II Samuel 13:23-39
“And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 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.
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.” (II Samuel 13:23-25)
Sheep shearing is a very labor intensive process even today. It provided and opportunity for families to work together and strengthen their family ties. David and his family were still close enough to their family roots to keep up the old tradition, so two years after Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom invited all David’s sons down to help in the shearing.
David was concerned that it would cause a strain for Absalom to support the entire family for the time that it would take and refused., despite his insistence, blessing him for the offer.
“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?
But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.” (II Samuel 13:26-27)
David was aware of the split between the brothers and when Absalom asked especially for Amnon to come he was suspicious, finally convinced it might provide a reconciliation between them, he agreed to let all the boys go.
“Now Absalom had 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.” (II Samuel 13:28)
Absalom had not forgiven or forgotten what Amnon had done to Tamar, and the sheepsheaqring provided a chance to catch him off guard. Absalom ordered his servants keep Amnon’s glass full and get him drunk so he’d let down his guard. When he was relaxed enough they were to kill him and Absalom would stand for them to protect them.
“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. And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.” (II Samuel 13;29-30)
Absaloms’s servants followed instructions, murdering Amnon. Fearing that it was and attempt to take over the kingdom by killing them all the other boys fled for their lives. Even before they got back to Jerusalem, David had heard about the murder, although he understood that it included all his sons.
Growing up on th eNavajo Reservation, we were frequently amazed that family members would learn of an accident involving a family member even before the police arrived to investigate it in areas where there was no phone or radio facilities. We called it the Navajo grapevine. Apparently Israel had a similar method of communication that was even faster than the mules David’s sons rode.
“Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.” (II Samuel 13:31)
David had hesitated to send his sons, but had changed his mind at Absalom’s insistence. He must have been asking himself why he gave in at that point. After all he had known about the enmity between Absalom and Amnon.
“And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain 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. 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.” (II Samuel 13:32-33)
David’s nephew Jonadab had suggested the way Amnon got Tamar in a place where he could rape her. He knew his cousins well and was sure that Absalom was only interested in killing Amnon. He told david it wasn’t any big deal, that only Amnon was dead, and that it was because of what Amnon had done to Tamar. Apparently he thought that would be a lot of comfort.
“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.
And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. 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.” (II Samuel 13:34-36)
A short time later, rest of David’s sons arrived in Jerusalem and Jonadab was proven right. All of them were upset by Amnon’s murder, and Absalom’s treachery. Though they were alive, there wasn’t much to rejoice about.
“But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.” (II Samuel 13:37-38)
II Samuel 3:3 tells us that Talmai, king of Geshur was Absalom’s maternal grandfather. When he fled from David that is who Absalom went to for support, staying for three years. After all they were also family.
“And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.” (II Samuel 13:39)
Despite the fact that Absalom had killed Amnon, David still loved him and longed to see him. He seriously thought about going to visit him but didn’t. It will be a decision he later regrets.
This is the start of the fulfillment of the Nathan's prophecy as a result of David's sin.
“And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 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.
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.” (II Samuel 13:23-25)
Sheep shearing is a very labor intensive process even today. It provided and opportunity for families to work together and strengthen their family ties. David and his family were still close enough to their family roots to keep up the old tradition, so two years after Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom invited all David’s sons down to help in the shearing.
David was concerned that it would cause a strain for Absalom to support the entire family for the time that it would take and refused., despite his insistence, blessing him for the offer.
“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?
But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.” (II Samuel 13:26-27)
David was aware of the split between the brothers and when Absalom asked especially for Amnon to come he was suspicious, finally convinced it might provide a reconciliation between them, he agreed to let all the boys go.
“Now Absalom had 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.” (II Samuel 13:28)
Absalom had not forgiven or forgotten what Amnon had done to Tamar, and the sheepsheaqring provided a chance to catch him off guard. Absalom ordered his servants keep Amnon’s glass full and get him drunk so he’d let down his guard. When he was relaxed enough they were to kill him and Absalom would stand for them to protect them.
“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. And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.” (II Samuel 13;29-30)
Absaloms’s servants followed instructions, murdering Amnon. Fearing that it was and attempt to take over the kingdom by killing them all the other boys fled for their lives. Even before they got back to Jerusalem, David had heard about the murder, although he understood that it included all his sons.
Growing up on th eNavajo Reservation, we were frequently amazed that family members would learn of an accident involving a family member even before the police arrived to investigate it in areas where there was no phone or radio facilities. We called it the Navajo grapevine. Apparently Israel had a similar method of communication that was even faster than the mules David’s sons rode.
“Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.” (II Samuel 13:31)
David had hesitated to send his sons, but had changed his mind at Absalom’s insistence. He must have been asking himself why he gave in at that point. After all he had known about the enmity between Absalom and Amnon.
“And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain 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. 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.” (II Samuel 13:32-33)
David’s nephew Jonadab had suggested the way Amnon got Tamar in a place where he could rape her. He knew his cousins well and was sure that Absalom was only interested in killing Amnon. He told david it wasn’t any big deal, that only Amnon was dead, and that it was because of what Amnon had done to Tamar. Apparently he thought that would be a lot of comfort.
“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.
And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. 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.” (II Samuel 13:34-36)
A short time later, rest of David’s sons arrived in Jerusalem and Jonadab was proven right. All of them were upset by Amnon’s murder, and Absalom’s treachery. Though they were alive, there wasn’t much to rejoice about.
“But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.” (II Samuel 13:37-38)
II Samuel 3:3 tells us that Talmai, king of Geshur was Absalom’s maternal grandfather. When he fled from David that is who Absalom went to for support, staying for three years. After all they were also family.
“And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.” (II Samuel 13:39)
Despite the fact that Absalom had killed Amnon, David still loved him and longed to see him. He seriously thought about going to visit him but didn’t. It will be a decision he later regrets.
This is the start of the fulfillment of the Nathan's prophecy as a result of David's sin.
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