2 Samuel 13 - Introduction
_A.M. 2972. B.C. 1032._ Amnon ravishes Tamar, 2 Samuel 13:1. Absalom kills him, 2 Samuel 13:21. David mourns: Absalom flees to Geshur, 2 Samuel 13:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2972. B.C. 1032._ Amnon ravishes Tamar, 2 Samuel 13:1. Absalom kills him, 2 Samuel 13:21. David mourns: Absalom flees to Geshur, 2 Samuel 13:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Absalom, the son of David, had a fair sister_ His sister by both father and mother. For they were both born of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. Now began another part of Nathan's prophecy, _I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house_, to be awfully fulfilled On David; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amnon fell sick for his sister Tamar_ He fell deeply in love with her, and being conscious that his passion was very criminal, he concealed it for some time, but at the expense of his health, being racked by the violence of a strong desire, and the terror of indulging it. Thus fleshly lusts are the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amnon had a friend_ Say rather an _enemy;_ for surely he proved himself to be such in a high degree, by the evil counsel he gave, issuing in Amnon's utter ruin of soul, as is too probable, as well as body. “He plainly perceived that Amnon's disease was some strong desire ungratified; and insinuated... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jonadab said, Make thyself sick_ He advises Amnon to pretend that his stomach was so weak that he could eat nothing that his servants dressed, and therefore desired his sister, who understood how to make delicate dishes, might come and prepare something that he could relish. Ah! false, treacherous,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amnon said, Bring the meat into the chamber_ It is probable that when Tamar first came, Amnon had received her in an outward room, but that, pretending now to be fatigued, he retired into his chamber, desiring her to go along with him, that he might put his design upon her in execution without bein... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nay, my brother_ Whom nature both teaches to abhor such thoughts, and obliges to defend me from such an injury, with thy utmost hazard, if another should attempt it. _Do not force me_ Thou oughtest to abhor it, if I were willing; but to add violence is abominable. _No such thing ought to be done in... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go?_ How shall I drive it from me; and where shall I hide it? This plea for herself is inexpressibly beautiful and forcible. _Thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel_ Shalt utterly lose thy reputation, and be contemptible to all the people, as a man void... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Amnon hated her exceedingly_ His mind, which at first had been impelled by lust, was now agitated by remorse, which drove it to a different extreme, like the vibration of a pendulum. The horror of his guilt struck him with a sudden detestation of her whom he deemed the cause of it, and he hate... [ Continue Reading ]
_She had a garment of divers colours_ Of embroidered work. _His servant brought her out_, &c. A high contempt of a king's daughter. But the servant's dependance on his master overruled all respect due to her. “Tamar thus treated,” says Delaney, “not parted with as an innocent woman, cruelly injured,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tamar put ashes upon her head_ To signify her grief for some calamity which had befallen her, and what that was, concurring circumstances easily discovered. _And laid her hand on her head_ In token of shame and sorrow, as if she were unable to show her face. _And went on crying_ To manifest her abh... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Absalom her brother said to her_ To whose house she had passed on, in the condition just mentioned, with ashes on her head, &c., oppressed with sorrow, and overwhelmed with shame. _Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee?_ A modest expression for the foul rape he had committed. Thus Absalom cover... [ Continue Reading ]
_When David heard, he was very wroth_ With Amnon: whom yet he did not punish, at least so severely as he ought to have done; perhaps, because he was his eldest son, and the next heir to his crown, and therefore he was unwilling either to cut him off, or to expose him to contempt among the people he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Absalom spake_, &c. Though he hated Amnon in his heart, yet he never expressed the least resentment, nor said any thing to him at all about that business. He neither debated it with him, nor threatened him for it, but seemed willing to pass it by with brotherly kindness. Not that he forbore all dis... [ Continue Reading ]
_After two full years_ This circumstance of time is noted, as an aggravation of Absalom's malice, which was so implacable; and as an act of policy, that both Amnon and David might more securely comply with his desires. _Let the king and his servants go_ He certainly did not wish the king to go; but... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let my brother Amnon go with us_ That is, with him and the rest of his brethren, as appears from the following verse. David designed, it seems, to keep him at home with him, as being his eldest son, and heir of his kingdom; otherwise Absalom would never have made particular mention of him, which, i... [ Continue Reading ]
_He let Amnon and all the king's sons go_ It is strange that Absalom's urgent desire of Amnon's company raised no suspicion in the mind of so wise a king: but God suffered him to be blinded that he might execute his judgments upon David, and bring upon Amnon the just punishment of his lewdness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Amnon's heart is merry_ When he least suspects, and will be most unable to prevent the evil. _Have not I commanded you? _ I who am the king's son, and, when Amnon is dead, next heir to the crown, and who therefore can easily stand between you and the danger of your being called to an account f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the king arose_ He was thrown by this news, as we may well imagine, into the utmost consternation, and almost driven even to despair. He tore his clothes, and laid himself down upon the earth, like a person frantic with grief, and abandoned to distress; and his servants stood disconsolate arou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Absalom fled_ He was now as much afraid of the king's sons as they were of him; they fled from his malice, he from their justice. No part of the land of Israel could shelter him; the cities of refuge afforded no protection to a wilful murderer. Though David had let Amnon's incest go unpunished, Abs... [ Continue Reading ]
_David mourned for his son every day_ Either for the murder of Amnon, or for Absalom, who was lost as to any comfort he could have from him. “Thus did God, by withdrawing his restraining grace from Amnon, and leaving him a prey to his own passions, _raise up evil to David out of his own house;_ a da... [ Continue Reading ]
_The soul of King David longed to go forth to Absalom_ To visit him, or to send for him. What amazing weakness was this! At first he could not find in his heart to do justice to the ravisher of his sister; and now he can almost find in his heart to receive into favour the murderer of his brother! Ho... [ Continue Reading ]