Day 92: 2 Samuel 13-15

(The previous post covered David's committing of adultery with Bath-sheba, David's immediate confession/repentance, the destructive effects declared by God, and Solomon's birth.)

2 Samuel 13
¹ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

(David's son Amnon loved Tamar, his half-sister. Amnon was David's first born son, from his wife Ahinoam (2 Samuel 3:2). This would have made Amnon the "crown prince," the first in line for the throne of Israel according to the culture of the times. Absalom and Tamar were brother and sister through David's wife Maacah (2 Samuel 3:3).)

² And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything unto her.
³ But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

(Jonadab was a cousin to Amnon, being the son of David's brother (2 Samuel 13:32). Jonadab was a very subtle man. In this verse, subtle meant "wise." Was this man’s wisdom or God’s Wisdom?)

⁴ And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
⁵ And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.

(Jonadab advised Amnon to deceive Tamar.)

⁶ So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.
⁷ Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him food.

(Amnon asked David to send Tamar to him and David did so. Remember, evil would be raised up out of David's house because of David's adultery with Bath-sheba in 2 Samuel 11 and God's declaration in 2 Samuel 12...)

⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
⁹ And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
¹⁰ And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
¹¹ And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister.
¹² And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

(Tamar told Amnon to not force her to have sex because it was against the Law: incest (Leviticus 18:9).)

¹³ And I, whither shall I carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wilt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

(Was Tamar saying that David would not withhold Amnon from her an attempt to get out of this? Or would the events be made public with Amnon killed and Tamar shamed?)

¹⁴ Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.
¹⁵ Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

(Amnon did not listen to Tamar. After he raped her, he hated her more than he had ever loved her.)

(Notice the quantitative language. There can be greater and lesser love and hate.)

¹⁶ And she said unto him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is worse than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

(Tamar told Amnon that the evil in sending her away not a virgin was worse than the rape itself. It would cause her to not be able to marry another. According to the Law (Deuteronomy 22:23-27), she needed to protest and let others know she protested.)

¹⁷ Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
¹⁸ And she had a garment of divers colors upon her; for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
¹⁹ And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.

(Tamar was doing her part of the Law.)

²⁰ And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; take not this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

(Absalom knew what had happened, he asked her about Amnon directly. Tamar being desolate meant "stunned; deflowered.")

²¹ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
²² And Absalom spake unto Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

(David was angry and Absalom felt hatred towards Amnon for what he did.)

²³ And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

(Two years later, Absalom invited all of David’s sons to his place in Ephraim.)

²⁴ And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
²⁵ And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
²⁶ Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
²⁷ But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

(Most likely, David wouldn't have allowed this if Absalom requested this immediately after Amnon raped Tamar. Since it was two years later, much more likely. Absalom was patient with his revenge.)

(There is much wonder about how David had handled this situation. Apart from him being "very wroth," nothing else is said at this point.)

²⁸ And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

(Absalom requested Amnon in the same way Amnon requested Tamar. Absalom commanded his servants to kill Amnon when he was drunk. He told his servants not to fear because he would be responsible for this. This was not an act of impulse, this was premeditated. It was two years after the incident. Remember, the sword would never depart from David's house.)

²⁹ And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
³⁰ And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

(David was given wrong information. He thought all of his sons were dead.)

³¹ Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
³² And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed 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.

(Jonadab told David the right information: Amnon died by the command of Absalom because he raped Tamar. What is Jonadab's goal here? Remember, he was the one who enabled Amnon into the situation where Tamar was raped.)

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 Amnon only is dead.
³⁴ But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side behind him.
³⁵ And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons are come: as thy servant said, so it is.

(Absalom left and the rest of David’s sons came to him.)

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: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
³⁷ But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
³⁸ So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
³⁹ And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

(David missed Absalom who had been gone in Geshur for three years. David was comforted at the death of his son, Amnon. We were now five years from the rape of Tamar.)




2 Samuel 14
¹ Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

(Joab, David's General, is back in the picture.)

² And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray thee, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead:
³ and go in to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

(Joab knew David was focused on Absalom so he got a woman from Tekoa to appear as if she was in mourning. What was Joab's goal here? Was he trying to help David? Was Joab deceiving David?)

⁴ And when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
⁵ And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
⁶ And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and killed him.
⁷ And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.

(The woman told a story very similar to what had happened to David and his sons. Joab had put these words in her mouth.)

⁸ And the king said unto the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
⁹ And the woman of Tekoa said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.
¹⁰ And the king said, Whosoever saith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
¹¹ Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

(David assured her that her son would not be harmed.)

¹² Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak a word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
¹³ And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one that is guilty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished one.

(The woman told David that he was as the guilty one in the story. The point she made was that David ought to have initiated reconciliation with Absalom. She was giving David a parable similar to what Nathan did.)

¹⁴ For we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God take away life, but deviseth means, that he that is banished be not an outcast from him.

(Here the woman was essentially saying, "we all die and then the opportunity for reconciliation is over. Do it now, the same way God finds a way to bring us back to Him.")

¹⁵ Now therefore seeing that I am come to speak this word unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.
¹⁶ For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
¹⁷ Then thy handmaid said, Let, I pray thee, the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Jehovah thy God be with thee.
¹⁸ Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, aught that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.

(David had a question for her.)

¹⁹ And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken; for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid;

(David directly asked her if Joab was behind this.)

²⁰ to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
²¹ And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.
²² And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found favor in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath performed the request of his servant.
²³ So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

(Joab’s plan worked and David sent Joab to get Absalom. David had immediately responded to correction, because he was a man after God's own Heart.)

²⁴ And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

(Absalom returned to his house but did not see David's face, at David's request. This would have prevented Absalom from being involved in anything important. Absalom would not be able to have a role in the kingdom.)

²⁵ Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

(Absalom had no physical blemish.)

²⁶ And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.

(Absalom had to shave his head every year because of how much hair would grow and how heavy it was.)

²⁷ And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

(Absalom had a daughter named Tamar. Did he name her after his sister?)

²⁸ And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem; and he saw not the king's face.

(It had been two years that Absalom and David were in the same city without seeing each other. It had been seven years since Tamar was raped.)

²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
³⁰ Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

(Absalom set Joab’s field on fire because Joab would not meet with Absalom. He wanted Joab to go to David on behalf of Absalom.)

³¹ Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
³² And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me.
³³ So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

(Finally, David and Absalom met and David kissed Absalom. Would Joab forgive Absalom for setting his field on fire?)




2 Samuel 15
¹ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

(Men honored kings by running before their chariots. God stated this in 1 Samuel 8:11 through Samuel to the people about the kings He would give Israel. This was Absalom's way of appearing to be a king.)

² And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
³ And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
⁴ Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

(Absalom started judging the people at the gate. Absalom was trying to reach the people before they could get to David. Absalom had set himself up as a leader here.)

⁵ And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
⁶ And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

(Absalom put himself in the path between the people and their king, stealing their hearts.)

⁷ And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.

(Several sources stated: "...at the end of four years..." This blog will side with the "four years" timeline.)

(This would have been four years after returning from exile, which was two years after he saw David's face. Basically, Absalom spent two years turning the hearts of Israel towards himself.)

⁸ For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.
⁹ And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
¹⁰ But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

(Absalom sent out spies to proclaim that he was king in Hebron. Hebron was a city approximately twenty miles south of Jerusalem. Absalom deceived David by telling him he was leaving to accomplish a vow he established in Geshur. Unlike David, here was a man putting forth effort to make himself king.)

¹¹ And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.
¹² And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

(Ahithophel was David's counselor and Bath-sheba's grandfather (2 Samuel 11:3; 23:34)

¹³ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
¹⁴ And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

(Absalom swayed David's counselor, so Absalom would know David's strategy. David found out about the men of Israel being towards Absalom. David told his servants that they would all flee so that they could escape Absalom.)

(Was David afraid of Absalom? Was David afraid of Ahithophel? Or was David focused on protecting his people? Again, one of the great things that set David apart from other kings is that he did not facilitate his own authority, God gave him the throne. Did David maintain that perspective? Meaning, did David have faith that God would not only set him up as king but God would keep David there?)

¹⁵ And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose.
¹⁶ And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

(All of David’s house went with him except for ten of his concubines. Remember, someone would "lie" with David's wives in the sight of the sun.)

¹⁷ And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak.
¹⁸ And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

(The Cherethites and the Pelethites were David's personal bodyguards. The Gittites followed David from his time among the Philistines.)

(David wrote Psalm 55:4-8, Psalm 3:1-6, Psalms 41, 61, 62, and 63 during this time.)

¹⁹ Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; return to thine own place.

(David wondered why this foreigner took a risk by staying with David.)

²⁰ Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee.
²¹ And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.

(David told Ittai, who had just recently joined him, to go home. Ittai refused and said his place was with David.)

²² And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
²³ And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
²⁴ And, lo, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

(They took the Ark of the Covenant with them. The priests, Zadok and Abiathar, stayed with David.)

²⁵ And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
²⁶ but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

(David commanded the Ark to go back to Jerusalem. David believed that if God had favor on him, God would bring him back. David considered that God could have been behind this and his faith was proven out in his actions.)

²⁷ The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
²⁸ See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
²⁹ Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.
³⁰ And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
³¹ And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

(David and the people with him were weeping. David was distressed. David found out about Ahithophel and prayed that Ahithophel’s counsel would be turned into foolishness. Was this a prayer God could Justly answer? Was David praying for something that would be against the will of another person? How would God answer this prayer?)

³² And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top of the ascent, where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

(Archi was a town on the southern boundary of Ephraim and Benjamin.)

³³ And David said unto him, If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto me:
³⁴ but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

(David wanted Hushai to deceive Absalom so he could defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. Was David's prayer not enough? Now he was trying to make his own prayer be answered.)

³⁵ And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
³⁶ Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear.
³⁷ So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

(Absalom took Jerusalem and Hushai (mentioned as David's friend) went to Absalom.)

(This post covered the rape of Tamar and Absalom's attempt to take the kingdom from David.)

Day 93