Jun 27, 2021. II Samuel 13:23-33

Posted byJohn Sanzone

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ABSALOM AVENGES TAMAR.  II Samuel 13:23-33.  06/27/2021.  #28

2 Samuel 13:23-33 [New King James Version]

23 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. 24 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.” 25 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. 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 urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 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.” 29 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. 30 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!” 31 So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32 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. 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 only Amnon is dead.”

  1. The futile wait
    1. For 2 years Tamar and Absalom wait for David to bring Amnon to justice for his rape of Tamar
      1.  There is no indication that David even talked to Amnon, let alone enact any punishment on him
      1.  Absalom is furious and Tamar is devalued
    1. Several adverse results stem from judicial inaction:
      1.  An injustice is not properly recompensed
      1.  The perpetrator vindicated and free to continue to commit more injustices
      1.  Ecclesiastes 8:11 others feel free to do wickedness since there are no real consequences for their actions
      1.  Victims feel doubly violated (by crime and govern.)
      1.  Citizens lose respect for law and law enforcers
      1.  Victims are tempted to take matters into own hands
    1. Both Tamar and Absalom feel betrayed by their own father
      1.  David’s inability to act on behalf of his family is puzzling and inexcusable
      1.  Absalom loses respect for his father
  2. Absalom waits no longer
    1. Absalom devises a plan to avenge his sister
    1. He approaches David to invite him to his shearing the sheep celebration (similar to Nabol’s celebration in Carmel)
      1.  Like a harvest celebration (Ruth 3), the gathering of wool was a cause of great joy
      1.  David refuses to go, since he and his party would be in the way of the shearing and celebration
    1. Absalom must have suspected that David would refuse to go
      1.  Absalom asks that Amnon should go in David’s stead
      1.  This is an odd request, since each man takes care of his own fields, flocks, and harvests, and feasts
    1. David asks why Amnon should go with Absalom
      1.  David is suspicious, but he never acts on his suspicions (if a red flag arises in your mind, don’t ignore it, for God gives us intuition as a warning)
      1.  Notice that David gives in after Absalom presses him, even though there is no good reason for Amnon to go to a shearing feast put on by Absalom
    1. David’s intuition is not the only factor that should have given David pause, for Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister, Tamar, and David had done nothing about it
    1. Even though Ab. had specifically asked for Amnon to go, all of David’s sons go to Absalom’s celebration
      1.  Oddly, Amnon does not suspect anything
      1.  Like King Agag and David before Nathan confronted him, Amnon figures that time of judgment has passed
    1. Judgment does not always fall immediately (Revelation 2)
  3. Absalom takes revenge
    1. When Amnon is full of wine, Ab. signals for him to be killed
      1.  Amnon dies instantly and the other brothers flee
      1.  Absalom has taken life as a Revenger of Blood (Numbers 35:19), which the Levitical Law was to replace
      1.  Revenge cycles never finish (law must work)
    1. Romans 12 God tells us to leave vengeance up to God
    1. Rumor goes back to David that all his sons have been killed (great grief in the palace), but Jonadab says only Amnon is dead
    1. Jonadab says = Absalom planning revenge since rape (David unaware)