2 Samuel 13:37-39 Similar End!

 ”But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. 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.

b. Absalom fled and went to Geshur: This made sense for Absalom because his mother’s father was the king of Geshur (2 Samuel 3:3).

c. 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. (Guzik)

Similar End!

I am reminded of what Jesus said to Peter!

”But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.“ ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭52‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Absalom was evil and he will meet a similar fate as Amnon.

But Jesus also said we are also judged by our thoughts!

So if you think that you’re not as bad as Absalom, ask yourself if you ever have had any evil thoughts about anyone?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 13:30-36 Biblical Justice!

 ”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!” So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 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. 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.” 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. And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.” 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.“ II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭30‬-‭36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. 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.

b. 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).

c. The king and all his servants wept very bitterly: David is rightly grieved at learning of the death of his eldest son, the Crown Prince Amnon. Yet David’s lack of correction of Amnon contributed to this murder. If David had administered biblical correction according to Exodus 22:16-17 and Deuteronomy 22:28-29, Absalom would not have felt so free to administer his own brutal correction. (Guzik)

i. “Absalom’s fratricide would never have taken place if David had taken instant measures to punish Amnon.” (Meyer)

Biblical Justice!

There is a whole chain of events that transpires because David failed to act administrating biblical justice with Amnon. 

What would the world be like today if biblical justice was administered for crimes?

Blessings 

what-is-justice

2 Samuel 13:28-29 Gods Promises Are True!

 ”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.” 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.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. 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.

b. So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded: God promised David that the sword shall never depart from your house (2 Samuel 12:10) in judgment of David’s sin. This is definitely a partial fulfillment of this promise.

i. “As David had committed adultery, made Uriah drunk, and then murdered him: so Amnon committeth incest, is made drunk, and [is] then murdered.” (Trapp)

(Guzik)

Gods Promises Are True!

”“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?“ Numbers‬ ‭23‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

David’s chickens are coming home to roost!

What will happen next?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 13:23-27 Two Full Years!

 ”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. 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.” 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. 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?” But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.“ II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. After two full years: Two years went by but Absalom did not stop plotting the revenge of Amnon’s sin against Tamar.

b. 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.

c. So he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him: Absalom showed some of the same cunning we saw in Amnon. He asked David to allow Amnon and all the king’s sons to come to the feast. This made David partly responsible for their meeting, just as Amnon got David to allow Tamar to visit him with food. (Guzik)

Two Full Years!

Absalom plotted his revenge and wrath for two full years! 

”For wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one.“

‭‭Job‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.“

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I’m am guilty of taking revenge before coming to Jesus, what about you?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 13:21-22 Reprove

 ”But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.“ II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry: David was right to be angry, but he didn’t do anything to either protect Tamar or to correct Amnon. It may be that David was conscious of his own guilt in a similar matter and therefore felt a lack of moral authority to discipline his own son.

i. If this was the case, it was a grave miscalculation on David’s part. He could have said to Amnon, “I know the evil that results when we don’t restrain our lusts and affections. This is something you must address and conquer in God’s strength.” “Why did he not reprove him at least very sharply for this foul fact?” (Trapp)

ii. “They say a man never hears his own voice till it comes back to him from the phonograph. Certainly a man never sees the worst of himself until it reappears in his child.” (Meyer)

b. Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: Absalom played it cool. His devious nature set the stage for future revenge. “Nothing is more unsafe to be trusted, than the fair looks of a festered heart.” (Trapp)

(Guzik)

Reprove

David played the absent father in the verses and to do nothing sets the stage for revenge! Disciplining a son isn’t easy but it’s the responsibility entrusted to us from God.

”Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.“

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Correction isn’t easy and sometimes hurts the parent more than the child!

Have you ever failed to correct your children?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 13:19-20 Grief

 ”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. 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.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe: Tamar correctly treated this as a calamity and did not hide the truth that a terrible crime was committed against her. She did not give place to the voice of shame saying, “This was somehow your fault.”

b. Has Amnon your brother been with you? Amnon probably thought he had concealed his crime. Nevertheless, it was so obvious to Absalom that he immediately knew that Amnon was responsible.

i. Part of the blindness of lust leads the lustful man or woman to believe that his or her actions are not obviously apparent to others. Amnon was deceived by this blindness of lust.

ii. Tamar didn’t go to her father David because she knew he tended to be indulgent to his sons, and he excused all kinds of evil in them. (Guzik)

Grief

In the culture of the Israelites they tore their clothes and put ashes on their head when they were grieving. In our culture, 100 years ago people wore black armbands for a specific period of time. But nowadays there doesn’t seem to be any expression of grief. It’s like the pharmaceutical commercial where someone holds up a smiley face to hide their real emotion of sadness.

It’s as if our culture has lost the art of the outward expression of grieving. 

But there is hope in Jesus!

”These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”“

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”“ ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I have peace in Jesus and look forward to going home, do you?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 13:16-18 Justice?

 ”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. Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.” 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.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me: What Amnon did to Tamar was wrong, but he could still somewhat redeem the situation by paying her bride-price in accordance with Exodus 22:16-17 and Deuteronomy 22:28-29. The payment was meant to compensate for the fact that Tamar was now less likely to be married because she was no longer a virgin.

b. A robe of many colors: The idea behind the Hebrew phrase is that it was a robe extending all the way down to the wrists and ankles, as opposed to a shorter one. It was a garment of privilege and status, showing the person did not have to work much.

c. Put this woman out…bolt the door behind her: Tamar deserved better treatment as an Israelite. Tamar deserved better treatment as a relative. Tamar deserved better treatment as a sister. Tamar deserved better treatment as a princess. Despite all this, Amnon spitefully treated Tamar as this woman. (Guzik)

Justice?

If you were Tamar’s father, how would you seek justice? Would 50 shekels of silver and marriage be justice as required in Deuteronomy 22:16-17?

I am reminded of a verse: ”Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”“

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭35‬ ‭BSB‬‬

What will king David do?

Blessings