2 Samuel 13:26

_AND ABSALOM CAME TO THE KING, AND SAID, BEHOLD NOW, THY SERVANT HATH SHEEPSHEARERS; LET THE KING, I BESEECH THEE, AND HIS SERVANTS GO WITH THY SERVANT._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

21-29 Observe the aggravations of Absalom's sin: he would have Ammon slain, when least fit to go out of the world. He engaged his servants in the guilt. Those servants are ill-taught who obey wicked masters, against God's commands. Indulged children always prove crosses to godly parents, whose foolish love leads them to neglect their duty to God....

Verse 2 Samuel 13:26. _LET MY BROTHER AMNON GO_] He urged this with the more plausibility, because Amnon was the first-born, and presumptive heir to the kingdom; and he had disguised his resentment so well before, that he was not suspected....

He mentions Amnon as being the king’s first-born. If he could not have the king’s company, let him at least have that of the heir apparent, and the king’s other sons....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 13:1 AFTER THIS. This phrase, as we have seen on 2 Samuel 10:1, has little chronological force, but the date of the sad event which formed the second stage in David's punishment can be settled with considerable certainty. Tamar was the daughter of Maacah, a princess of Geshur, and David's marriage with her, while still at Hebron, is mentioned as a proof of his growing power, and consequently some time must have elapsed after his appointment as king before this alliance took place. As Absalom was apparently older than Tamar, if she were now fifteen or sixteen years of age. David would have been king of all Israel at least thirteen or fourteen years, and would have reached the summit of his glory. His wars would be over, Rabbah capt

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....

3. FURTHER CHASTISEMENT: AMNON, TAMAR, AND ABSALOM CHAPTER 13 _ 1. Amnon's wicked desire (2 Samuel 13:1)_ 2. The incest (2 Samuel 13:6) 3. His hatred (2 Samuel 13:15) 4. Amnon murdered (2 Samuel 13:19) 5. Absalom's flight (2 Samuel 13:37) “Behold I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house.” This was Jehovah's sentence and it is now carried out. The evil which he had nourished in his heart, the passion which he had fed now breaks out in his own family. His oldest

2 SAMUEL 13. AMNON, TAMAR, AND ABSALOM (J). 2 SAMUEL 13:1. Amnon, David's eldest son, forces his half-sister, Tamar, the full sister of Absalom. He might have married her (2 Samuel 3:5 *) but did not choose to do so. She rent her royal tunic, probably a garment reaching to the hands and feet (_cf._ Genesis 37:3 *); Joseph's coat of many colours represents the same Heb. word. David was angry, but he did not vex him by punishing him, for he loved him because he was his first-born (so LXX). 2 SAMUEL 13:23. Two years later, Absalom induced Amnon to be his guest at the sheepshearing (p. 101) at Baalhazor

Absalom's vengeance 23. _Absalom had sheepshearers_ Sheepshearing was and still is an occasion of festivity. Cp. 1 Samuel 25:7 ff. _Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim_ Possibly _Tell Asur_, five miles north-east of Bethel, and two miles north-west of _et-Taiyibeh_, which is supposed to represent Ephraim. The preposition _beside_or _near_implies that _Ephraim_is here the name of a town not of the tribe territory. Cp. John 11:54....

I PRAY THEE LET MY BROTHER AMNON GO WITH US— As heir presumptive to the crown, Amnon might represent the king; and it was probably upon this pretence that Absalom was so pressing for his attendance. REFLECTIONS.—Such a transaction as this of Amnon's could not be concealed. 1. David heard of it, and very wroth he was; yet, instead of punishing this rape and incest with death, as it deserved, he spared his son; but God will not; vengeance shall overtake him. _Note;_ Over-indulgent parents, by their sinful lenity, make a severe scourge for themselves. 2. Absalom, though silent, entertains deep-rooted vengeance in his bosom. He saw, probably, that to seek for justice were vain; or he desired the malicious gratification of being his own avenger. Two long years he waited opportunity, whilst the civility of his carriage, and his taking no notice of the rape, had now removed all suspicion of t...