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2 Samuel
Chapter Thirteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
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
2 Samuel 13:1; 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
2 Samuel 13:15; 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
2 Samuel 13:23;
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
2 Samuel 13:28;
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
2 Samuel 13:30; 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
2 Samuel 13:37.
2 Samuel 13:1 After
this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister
whose name was Tamar;
and Amnon the son of David loved her.
YLT
1And it cometh to pass
afterwards that Absalom son of David hath a fair sister
and her name [is]
Tamar
and Amnon son of David loveth her.
And it came to pass after this
.... After the sin of
David with Bathsheba
his repentance for it
and pardon of it
and the birth of
Solomon as a token of reconciliation; yet after all this the divine
threatenings must take place; they had begun already in the death of the child
begotten in adultery
and others here follow:
that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister
whose name was
Tamar; she was his sister both by father and mother's side; the mother
o
f them was Maacah
the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; she was a very
comely person
her name signifies a palm tree:
and Amnon the son of David loved her; not in an
honourable way
to make her his wife
but in a lustful manner
to make an
harlot of her; he was David's eldest son by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
2 Samuel 3:2.
2 Samuel 13:2 2 Amnon was so distressed
over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it
was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.
YLT
2And Amnon hath distress --
even to become sick
because of Tamar his sister
for she [is] a virgin
and it
is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.
And Amnon was so vexed
.... Distressed
straitened
and perplexed in his mind through unruly and unbridled lusts that
raged in him:
that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; as Antiochus
son of Seleucus did for his mother in law Stratonice
who
to cure him of it
was delivered to him by his fatherF19See the Universal History
vol.
3. p. 519. Ed. fol. :
for she was a virgin; and so kept very recluse
from the company of men
that he could not come at her; so PhiloF20In
Flaccum
p. 977.
speaking of the Jewish women
and particularly virgins
says
that they were shut up in their chambers
and through modesty shun the sight
of men
even those of their own house; hence they are called עלמות
from a word which signifies to hide; and PhocylidesF21Poem.
admon. v. 203
204. the poet advises to the shutting of them up in like manner:
and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her; that it was
difficult to have access to her
almost impossible
what he despaired of
and
what
if attained to
would be wonderful and amazing; he was at his wits' end
how to contrive any scheme to get at her
and obtain his desire.
2 Samuel 13:3 3 But Amnon had a friend
whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah
David’s brother. Now Jonadab was
a very crafty man.
YLT
3And Amnon hath a friend
and his name [is] Jonadab
son of Shimeah
David's brother
and Jonadab [is] a
very wise man
But Amnon had a friend
.... Though in the issue
his friendship proved his ruin:
whose name was Jonadab
the son of Shimeah
David's brother; so that they
were own cousins
the same with Shammah
1 Samuel 16:9
and Jonadab was a very subtle man; a very
penetrating man into the dispositions of men
and could judge by their
countenances what they were
and the affections of their minds
and had a
talent in forming schemes; he was wise to do evil and was wickedly cunning.
2 Samuel 13:4 4 And he said to him
“Why are
you
the king’s son
becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon
said to him
“I love Tamar
my brother Absalom’s sister.”
YLT
4and saith to him
`Wherefore [art] thou thus lean
O king's son
morning by morning? dost thou
not declare to me?' And Amnon saith to him
`Tamar -- sister of Absalom my
brother -- I am loving.'
And he said unto him
why art thou
being the king's
son
lean from day today?.... Or "morning by
morning"
F23בבקר בבקר
"in mane in mane"
Montanus. ; he was the king's eldest son
heir to
the crown
fed at his table
had everything to make him gay and cheerful
and
yet pined away; his flesh wastedF24"Fecit amor maciem
-----". Ovid Metamorph. l. 11. Fab. 11. v. 793.
his countenance waxed
wan and pale
and especially in the mornings; in the daytime he met with
diversions which
in some measure
took off his thoughts from the object his
mind was impressed with
but in the night season they were continually employed
about it; so that he could have no rest and sleep
which made him look ruefully
in the morning; and this man had a suspicion of his case
and therefore put
this and the following question to him:
wilt thou not tell me? who am so nearly related
to thee
and who have such a particular value and affection for thee:
and Amnon said unto him
I love Tamar
my brother Absalom's sister; he does not
call her his sister
but Absalom's sister
to lessen his sin of unlawful love
to her
which
being thus closely pressed
and by a friend
he could not
conceal.
2 Samuel 13:5 5 So Jonadab said to him
“Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see
you
say to him
‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food
and prepare
the food in my sight
that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”
YLT
5And Jonadab saith to him
`Lie down on thy couch
and feign thyself sick
and thy father hath come in to
see thee
and thou hast said unto him
`Let
I pray thee
Tamar my sister come
in and give me bread to eat; and she hath made the food before mine eyes so
that I see [it]
and have eaten from her hand.'
And Jonadab said unto him
.... Being a subtle man
he presently formed a scheme to relieve him
and open a way for the enjoyment
of what he desired:
lay thee down on thy bed
and make thyself sick; feign thyself
sick
pretend that thou art so
by lying down on the bed
and making complaints
of one kind or another:
and when thy father cometh to see thee; as he quickly
would
after hearing of his illness
being very affectionate to his children:
say unto him
I pray thee let
my sister Tamar come
and give me
meat; here he is directed to call her not Absalom's sister
but his
own
the more to cover his ill design upon her:
and dress the meat in my sight
that I may see it
and eat it
at her hand; pretending that his stomach was very weak and squeamish
that he
could not eat anything which his servants dressed for him
and which he did not
see done with his own eyes.
2 Samuel 13:6 6 Then Amnon lay down and
pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him
Amnon said to the king
“Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight
that I may eat from her hand.”
YLT
6And Amnon lieth down
and
feigneth himself sick
and the king cometh in to see him
and Amnon saith unto
the king
`Let
I pray thee
Tamar my sister come
and she maketh before mine
eyes two cakes
and I eat from her hand.'
So Amnon lay down
and made himself sick
.... Took the
advice of his cousin Jonadab
and acted according to it:
and when the king was come to see him; as he quickly
did
after he had heard of his illness:
Amnon said unto the king; who perhaps inquired of
his appetite
whether he could eat anything
and what:
I pray thee let my sister Tamar come; he calls her
sister
as Jonadab had directed
the more to blind his design; though it is
much that so sagacious a man as David was had not seen through it; but the
notion he had of his being really ill
and the near relation between him and
Tamar
forbad his entertaining the least suspicion of that kind:
and make me a couple of cakes in my sight; heart cakes
as the word may be thought to signify; called so either from the form of them
such as We have with us
or from the effect of them
comforting and refreshing
the heart:
that I may eat at her hand; both what is made by her
hand
and received from it.
2 Samuel 13:7 7 And David sent home to
Tamar
saying
“Now go to your brother Amnon’s house
and prepare food for
him.”
YLT
7And David sendeth unto
Tamar
to the house
saying
`Go
I pray thee
to the house of Amnon thy
brother
and make for him food.'
Then David sent home to Tamar
.... Who perhaps was not
in the king's palace
but at her brother Absalom's house
2 Samuel 13:20
saying
go now to thy brother Amnon's house; who also had
a separate house and equipage
being the king's son
and his eldest son:
and dress him meat; such as he may desire
and his stomach will
bear.
2 Samuel 13:8 8 So Tamar went to her
brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it
made cakes in his sight
and baked the cakes.
YLT
8And Tamar goeth to the
house of Amnon her brother
and he is lying down
and she taketh the dough
and
kneadeth
and maketh cakes before his eyes
and cooketh the cakes
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house
.... In
obedience to the king's commands
and in affection to her brother
with an
innocent breast
having no suspicion of any design upon her chastity:
(and he was laid down); upon a couch or bed in
his chamber
as being sick as was pretended
into which she was introduced:
and she took flour
and kneaded it; made it into
a paste:
and made cakes in his sight; a kind of fritters of
them
as in the TalmudF25T. Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 21. 1. :
and did bake the cakes: or fried them in a
frying pan
in oil.
2 Samuel 13:9 9 And she took the pan and
placed them out before him
but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said
“Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.
YLT
9and taketh the frying-pan
and poureth out before him
and he refuseth to eat
and Amnon saith
`Take ye
out every one from me;' and they go out every one from him.
And she took a pan
and poured them out before him
.... Out of
the frying pan
in which they were
into another dish; and all this was done in
his presence
that he might see and know of what
and in what manner it was
made
that his stomach might not recoil at it:
but he refused to eat: for that was not what he
wanted:
and Amnon said
have out all men from me; as if company
was troublesome to him
and he wanted rest
&c.
and they went out every man from him; at his
orders
that he might get some sleep
as he seemed desirous of it.
2 Samuel 13:10 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar
“Bring the food into the bedroom
that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar
took the cakes which she had made
and brought them to Amnon her brother
in the bedroom.
YLT
10And Amnon saith unto Tamar
`Bring the food into the inner chamber
and I eat from thy hand;' and Tamar
taketh the cakes that she hath made
and bringeth in to Amnon her brother
into
the inner chamber
And Amnon said unto Tamar
bring the meat into the chamber
.... An inner
chamber
at a greater distance
where they might be more secret
and out of the
reach of the hearing of any of his domestics:
that I may eat of thine hand; this he pretended
though his design was of another kind:
and Tamar took the cakes which she had made
and brought them
into the chamber to Amnon her brother; being quite innocent
herself
and having no suspicion of a brother having any ill design upon her
she made no scruple of going into an inner chamber alone with him.
2 Samuel 13:11 11 Now when she had brought them
to him to eat
he took hold of her and said to her
“Come
lie with me
my
sister.”
YLT
11and she bringeth nigh unto
him to eat
and he layeth hold on her
and saith to her
`Come
lie with me
my
sister.'
And when she had brought them unto him to eat
.... Not only
into the chamber
but to the side of the bed or couch where he had laid
himself
or sat
in a proper position to answer his purpose:
he took hold of her; by the arm
or threw his
hands about her:
and said unto her
come
lie with me
my sister; one would
think the relation he observes she stood in to him would have checked him from
making so vile a motion.
2 Samuel 13:12 12 But she answered him
“No
my brother
do not force me
for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not
do this disgraceful thing!
YLT
12And she saith to him
`Nay
my brother
do not humble me
for it is not done so in Israel; do not this
folly.
And she answered him
nay
my brother
.... Which
carried in it a reason sufficient for her denial
that he was her brother
and
she his sister
and therefore should not offer such an indignity to her:
do not force me; which was another forbidding expression
signifying she would never freely yield to his will; and to force her
to
defile her against her will
to commit a rape upon her
would be very criminal
indeed:
for no such thing ought to be done in Israel; among God's
professing people
who were better taught and instructed; and to give into such
impure practices would bring a dishonour upon them
and upon the religion they
professed; she urges the honour of religion
and the reputation of Israel
and
the glory of the God of Israel:
do not thou this folly: as all sin is
especially such an impure and indecent action as this.
2 Samuel 13:13 13 And I
where could I take
my shame? And as for you
you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now
therefore
please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”
YLT
13And I -- whither do I cause
my reproach to go? and thou -- thou art as one of the fools in Israel; and now
speak
I pray thee
unto the king; for he doth not withhold me from thee.'
And I
whither shall I cause my shame to go?.... She
desires him to consider hey reputation
which would be lost; was she to go into
a corner
into a place the most private and retired
yet she would blush at the
thought of the crime committed; and still less able would she be to lift up her
face in any public company; nor could she ever expect to be admitted into the
matrimonial state; in short
her character would be entirely ruined:
and as for thee
thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel; as the vilest
and basest and most abandoned in the nation; who ought of all men to be most
careful of his reputation
being a prince in Israel
and heir apparent to the
throne:
now therefore
I pray thee
speak unto the king: to give me to
thee in marriage:
for he will not withhold me from thee; this she
said
either as ignorant of the law
which forbids such marriages
or as
supposing the king had a power to dispense with it
and
rather than he should
die for love
would; though she seems to say this
and anything that occurred
to her mind
to put him off of his wicked design for the present
holding then
she should be delivered from him; besides
she was not his sister by the
mother's side
and
as the Jews say
was born of a captive woman before she was
proselyted and married to David
and so was free for AmnonF26Maimon.
Hilchot Melacim
c. 8. sect. 8. Kimchi in 2Sam. xiii. 1. ; and others sayF1R.
Moses Kotzensis
pr. affirm. 122. she was the daughter of Maacah by a former
husband
and not by David.
2 Samuel 13:14 14 However
he would not heed
her voice; and being stronger than she
he forced her and lay with her.
YLT
14And he hath not been
willing to hearken to her voice
and is stronger than she
and humbleth her
and lieth with her.
Howbeit
he would not hearken unto her voice
.... His lust
was so inflamed and enraged
that he could not attend to any arguments
though
ever so forcible
that were offered to him:
but being stronger than she
forced her
and lay with her; whether she
cried out or not
as the law directs in such cases
Deuteronomy 22:25;
is not said; she might
and nobody hear her and come to her assistance; or she
might not choose to expose her brother to his servants.
2 Samuel 13:15 15 Then Amnon hated her
exceedingly
so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than
the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her
“Arise
be gone!”
YLT
15And Amnon hateth her -- a
very great hatred -- that greater [is] the hatred with which he hath hated her
than the love with which he loved her
and Amnon saith to her
`Rise
go.'
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly
.... Having gratified his
lust
his conscience stung him for it
that he could not bear the sight of the
object that had been the instrument of it; and it may be the sharp words she
had used
representing him as one of the fools in Israel
and perhaps she used
sharper words still after he had abused her
filled him with hatred to her:
so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than
the love wherewith he had loved her; a like instance of love
being changed into hatred
after the gratification of lust
we have in Honorius
towards his sister PlacidiaF2Olympiodorus apud Grotium in loc. :
and Amnon said unto her
arise
be gone; without
calling her by her name
or owning the relation she bore to him
using her as
the basest and vilest of creatures. This conduct was very brutish
as well as
imprudent
and foolish to the last degree; had he had any regard to his own reputation
he would never have turned her out of doors so soon
and in such a public
manner; but so it was ordered by divine Providence
that his sin might be made
known
and so the murder of him for it by Absalom was brought on
and both were
suffered as a correction and chastisement to David for his sins of adultery and
murder
2 Samuel 12:11.
2 Samuel 13:16 16 So she said to him
“No
indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you
did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
YLT
16And she saith to him
`Because of the circumstances this evil is greater than the other that thou
hast done with me -- to send me away;' and he hath not been willing to hearken
to her
And she said unto him
there is no cause
.... For such
treatment as this:
this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that
thou didst unto me; not that this was a greater sin
but it was a greater evil or
injury to her
that being done secretly
this openly; being turned out in that
open manner
it might look as if she was the aggressor
and had drawn her
brother into this sin
or however had consented to it; had it been kept a
secret
she would not have been exposed to public shame and disgrace
and she
might have been disposed of in marriage to another; it would not have been
known to the grief of her father
to the revenge of Absalom
and to the
dishonour of religion; besides
the sin of Amnon might have been more easily
excused
if any excuse could be made for it
as that it arose from the force of
lust
and a strong impure affection
but this from barbarity and inhumanity:
but he would not hearken unto her; but insisted upon her
immediate departure.
2 Samuel 13:17 17 Then he called his servant
who attended him
and said
“Here! Put this woman out
away from me
and
bolt the door behind her.”
YLT
17and calleth his young man
his servant
and saith
`Send away
I pray thee
this one from me without
and
bolt the door after her;'
Then he called his servants that ministered unto him
.... His
domestic servants that waited on him:
and said
put now this woman out from me; she not
willing to depart at once
he ordered her to be put out immediately by force;
using her and speaking of her in a very rude and scandalous manner
calling her
this
leaving it to be supplied
as they would understand it
this base woman
this strumpet
&c.
and bolt the door after her; that she might not
return; this was more disgraceful still.
2 Samuel 13:18 18 Now she had on a robe of
many colors
for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant
put her out and bolted the door behind her.
YLT
18-- and upon her [is] a long
coat
for such upper robes do daughters of the king who [are] virgins put on
-- and his servant taketh her out without
and hath bolted the door after her.
And she had a garment of divers colours upon her
.... Of
embroidered work
which made her the more observable
and her shame the more
manifest. Whether this was interwoven with threads of various colours
or
embroidered with figures of flowers
animals
&c. and wrought with the
needle
or was painted with different colours
or made up of pieces of various
colours
is not certain. See Gill on Genesis 37:3; but
according to BrauniusF3De Vest. Sacerdot. Heb. l. 1. c. 17. sect.
21. it was neither
and so the coat of Joseph
but was a garment with sleeves
reaching down to the ankles
and pieced at the borders with fringe; and
indeed
garments of flowers and various colours were such as in other nations
as in Athens
harlots woreF4Suidas in voce εταιραν.
and not virgins
as follows:
for with such robes were the king's daughters that were
virgins apparelled; which they wore to distinguish them both from common people
and
from married persons of the same quality:
then the servants brought her out
and bolted the door after her; laid hold on
her
and brought her out by main force; thrust her out of doors
and turned the
key upon her.
2 Samuel 13:19 19 Then Tamar put ashes on
her head
and tore her robe of many colors that was on her
and laid her
hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.
YLT
19And Tamar taketh ashes for
her head
and the long coat that [is] on her she hath rent
and putteth her
hand on her head
and goeth
going on and crying;
And Tamar put ashes on her head
.... In token of sorrow
and distress; see Joshua 7:6
and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her; signifying
that her virginity was rent from her in a forcible manner
or that she was
ravished:
and laid her hand on her head; through grief and shame;
see Jeremiah 2:37
and went on crying; from Amnon's house to her brother
Absalom's
as one abused and injured.
2 Samuel 13:20 20 And Absalom her brother
said to her
“Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace
my
sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar
remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
YLT
20and Absalom her brother
saith unto her
`Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? and now
my sister
keep silent
he [is] thy brother; set not thy heart to this thing;' and Tamar
dwelleth -- but desolate -- in the house of Absalom her brother.
And Absalom her brother said unto her
.... Either
meeting her in the street
or rather when come to his house:
hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? been rude
with thee
and lain with thee
which is the meaning of this modest expression;
which he guessed at
having heard of her being sent to his house
and knowing
his lustful disposition
and seeing her in such a forlorn condition: he calls
him Aminon
for so it is in the Hebrew text
and not Amnon
by way of contempt
as Kimchi observes:
but hold now thy peace
my sister; be silent
take no
notice of this matter
say nothing of it to the king
nor any other
keep it in
thine own breast
and make thyself easy:
he is thy brother
regard not this thing; it is thy
brother that has done it
and not so disgraceful as a meaner person
done in
the heat of lust
and a youthful one
and should be forgiven; besides
to
divulge it would bring disgrace upon the whole family
and no recompence would
be obtained by telling the king of it
since he was his son
his firstborn
and
heir to the crown; this he said not out of love of Amnon
but as desirous of
gratifying private revenge upon him for it when opportunity should serve.
So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house; not seeing
any company
being filled with grief and shame
and none applying to her as a
suitor
knowing she was vitiated; how long she continued here
or lived after
this
is not certain; no mention is made of her afterwards.
2 Samuel 13:21 21 But when King David heard
of all these things
he was very angry.
YLT
21And king David hath heard
all these things
and it is very displeasing to him;
But when King David heard of all these things
.... Of
Amnon's ravishing Tamar
and turning her out of doors in that inhuman manner he
did
and of her distress upon it:
he was very wroth; with Amnon; but we read not of any reproof
he gave him
nor of any punishment inflicted on him by him. Abarbinel thinks
the reason why he was not punished was because his sin was not cognizable by a
court of judicature
nor was punishable by any way
or with any kind of death
inflicted by the sanhedrim
as stoning
burning
&c. nor even by scourging
because there were no witnesses; but the punishment of it was cutting off
i.e.
by the hand of God. The Jews sayF5T. Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 21. 1. a
law was made on this
that virgins or unmarried persons should not be alone;
for if this was done to the daughter of a king
much more might it be done to
the daughter of a private man; and if to a modest person
much more to an
impudent one.
2 Samuel 13:22 22 And Absalom spoke to his
brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon
because he had
forced his sister Tamar.
YLT
22and Absalom hath not spoken
with Amnon either evil or good
for Absalom is hating Amnon
because that he
humbled Tamar his sister.
And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad
.... That is
said nothing at all to him about the rape of his sister; not that he was sulky
with him
and would not converse with him at all; for then Amnon would have
mistrusted that he was meditating revenge
and therefore would have been upon
his guard; but on the contrary he talked freely
and in appearance friendly
on
other things
the better to conceal his hatred of him
and his design to avenge
the injury of his sister:
for Absalom hated Amnon; or
"though"F6כי
"quamvis"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Pool
& Patrick. he hated him
yet he behaved in this manner towards him:
because he had forced his sister Tamar: who was so by
father and mother's side
and so near and dear unto him
and therefore resented
the injury done her.
2 Samuel 13:23 23 And it came to pass
after
two full years
that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor
which is
near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
YLT
23And it cometh to pass
after two years of days
that Absalom hath shearers in Baal-Hazor
which [is]
with Ephraim
and Absalom calleth for all the sons of the king.
And it came to pass after two full years
.... Two
complete years after the rape was committed; so long Absalom kept it in his
mind
and was contriving how to avenge it; he let it alone so long
that it
might be thought by the king and Amnon
and all the family
that it was quite
worn out of his mind
and entirely forgotten by him
and therefore might the
more safely confide in him:
that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor
which is
beside Ephraim; though a prince
the son of a king
he had his flocks
and
attended to the care of them
and had shearers to shear them at the proper time
of the year
which it now was. The Chinese shear their sheep three times a
year
the spring
summer
and autumn; but the first time of shearing yields the
best woolF7Semedo's History of China
part 1. ch. 3. . The place of
shearing them was
no doubt
near where they were kept in Baalhazor
in the
plain of Hazor
as the Targum
and so some versions; which was a city in the
tribe of Judah
Joshua 15:25; and
near to Ephraim; not that it was a city in the tribe of Ephraim
as Josephus
saysF8Antiqu. l. 7. c. 8. sect. 2. ; but it was near to another city
called Ephraim
perhaps the same as in 2 Chronicles 13:19
and in John 11:54; it lay
to the northeast of Jerusalem
as you go to Jericho
and is thought by RelandF9Palestina
Illustrat. tom. 1. p. 377. to lie between Bethel and Jericho; and
according to
EusebiusF11Apud Reland
ib. & p. 490. & tom. 2. p. 765.
it
was eight miles from Jerusalem; though JeromF12De loc. Heb. fol. 91.
A.
through mistake
says twenty; and both these places
according to BuntingF13Travels
&c. p. 143
363.
were eight miles from Jerusalem; it seems to be the same
place that was spoken of in the MisnahF14Menachot
c. 8. sect. l.
called Ephraim in the valley
and which is said to be the second place in the
land of Israel for fine flour
and might have its name from its fruitfulness:
and Absalom invited all the king's sons; to the
sheepshearing: that is
to the feast which was usually made at such times
and
still is; see Genesis 38:12.
2 Samuel 13:24 24 Then Absalom came to the
king and said
“Kindly note
your servant has sheepshearers; please
let the
king and his servants go with your servant.”
YLT
24And Absalom cometh unto the
king
and saith
`Lo
I pray thee
thy servant hath shearers
let the king go
I pray thee
and his servants
with thy servant.'
And Absalom came to the king
.... At Jerusalem
to
invite him in person:
and said
behold now
thy servant hath sheepshearers; persons
employed in shearing his sheep: and this being a time of entertainment and joy:
let the king
I beseech thee
and his servants
go with thy
servant; he invited the king and the whole royal family to go with him to
Baalhazor
and partake of the sheepshearing feast; for by "his servants"
are not meant the king's domestic servants
his guard and retinue
but his
sons
as appears by what follows.
2 Samuel 13:25 25 But the king said to
Absalom
“No
my son
let us not all go now
lest we be a burden to you.” Then
he urged him
but he would not go; and he blessed him.
YLT
25And the king saith unto
Absalom
`Nay
my son
let us not all go
I pray thee
and we are not too heavy
on thee;' and he presseth on him
and he hath not been willing to go
and he
blesseth him.
And the king said to Absalom
nay
my son
let us not all now go
.... He did
not object to the invitation entirely
he was willing some of the family should
go
but not all; it seems probable that he particularly excepted himself and
his eldest son
the heir to his crown
for the reason following:
lest we be chargeable unto thee; one or two persons more
supposing them to be private persons
would have added but little to the
expense
if any; but as David was a king
he must have come with the retinue of
a king
with a large number of servants and guards
and must be entertained as
such; and Amnon
his eldest son
and heir apparent to the crown
must make a
figure suitable to his quality
which would have considerably raised the
expense; and perhaps Absalom's estate he had to live upon might be but small
which David knew
and therefore chose not to be burdensome to him:
and he pressed him; urged him to go; not that he expected he
would
or really desired he should
but this he did to hide his intention
that
he might have no suspicion of his design against Amnon; or otherwise he might
think he would not have been so pressing upon him to go with him:
howbeit he would not go
but blessed him; thanked him
for the invitation he gave him
and wished him much happiness and pleasure at
his entertainment with his friends.
2 Samuel 13:26 26 Then Absalom said
“If
not
please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him
“Why
should he go with you?”
YLT
26And Absalom saith
`If not
-- let
I pray thee
Amnon my brother go with us;' and the king saith to him
`Why doth he go with thee?'
Then said Absalom
if not
.... If it is not thy
pleasure to go with me
if I cannot have the honour of thy company:
I pray thee
let my brother Amnon go with us; let me have
the next mark of honour that can be given me
the presence of the king's eldest
son
and heir to the crown; he seems to express affection for him
and a
particular desire of his company
as if all ill will towards him was removed
from him
and this would be a public declaration of reconciliation between
them:
and the king said unto him
why should he go with thee? he
particularly
he more than any other; David seems to have suspected some
design
and it is strange he should not; and yet if he had
it is much
notwithstanding the pressing arguments used
he should let him go; or he might
think it would be more expensive to have him than the rest
and therefore asks
why he should desire his company above all others.
2 Samuel 13:27 27 But Absalom urged him; so
he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
YLT
27and Absalom urgeth on him
and he sendeth with him Amnon
and all the sons of the king.
But Absalom pressed him
.... Which one would
think would have increased his suspicion
if he had any
or have raised it in
him; but his mind was blinded
that Amnon's incest might be punished and the
threatening to David and his house be fulfilled on account of the affair of
Uriah and Bathsheba:
that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him; if he had any
suspicion at all
he might choose they should all go
that they might protect
and defend him
if any attempt was made upon him; or
as others think
that no
exceptions might be taken
as might be
if Amnon had gone alone.
2 Samuel 13:28 28 Now Absalom had commanded
his servants
saying
“Watch now
when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine
and
when I say to you
‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not
commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”
YLT
28And Absalom commandeth his
young men
saying
`See
I pray thee
when the heart of Amnon [is] glad with
wine
and I have said unto you
Smite Amnon
that ye have put him to death;
fear not; is it not because I have commanded you? be strong
yea
become sons
of valour.'
Now Absalom had commanded his servants
.... Before he
and his guests were set down to the entertainment:
saying
mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; as he was
determined to make him if possible
and as he supposed he would be
knowing his
inclination to drink:
and when I say unto you
smite Amnon
then kill him; smite him
that he die
and be sure he is dead before you leave him:
fear not
have not I commanded you? who am your lord
the
king's son
and will then be heir to the crown; fear not
I will protect you;
let all the blame be laid to me
if any; I will be answerable for it
you have
nothing to do but to obey my commands:
be courageous
and be valiant; show yourselves to be
men of courage and valour
not fearing the king's sons
or any in company
or
what will be the consequences of it; do your business effectually
and leave
all with me; it is very reasonably supposed that Absalom had not only in view
to revenge the rape of his sister
but to get himself next heir to the crown.
2 Samuel 13:29 29 So the servants of Absalom
did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose
and each
one got on his mule and fled.
YLT
29And the young men of
Absalom do to Amnon as Absalom commanded
and rise do all the sons of the king
and they ride
each on his mule
and flee.
And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had
commanded
.... They smote him
and killed him
when he gave the word:
then all the king's sons arose; from the feast
imagining they were all designed to be slain:
and every man gat him up upon his mule
and fled; creatures
much used in Judea instead of horses
which
though they might not be bred
might be usedF15Vid. Misn. Celaim
c. 8. sect. 1. .
2 Samuel 13:30 30 And it came to pass
while
they were on the way
that news came to David
saying
“Absalom has killed all
the king’s sons
and not one of them is left!”
YLT
30And it cometh to pass --
they [are] in the way -- and the report hath come unto David
saying
`Absalom
hath smitten all the sons of the king
and there is not left of them one;'
And it came to pass while they were in the way
.... On their
road homewards
before they got to Jerusalem:
that tidings came to David; perhaps brought by one
who was at the entertainment
who upon seeing Amnon smitten
immediately rose
up and fled with the news of it to David:
saying
Absalom hath slain all the king's sons
and there is not
one of them left; which he might suppose was the design of Absalom
and was done
before that time; however
so it was ordered in Providence
that David
that
rejoiced at the news of the death of Uriah
might be terrified with the tidings
of the death of all his sons; and for a while it was as if it was really so
which occasioned the following behaviour in him.
2 Samuel 13:31 31 So the king arose and tore
his garments and lay on the ground
and all his servants stood by with their
clothes torn.
YLT
31and the king riseth
and
rendeth his garments
and lieth on the earth
and all his servants are standing
by [with] rent garments.
Then the king arose
and tore his garments
.... In token
of extreme grief and sorrow
as Jacob did when he was shown the coat of Joseph
supposing him to have been slain
as David thought all his sons were
Genesis 37:34
and lay on the earth; on the bare ground
another token of mourning; so Job did on hearing the death of his sons
Job 1:20
and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent: did as David
did
in imitation of him
joining with him in expressions of sorrow; these were
his courtiers
ministers of state
and principal officers in his household.
2 Samuel 13:32 32 Then Jonadab the son of
Shimeah
David’s brother
answered and said
“Let not my lord suppose they have
killed all the young men
the king’s sons
for only Amnon is dead. For by the
command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his
sister Tamar.
YLT
32And Jonadab son of Shimeah
David's brother
answereth and saith
`Let not my lord say
The whole of the
young men
the sons of the king
they have put to death; for Amnon alone [is]
dead
for by the command of Absalom it hath been appointed from the day of his
humbling Tamar his sister;
And Jonadab the son of Shimeah
David's brother
.... The same
that advised Amnon to feign himself sick
to get Tamar sent to him
that he
might enjoy her
2 Samuel 13:3
answered and said; said in answer to the report brought to the
king
which threw him into such an agony:
let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young
men the king's sons; he did not believe it himself
and would not have the king
entertain such a thought
and distress himself with it:
for Amnon only is dead; he is very positive
and
speaks with great assurance; it looks as if he was in the secret
and knew of
the plot against Amnon's life; and
if so
he must be a very wicked man
first
to form a scheme whereby Amnon might come at Tamar to ravish her
and then be
accessory to the murder of him
as he must
if he knew of the design against
his life
and did not acquaint him and the king of it; and this seems to be
confirmed by what follows:
for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined
from
the day that he forced his sister Tamar; that is
the slaying of
Amnon; the meaning is
either that Absalom had given orders to his servants to
slay him
whenever they had an opportunity; or it was "in the mouth of
Absalom"F16על פי
אבשלום "in ore Absalom"
V. L. Vatablus.
as it may be rendered; he used to declare it to his intimate friends
that it
was the purpose and resolution of his heart to kill Amnon some time or another;
and this he had taken up from the time of his sister Tamar's being forced
and
because of that
of which Jonadab had intelligence by some means or another;
and who speaks of this rape without any seeming emotion
as if he had no
concern at all in it.
2 Samuel 13:33 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. For only Amnon is dead.”
YLT
33and now
let not my lord
the king lay unto his heart the word
saying
All the sons of the king have
died
for Amnon alone [is] dead.'
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart
.... Neither
suppose it
nor be troubled for it:
to think that all the king's sons are dead: which was not
to be thought
nor could any good reason be given for such a supposition
for Amnon only is dead; he repeats it again with
great assurance
which seems to confirm the suspicion of him before suggested;
though some think he said this not from certain knowledge
but by conjecture.
2 Samuel 13:34 34 Then Absalom fled. And the
young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked
and there
many
people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.[a]
YLT
34And Absalom fleeth
and the
young man who is watching lifteth up his eyes and looketh
and lo
much people
are coming by the way behind him
on the side of the hill.
But Absalom fled
.... He who promised his servants protection
could not protect himself
and who no doubt fled with him; he knew what he had
done was death by law
and that there was no city of refuge for such sort of
murder as this
and he had no reason to hope the king would suffer so foul a
crime as this to pass unpunished:
and the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes
and
looked: to the way that led from Absalom's house to Jerusalem
to see if
he could spy any other messenger on the road from thence:
and
behold
there came much people by the way of the hill side
behind him; that is
behind the watchman
who
looking round him
saw them;
these people were the king's sons and their attendants
who
being at some
distance
the young man could not discern who they were; they did not come the
direct road from Absalom's house
but came a round about way
for fear
as R.
Isaiah rightly conjectures
lest Absalom should pursue
or send pursuers after
them
and slay them; though others
as Kimchi
think this refers to the hill
and that the sense is
that the watchman saw them coming from the way which was
behind the hill
and began to see them when they came to the side of it
which
was the way that led to the city
surrounded by mountains
see Psalm 125:2.
2 Samuel 13:35 35 And Jonadab said to the
king
“Look
the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said
so it is.”
YLT
35And Jonadab saith unto the
king
`Lo
the sons of the king have come; as the word of thy servant
so it
hath been.'
And Jonadab said to the king
behold
the king's sons come
.... For as
they came nearer
it was plainly discovered that they were the king's sons
seen on the side of the hill:
as thy servant said
so it is; he seems to applaud
himself
and exult at his penetration and foresight.
2 Samuel 13:36 36 So it was
as soon as he
had finished speaking
that the king’s sons indeed came
and they lifted up
their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.
YLT
36And it cometh to pass at
his finishing to speak
that lo
the sons of the king have come
and they lift
up their voice
and weep
and also the king and all his servants have wept -- a
very great weeping.
And it came to pass
as soon as he had made an end of speaking
.... As soon
as the above words were out of his mouth:
that
behold
the king's sons came: into the palace
and
into the apartment where the king was:
and lifted up their voice and wept; not being able to tell
the sorrowful news with their mouths
but declared it by gestures:
and the king also and all his servants wept very sore; they joined
the king's sons in weeping
and were the more moved to it by their weeping
and
the rather
since hereby the news of Amnon's murder was confirmed.
2 Samuel 13:37 37 But Absalom fled and went
to Talmai the son of Ammihud
king of Geshur. And David mourned for his
son every day.
YLT
37And Absalom hath fled
and
goeth unto Talmai
son of Ammihud
king of Geshur
and [David] mourneth for his
son all the days.
But Absalom fled
.... As before related
but here repeated
for the sake of what follows:
and went to Talmai
the son of Ammihud
king of Geshur: his mother's
father
see 2 Samuel 3:3
where
he might hope for protection and safety:
and David mourned for his son every day; or "all
the days"F17כל הימים
"cunctis diebus"
V. L. "omnibus diebus"
Pagninus
Montanus.
i.e. of the three years Absalom was in Geshur
about the end of
which he was comforted concerning Amnon
as the following verses show. Some
think it was for Absalom he mourned
but rather for Amnon. The reason why he
mourned for him
when he did not for his child by Bathsheba
who died
because
that was an infant
this a grown man
and heir to his crown
and was slain by
the sword of his brother
and so fulfilled a threatening to himself on account
of his own sin
which
hereby no doubt
was brought fresh to his mind.
2 Samuel 13:38 38 So Absalom fled and went
to Geshur
and was there three years.
YLT
38And Absalom hath fled
and
goeth to Geshur
and is there three years;
So Absalom fled
.... This is the third time it is mentioned
and the reason of it here Abarbinel thinks is
that when he first fled to his
grandfather
he used to stand openly in the court of his palace
and go with
him wherever he went from place to place; but when he understood that his
father mourned so for the death of Amnon
he was afraid he would send some
person to lay hold on him
and take vengeance on him; and therefore he would go
no more with the king from place to place
but went and abode in Geshur always
which was a fortified city
as it follows:
and went to Geshur
and was there three years: and never
went out of it
until he was fetched by Joab
as 2 Samuel 14:23
relates; nor is there anything in 2 Samuel 13:37
disturbed and mutilated
as SpinosaF18Tractat. Theolog. Politic. c.
9. p. 176. intimates
but the whole is very expressive and emphatic.
2 Samuel 13:39 39 And King David[b] longed to
go to[c] Absalom.
For he had been comforted concerning Amnon
because he was dead.
YLT
39and [the soul of] king
David determineth to go out unto Absalom
for he hath been comforted for Amnon
for [he is] dead.
And the soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom
.... In like
manner it is supplied and paraphrased in the Targum
because the word rendered
"longed" is feminine; though it may be used to denote the effeminateness
of David's disposition and carriage on this occasion. Aben Ezra thinks the word
"wife"
should be supplied
and then the sense is
that the wife of
King David
the mother of Absalom
made supplication to him to send forth one
of the young men to fetch Absalom
and that by her importunity to him she
stirred up a longing desire in David after him. Abarbinel observes
from
another writer of theirs
that all the three years David was mourning for his
son
he went out continually to seek to take vengeance on Absalom; but after
that time
the mother of Absalom
or Tamar his sister
or his daughter
was
importunate with the king
and restrained him from going forth to seek
vengeance on Absalom; and when he was comforted concerning Amnon
that woman
found means to restrain him from going out
and he restrained his servants from
going forth against Absalom; and so he observes the word is used for withholding
or restraining in Psalm 40:10; and
this agrees with several ancient versions
as the Vulgate Latin
"King
David ceased to persecute Absalom;'and the Septuagint
"King David ceased
to go out to Absalom;'and the Syriac version
"and King David abstained
from going out after Absalom:"
for he was comforted concerning Amnon
seeing he was dead; and could not
be brought back from the grave
though Absalom might be from his exile
to
which he had an inclination; but he knew not how to do it
consistent with
justice and his own honour.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)