2 Samuel 13:23-33--Absalom Murders Amnon

2 Samuel 13:23-33
English Standard Version
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Absalom Murders Amnon
23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 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?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”

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I mentioned last time that Amnon's actions are the beginning of the fulfillment of God's curse on the house of David.  Absalom, the brother of Tamar, takes care of her after Amnon, her half-brother, sexually assaulted and raped her.  Absalom and Amnon never spoke to each other again after that, but Absalom remains angry at Amnon and lets his anger fester for two years, probably thinking about nothing other than how to take vengeance against Amnon on behalf of Tamar.  It came time for Absalom's sheep to be sheered (a joyous occasion that the owner of the sheep would invite friends and family to enjoy with them, and something that David in particular should understand).  Absalom wants David and all of his sons to be present when he takes vengeance against Amnon, but David refuses to go down saying that it would be too much for Absalom to have David and all his sons there.  I assume David sensed something was up or that that Holy Spirit told David not to go, but that's just me reading between the lines a bit, because David does know of the history of what happened between Absalom and Amnon and he finds it especially concerning when Absalom says he wants to make sure that his brother Amnon is there at the sheepshearing.  David gives in and lets Amnon go down to see Absalom and all the other sons of David go down as well, but David did not go down--he only sent his blessing.

Absalom then told his servants to watch Amnon careful so they knew when he was "merry with wine" (read that drunk), for this was an occasion when much alcohol would be served and those gathered there would drink to excess.  The servants of Absalom were to signal him and then he would at some point command them to kill Amnon.  They were commanded not to question the order and not to be fearful, but to be valiant and courageous (it sounds like he's taking the words of the LORD to Joshua out of context and speaking to them as if he is in the place of God saying "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).  Notice that he doesn't include the last part about the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.  The servants of Absalom did as he commanded and all the sons of David got on their mules and fled quickly assuming that they too would be targets of Absalom if they stayed--it seems that while Absalom, David and of course Amnon knew of what went on with Tamar, the rest of the family probably did not if they reacted this way, but now they have all been party to seeing Absalom's revenge against Amnon.

News came back to David that was exaggerated that Absalom had struck down all the sons of King David, and none of them were left.  David got up and tore his robes to mourn for all his sons, but Jonadab, David's nephew and the friend of Amnon, knows what is going on and gave the king correct information that only Amnon had been killed and why it had happened.  Absalom had commanded it because of what had been done to Tamar.  David is still sad of course, but not nearly as sad as to imagine that he has lost all his sons in a single day (for if Absalom had murdered all those innocent people, he too would be as good as dead and not allowed to take the throne).

Absalom knows he will be an enemy of the state at this point and he will flee from King David.  We'll read a little more about that next time.  Absalom will also be an important character in the next several chapters (through chapter 18), so be ready to see his name a lot and understand that at the root of everything he does is this anger and bitterness over his sister Tamar getting violated by her half-brother and how in his mind it is the fault of David, not just Amnon.