge. But this was family. David only mourned.
Absalom killed Amnon for raping Tamar and David... mourned.
Absalom killed Amnon....
David didn't lift a finger.
