Berean Study Bible Amnon and TamarTime passed after the judgments announced through Nathan had begun to fall upon David’s house. Outward royal life continued, but sin within the family had produced conditions for further sorrow and division. 2Sa 10:1 Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died… David’s son Amnon Amnon was David’s firstborn son and stood nearest to the throne by birth. His privileged position did not restrain his desires or produce godly character, showing that royal status cannot shield a person from the consequences of sin. 2Sa 3:2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn… fell in love with Tamar, Amnon’s desire was not the self-giving love commanded by God but a consuming lust that sought its own satisfaction. His fixation would bring violence, shame, and lasting grief upon David’s household. Jdg 16:4 Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman… the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. Tamar was the daughter of David and the full sister of Absalom, likely born to Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. Her beauty became the occasion for Amnon’s sinful desire, while the injury done to her would become a central cause of Absalom’s hatred, vengeance, and eventual rebellion against David. 2Sa 14:27 Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar… Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, Amnon, David’s firstborn son, allowed sinful desire to grow into consuming distress. Tamar was the daughter of David and Maacah and the full sister of Absalom, making her Amnon’s half-sister. His royal position did not restrain his heart; instead, his unchecked lust became the beginning of grievous sin within David’s house. Sng 2:5 Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples… for she was a virgin, Tamar’s protected status as an unmarried royal daughter placed her beyond Amnon’s ordinary access. Her virginity represented both personal purity and the honor of David’s household. God’s design for sexual union within marriage made Amnon’s desire not merely difficult to fulfill but morally corrupt from its beginning. Gen 24:16 Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin… and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her. The barriers surrounding Tamar should have led Amnon to reject his desire and seek self-control. Instead, he soon accepted the counsel of Jonadab and devised a deceitful plan. David’s earlier sin brought continuing disorder into his family, yet Amnon remained responsible for choosing deception, violence, and dishonor over obedience to God. Lev 18:9 You must not have sexual relations with your sister,… Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, Amnon’s trusted companion would become a destructive influence rather than a faithful counselor. Jonadab’s access to the prince gave his advice unusual weight at a moment when Amnon’s desires were already turning sinful. Pro 13:20 He who walks with the wise will become wise,… the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was David’s nephew and Amnon’s cousin, belonging to the royal household through Shimeah, also called Shammah. Family proximity gave him intimate knowledge of palace life and enabled him to influence events within David’s own house. 2Sa 21:21 and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s… Jonadab was a very shrewd man, Jonadab possessed the intelligence to recognize Amnon’s condition and devise a plan to satisfy it. Yet he used his ability to advance wickedness rather than restrain it. His counsel helped bring about the violation of Tamar and contributed to the sorrow, violence, and division that followed in David’s family. Luk 16:8 The master commended the dishonest manager… and he asked Amnon, Jonadab was Amnon’s cousin, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, and he had access to the royal household. His shrewdness would prove dangerous, for he used his insight to help Amnon pursue sin rather than restrain him. 2Ki 4:26 Please run out now to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right?… “Why are you, the son of the king, Amnon was David’s firstborn son and held a prominent place among the king’s sons. His royal position gave him privilege and influence, but it did not free him from God’s moral law or the consequences of his choices. 2Ki 11:12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son,… so depressed morning after morning? Amnon’s condition had become visible and persistent. His inward desire was consuming him, revealing how unchecked sin can trouble the heart before it harms others. Neh 2:2 so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad?… Won’t you tell me?” Jonadab invited Amnon to disclose his burden, but he did not lead him toward repentance, self-control, or honorable action. Counsel carries moral weight, especially when it shapes another person’s response to temptation. Jdg 16:6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me”… Amnon replied, Amnon trusted Jonadab with the desire he had concealed. The confession opened the way for a plan that would bring grievous sin into David’s house. 1Sa 1:15 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled… “I am in love with Tamar, Amnon called his desire love, but his later actions showed that he sought to possess Tamar rather than honor her. What he nurtured in secret would soon become violence, shame, and hatred. Gen 34:3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob.… my brother Absalom’s sister.” Tamar was Amnon’s half-sister and Absalom’s full sister, making Amnon’s desire forbidden under God’s law. The mention of Absalom anticipates the enduring division that this crime would bring upon David’s family. Lev 18:9 You must not have sexual relations with your sister,… Jonadab told him, Jonadab was Amnon’s cousin, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, and his shrewdness became a destructive influence within David’s court. Rather than restraining Amnon’s sinful desire, he devised a plan that gave it opportunity. Pro 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel.… “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. Amnon’s feigned illness turned David’s fatherly concern into a means of deception. Sin often seeks concealment and manipulates the compassion of others for selfish ends. 2Sa 14:2-3 So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there.… When your father comes to see you, David came as a concerned father, yet he failed to recognize the danger developing within his own household. The consequences of David’s earlier sin continued to unfold in painful disorder among his children. Gen 27:18-24 So Jacob went to his father and said, “My father.”… say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come Tamar, whose name means “palm tree,” symbolizing beauty and grace, was David’s daughter and Absalom’s full sister. Amnon used the bonds of family and the expected duty of a daughter within the royal household to gain private access to her. Luk 10:39-40 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet… and give me something to eat. A meal ordinarily expressed care, fellowship, and peace. Amnon’s request corrupted that setting of trust and prepared the way for betrayal. Gen 27:4-10 Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me… Let her prepare it in my sight The request was carefully designed to isolate Tamar from the protection of others. Jonadab’s counsel reveals deliberate planning, not an uncontrolled moment of passion. Gen 27:13-14 His mother replied, “Your curse be on me, my son.… so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’” What appeared to be a harmless act of family service concealed Amnon’s intent to violate Tamar. The scene exposes the ruin brought by unchecked desire, deceitful counsel, and the abuse of authority within a family. 2Sa 11:2-4 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around… So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. Amnon, David’s firstborn, deliberately concealed his sinful purpose behind a false appearance of weakness. His deception set in motion the evil Nathan had foretold would arise from David’s own household after David’s sin against Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:10–12). Like Jacob’s deception of Isaac, Amnon’s scheme shows how deceit within a family brings lasting sorrow and division. 1Sa 21:13 So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness… When the king came to see him, David responded as a concerned father and came personally to his son. The king did not recognize the wickedness hidden behind Amnon’s illness, reflecting David’s recurring failure to restrain sin among his sons. Eli likewise knew of his sons’ evil but did not deal decisively with them (1 Samuel 2:12–25). 2Ki 20:1-2 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill.… Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, Amnon used the language of family affection and a seemingly harmless request to gain access to Tamar. Tamar’s presence in Amnon’s room would have been understood as an act of service to an ill brother, making David’s permission appear innocent. Amnon exploited the trust, purity, and household responsibilities that should have protected his sister. Gen 18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick!… so that I may eat from her hand.” Amnon’s request was designed to bring Tamar into private contact with him under the pretense of receiving care. What should have been an ordinary act of kindness became the means of betrayal. Sin often works through deception, twisting good relationships and ordinary duties into opportunities for evil. 1Ki 17:13 “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her… Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: David exercised royal authority in sending for his daughter, unaware that he was being drawn into Amnon’s deceit. Tamar’s place in the palace marked her as a virgin daughter of the king, honored and ordinarily protected within the royal household. Yet the royal court, weakened by David’s earlier sin and failure to administer justice in his own family, became the setting for grievous evil. 2Sa 9:5-7 So King David had him brought from the house of… “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother Amnon, David’s firstborn, used the trust attached to family relationships to carry out the counsel of Jonadab. David had no reason to suspect that a brother’s request for care concealed violent lust. Tamar obeyed her father and approached Amnon as a sister serving an apparently sick brother. 1Sa 17:17-18 One day Jesse said to his son David, “Take this… and prepare a meal for him.” Preparing food for an ill relative was a fitting act of kindness and service. Amnon turned Tamar’s obedience, skill, and compassion into an opportunity for sin. The command reveals how readily innocence may be exposed when authority is exercised without discernment, while Tamar’s obedience stands in sharp contrast to Amnon’s treachery. Gen 27:9-10 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats,… So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. Obeying King David’s instruction, Tamar entered Amnon’s private quarters to care for her half-brother. Her willingness to serve reflects both family duty and innocence; she had no reason to suspect that Amnon’s illness was a deception. The royal household, already under the shadow of God’s judgment upon David’s sin (2 Samuel 12:10–12), became the setting for grievous evil within David’s own family. 2Sa 4:5-7 Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite… She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked them. Tamar carefully prepared the food Amnon requested, performing a domestic act of kindness before him. Amnon watched her not as a brother receiving care, but as a man planning to exploit her trust. Her faithful service stands in painful contrast to his hidden wickedness, showing how sin can corrupt even the closest family relationships. Gen 18:6-8 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick!… Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, Tamar faithfully carried out the task entrusted to her by her father and requested by Amnon. Her service displayed the ordinary kindness expected within a royal household and between siblings. A meal should have been an occasion of care, fellowship, and safety, making Amnon’s coming treachery even more grievous. 1Sa 28:25 She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate.… but he refused to eat. Amnon’s refusal exposed that his supposed illness and request for Tamar’s cooking were only a means to bring her near. Rather than receiving her innocent service, he used the setting of hospitality to advance his sinful desire. The meal that should have strengthened family fellowship became the setting for betrayal within David’s own house. 1Ki 13:8-9 But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me… “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. As the king’s son, Amnon possessed authority sufficient to command the household servants, and his order deliberately removed every protection Tamar had. His demand reveals planning rather than a sudden loss of self-control. He sought privacy because he intended to act in darkness, abusing both his position and Tamar’s trust. Gen 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself… And everyone went out. The servants obeyed without knowing the evil Amnon intended, leaving Tamar alone and vulnerable. Their departure fulfilled the conditions Amnon had arranged for his assault and demonstrated how power can be used to conceal wrongdoing. The isolation of Tamar marks a painful turning point in the judgment foretold against David’s house after his own sin. Mat 9:25 After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in… Then Amnon said to Tamar, Amnon, David’s firstborn son, used his position as her older half-brother to direct Tamar into a situation she had no reason to fear. Tamar was the daughter of David and Maacah and the full sister of Absalom. The growing disorder in David’s household fulfilled the warning that violence and sorrow would arise within his family after David’s sin (2 Samuel 12:10–12). Gen 27:7 Bring me some game and prepare me a tasty dish to eat,… “Bring the food into the bedroom, Amnon’s request moved Tamar from the public setting of the royal household into the privacy of his chamber. What appeared to be a reasonable act of care for a sick brother became part of a deliberate deception. A place meant for rest and recovery became the setting for betrayal. 1Ki 1:15 So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom.… so that I may eat it from your hand.” Eating from Tamar’s hand suggested the dependence of a weak or ill person upon someone providing care. Amnon exploited the trust associated with family service and hospitality in order to isolate Tamar. His words concealed lust beneath the appearance of vulnerability. Gen 27:25 “Serve me,” said Isaac, “and let me eat some of my son’s game”… Tamar took the cakes she had made Tamar obeyed the request given through her father and carried out an ordinary domestic task with innocence. Her willingness to serve stands in sharp contrast to Amnon’s deceit and reveals that she bore no responsibility for the evil planned against her. 1Ki 17:13 “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her… and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. Tamar entered as a sister seeking to care for a brother, but Amnon intended violence. The account exposes the devastation caused when authority, family trust, and sexual desire are separated from God’s righteousness. 2Ki 11:2 But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah… And when she had brought them to him to eat, Tamar’s service fulfilled Amnon’s deceptive request and brought her alone into his chamber. What should have been an act of family care became the occasion for evil. Her isolation exposed the danger created when authority, privilege, and secrecy are used to conceal sin. 1Sa 25:18-19 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread… he took hold of her Amnon abandoned pretense and used physical force against his sister. His action violated Tamar’s trust, her dignity, and God’s command concerning sexual purity within the family (Leviticus 18:9). David’s household now bore the bitter fruit of the sword and disorder foretold after David’s sin (2 Samuel 12:10–11). Jdg 19:25-26 But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite… and said, “Come lie with me, my sister!” Amnon’s appeal joined lust with deliberate contempt for the bond God had established between brother and sister. The word “sister” intensified the wickedness of his demand rather than softening it. Sin often seeks to turn what God has made holy—family, trust, and authority—into an instrument of harm. Gen 39:7-12 After some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph… “No, my brother!” she cried. Tamar appealed to Amnon as a member of her own household and the royal family. His intended act would betray not only Tamar but also the responsibilities of a brother toward his sister. Her cry reveals the urgency of the danger and her desperate effort to stop him before irreversible harm was done. Gen 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention… “Do not violate me, Amnon’s desire had become violent and sinful. God’s law protected women from sexual assault and held the guilty accountable (Deuteronomy 22:25–27). Tamar rightly recognized that no personal desire could justify taking what God had forbidden. Gen 34:2-4 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince… for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Israel was called to live as a holy people under God’s covenant, distinct from the immoral practices of surrounding nations. Tamar’s appeal recalls the outrage over Dinah’s defilement, when Jacob’s sons said that such an act “should not be done” (Genesis 34:7). Amnon’s sin would bring dishonor upon David’s house and expose a grievous failure within the king’s family. Gen 34:7 When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned… Do not do this disgraceful thing! Sexual violence brings guilt before God and shame upon those who commit it, while the victim bears a burden she did not choose. Tamar sought to restrain Amnon by warning him of the lasting disgrace his sin would bring. His refusal would leave devastation in Tamar’s life, division among David’s sons, and consequences that would unfold throughout the kingdom. Jdg 20:6 Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces,… Where could I ever take my shame? Amnon’s assault would leave Tamar bearing public disgrace for a crime committed against her. In Israel, sexual violation brought deep personal and family dishonor, often damaging a woman’s future prospects for marriage and security. Tamar foresaw the lasting consequences that Amnon refused to consider. Jer 3:25 Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us.… And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Amnon would join those who defied God’s law through wickedness and moral rebellion. His sin would dishonor his sister, corrupt the royal household, and bring reproach upon David’s family. Amnon’s desire was not love but lawless self-indulgence. 2Sa 3:33 And the king sang this lament for Abner: Should Abner die… Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” Tamar sought to delay Amnon and appeal to proper authority rather than yield to violence. David could not rightly approve a marriage forbidden by God’s law, since they shared the same father (Leviticus 18:9). Her plea reveals desperation to escape immediate harm, while Amnon’s refusal shows his contempt for both Tamar and the righteousness required of Israel’s kingly house. 1Ki 2:17 Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you… But Amnon refused to listen to her, Amnon rejected Tamar’s truthful appeal and chose desire over the fear of God, family loyalty, and justice. His refusal recalls the hardened hearts of those who resist correction and silence the innocent rather than turn from sin. Pro 1:24-25 Because you refused my call, and no one took… and being stronger, Amnon used physical power to overpower his sister instead of using his position as David’s son to protect her. Strength entrusted by God is meant for service and defense of the vulnerable; abused strength becomes an instrument of oppression. Ecc 8:9 All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed… he violated her Amnon committed a violent sin against Tamar, transgressing God’s commands concerning sexual purity, incest, and justice for the afflicted. Her suffering brought disgrace and devastation into David’s household, exposing the continuing consequences of David’s earlier sin. Deu 22:25-27 But if the man encounters a betrothed woman… and lay with her. Amnon’s assault set in motion further tragedy: Tamar lived desolate in Absalom’s house, Absalom later killed Amnon, and division spread through David’s family and kingdom. Sin pursued without repentance never remains contained but wounds individuals, families, and communities. 2Sa 11:4 Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came… Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity Amnon’s violent reversal exposed that his desire for Tamar had never been covenantal love. Having dishonored his half-sister by force, he treated her not as a person made in God’s image but as an object of selfish desire. Sin did not satisfy him; it produced contempt, separation, and further cruelty. Cain’s unchecked anger likewise led from inward corruption to violence against his brother (Genesis 4:5–8). Psa 109:4-5 In return for my love they accuse me… that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. What Amnon called love was lust driven by possession and self-gratification. Genuine love seeks another’s good, acts with patience and kindness, and does not insist on its own way (1 Corinthians 13:4–7). Amnon’s hatred surpassed his former desire because lust turns bitter when it has gained what it sought and no longer needs to maintain its disguise. Deu 21:15-17 If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved… “Get up!” he said to her. Amnon spoke as though Tamar’s presence were an offense, though he alone had committed the offense against her. His command denied her dignity and intensified the trauma of his violence. Tamar had warned him that such wickedness would bring disgrace upon both of them and make him like one of the godless men in Israel (2 Samuel 13:12–13). Gen 19:15 At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying,… “Be gone!” Sending Tamar away left her publicly shamed and socially vulnerable. A royal daughter who had been violated could face a devastated future, particularly because marriage and family honor held great weight in Israelite society. Tamar recognized that this dismissal was worse than the assault because it abandoned her with its consequences (2 Samuel 13:16). Amnon’s rejection foreshadowed the injustice that would bring judgment and division upon David’s house. Gen 21:10-14 Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son… “No,” she replied, Tamar immediately resists Amnon’s attempt to cast her out. Her protest shows that she understands both the wickedness of his assault and the further injury that abandonment would bring. Though she has been overpowered, she refuses to accept his treatment as right or inevitable. Jdg 19:23-24 The owner of the house went out and said to them,… “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!” Sending Tamar away would leave her publicly dishonored, vulnerable, and without the protection of marriage or her father’s household. Her words do not lessen the evil of Amnon’s violence; they expose how he intends to compound it by treating her as disposable after satisfying his lust. Israel’s law condemned sexual violence and guarded the vulnerable, while Amnon’s conduct violates both God’s commands and the obligations of brotherhood. Deu 22:28-29 If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage… But he refused to listen to her. Amnon’s refusal reveals the hardening power of sinful desire. He had pursued Tamar under false pretenses, violated her, and now rejected her plea for mercy and justice. His cruelty deepened David’s family tragedy and prepared the way for Absalom’s anger, Amnon’s death, and the continuing consequences of David’s own earlier sin. Pro 1:24-25 Because you refused my call, and no one took… Instead, he called to his attendant and said, Amnon used the authority attached to his position as David’s son to command a household servant. The attendant became an unwilling participant in Amnon’s cruelty, carrying out an order that violated the protection Tamar should have received within the royal household. 1Sa 16:17 And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone…”… “Throw this woman out Amnon’s cold designation of Tamar reveals the depth of his rejection after violating her. She was his half-sister, a daughter of King David, and one who had come to serve him in innocence. His words denied both her family relationship and her dignity, intensifying the shame and abandonment forced upon her. 2Ki 9:33-35 “Throw her down!” yelled Jehu. So they threw her down… and bolt the door behind her!” The locked door publicly and privately severed Tamar from Amnon’s chamber while leaving her to bear the consequences of his sin. Amnon cast out the one he had wronged rather than accepting responsibility, seeking marriage, or pursuing justice. His action anticipates the grief, anger, and division that would spread through David’s family because sin concealed and unjudged does not remain contained. 2Ki 4:4-5 Then go inside, shut the door behind you… So Amnon’s attendant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Amnon’s contempt followed his violence, revealing that his claimed love was lust turned to hatred. Tamar, the innocent victim, was treated as though she were the offender. The locked door marked his refusal to accept responsibility and left her exposed to public shame. A royal servant carried out Amnon’s cruel command, showing how sin within David’s house had corrupted those around it. David’s anger did not bring the justice or protection Tamar needed, and the unresolved evil would soon deepen the division within his family. Gen 21:10-14 Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son… Now Tamar was wearing a robe of many colors, Tamar’s robe identified her as a daughter of the king and displayed the honor belonging to her unmarried status. Its splendor intensified the horror of her rejection: the garment that signified royal dignity was worn by a woman dishonored through no fault of her own. The account gives careful attention to Tamar’s status so that Amnon’s crime is seen not merely as private immorality but as violence against his sister, his father’s household, and the order God established. Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons… because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. The distinctive clothing set the king’s virgin daughters apart as women under the protection and authority of the royal household. Amnon’s actions violated that protection and brought disgrace upon David’s family. Tamar’s later tearing of the robe and placing ashes on her head expressed grief over a life altered by another’s sin. Her suffering exposes the devastating consequences of unchecked desire, concealed wrongdoing, and failed justice within the house of David. Psa 45:9-14 The daughters of kings are among your honored women;… And Tamar put ashes on her head Ashes marked profound mourning, humiliation, and calamity in Israel (Job 2:12; Jonah 3:6). Tamar’s grief arose from Amnon’s violent sin against her, not from any guilt of her own. Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from afar,… and tore her robe. The robe identified Tamar as a virgin daughter of the king (2 Samuel 13:18). Tearing it made visible the devastation Amnon had inflicted upon her life and future. Scripture records torn garments as a customary sign of overwhelming grief (Genesis 37:34). Job 1:20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head.… And putting her hand on her head, Tamar bore the posture of one overwhelmed by shame and sorrow. The royal household should have protected her, yet Amnon dishonored her and sent her away. Jer 2:37 Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands… she went away crying aloud. Tamar’s public lament exposed the injustice committed against her. Her cries anticipated the judgment that would fall upon David’s house because sin had been tolerated rather than rightly confronted. Est 4:1 When Mordecai learned of all that had happened,… Her brother Absalom said to her, Absalom, David’s third son, immediately assumed responsibility for Tamar after Amnon’s assault. As her full brother, sharing the same mother, Maacah, he had a particular obligation to defend her honor and welfare within David’s household. Gen 34:13 But because Shechem had defiled their sister Dinah,… “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Absalom understood from Tamar’s condition what Amnon had done. Amnon, David’s firstborn, had committed a grievous sin against his sister and against the holiness and order God required for Israel’s families. Deu 22:25-27 But if the man encounters a betrothed woman… Be quiet for now, my sister. Absalom urged Tamar not to make a public outcry at that moment. His counsel may have sought to shield her from further exposure, but it also left the crime unaddressed while he considered his response. David’s failure to administer justice would deepen the wound within the royal family. Exo 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” He is your brother. Amnon’s close relationship to Tamar made his sin especially evil. The one who should have protected her had abused the trust and safety of the family bond. His position as David’s eldest son did not lessen his guilt before God. Lev 18:11 You must not have sexual relations with the daughter… Do not take this thing to heart.” Absalom sought to comfort Tamar, though no human counsel could remove the shame, grief, and loss inflicted upon her. God’s law condemned such violence, and Tamar’s suffering called for righteous judgment rather than concealment alone. Gen 45:5 And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves… So Tamar lived as a desolate woman Tamar’s life was marked by the devastation of Amnon’s sin. Her prospects for marriage and her place in society were severely harmed, and she bore the consequences of a crime she had not committed. Gen 38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar,… in the house of her brother Absalom. Absalom provided Tamar a home and protection, yet her continued desolation remained a living testimony to David’s unresolved failure to judge Amnon. The injustice against Tamar would become part of the growing bitterness that later erupted in Absalom’s rebellion. 2Sa 14:24 But the king added, “He may return to his house,… When King David heard all this, David learned of Amnon’s rape of Tamar, an outrage against his daughter and a violation of God’s law. As father and king, he bore responsibility to protect the vulnerable and administer justice. The sin within his household unfolded under the shadow of Nathan’s warning that violence and calamity would arise from David’s own family because of his sin against Uriah. 2Sa 18:31-33 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king… he was furious. David’s anger was righteous, yet no discipline or legal judgment against Amnon is recorded. His failure to act left Tamar desolate and gave Absalom reason to take revenge into his own hands. David’s earlier moral failure may have weakened his willingness to confront Amnon, but personal guilt did not remove his duty to uphold justice. The unresolved evil became the beginning of deeper division, bloodshed, and rebellion within David’s house. 2Sa 12:5 David burned with anger against the man… And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, Absalom’s silence concealed neither forgiveness nor indifference. For two years he gave Amnon no open rebuke and offered no reconciliation, while the injury done to Tamar remained unresolved. David’s anger did not result in recorded discipline, leaving Absalom to brood over a matter that required righteous judgment. Unlike Christ’s silence before His accusers, which displayed submission to the Father’s redemptive will, Absalom’s silence prepared the way for personal vengeance. Gen 31:24 But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream… because he hated Amnon Absalom’s hatred arose from Amnon’s violence against Tamar and the disgrace brought upon their household. His concern for his sister was justified, but hatred became a consuming force that led him to murder rather than entrust justice to God and lawful authority. Scripture consistently warns that resentment left unchecked produces further sin, as seen in Cain’s murder of Abel and Joseph’s brothers’ cruelty toward him. Gen 37:4 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him… for violating his sister Tamar. Amnon’s assault was a grave sin against Tamar, against Absalom, and against God’s law, which forbade sexual relations with a sister and condemned such violence. Tamar was left desolate, while Amnon escaped immediate punishment. The injustice within David’s house fulfilled the painful consequences foretold after David’s sin, as violence and division now spread through his own family. Lev 20:17 If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his…
Absalom’s Revenge on AmnonAbsalom allowed the wound inflicted on Tamar and the injustice left unaddressed by David to remain unresolved. His outward silence concealed a settled purpose to kill Amnon, showing how bitterness, when nursed rather than brought into the light of God’s justice, grows into destructive violence. 2Sa 14:28 Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years.… when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor Sheepshearing brought workers, abundance, feasting, and celebration, much as it did in the account of Nabal (1 Samuel 25:4–8). Absalom used the joyful occasion to hide his deadly design. Baal-hazor lay near Ephraim, north of Jerusalem, giving him distance from David’s court and a setting where he could control the gathering. 1Sa 25:2-8 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel.… near Ephraim, The location placed the royal sons away from the immediate security and scrutiny of Jerusalem. Absalom’s later refuge with his grandfather Talmai in Geshur would show that his plan included not only Amnon’s death but also a means of escape. 1Sa 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from… he invited all the sons of the king. The broad invitation made Amnon’s attendance appear natural and prevented suspicion. Absalom exploited the bonds of family hospitality for revenge, turning a celebration of provision into a scene of judgment within David’s house. The consequences of David’s earlier sin continued to unfold, as Nathan had warned: “the sword shall never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 12:10). 1Ki 1:25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed… And he went to the king and said, Absalom approached David with the outward honor due to Israel’s king and his own father. Two years had passed since Amnon’s violation of Tamar, while Absalom had silently carried his anger and waited for an opportunity to act. 2Sa 14:33 So Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom… “Your servant has just hired shearers. Sheep shearing was a season of abundance, labor, feasting, and public celebration. Absalom’s ability to employ shearers reflected his standing within the royal family, while the occasion provided a natural reason for gathering David’s sons at Baal-hazor. 1Sa 25:7 Now I hear that it is time for shearing… Will the king and his servants please come with me?” Absalom presented the invitation as an act of filial respect and generous hospitality. Yet his apparent devotion concealed a settled purpose against Amnon, whose crime had gone unpunished by David. The family celebration would become the setting for judgment within David’s house, fulfilling the sorrowful consequences of David’s own sin. Est 5:4 “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king”… “No, my son,” the king replied, David speaks with the affection and authority of a father, even while his title reminds the reader that Absalom belongs to Israel’s royal household. The family’s private grief has become inseparable from the kingdom’s future. Luk 15:31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said… “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Absalom had invited David, his servants, and the king’s sons to a sheep-shearing feast at Baal-hazor. Such a royal visit required extensive provisions and security. David’s refusal appears to be a considerate response to the expense of hosting the court, not an awareness of Absalom’s hidden plan. 2Co 12:14 See, I am ready to come to you a third time… Although Absalom urged him, Absalom’s persistence advances the plan he had formed after waiting two years to avenge Tamar’s violation. The feast would gather Amnon and the other royal sons in a setting where Absalom could act without David’s immediate presence. Luk 24:29 But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is… he was not willing to go, David remained at Jerusalem, unaware that the unresolved sin within his household was about to bring further sorrow. The consequences announced after David’s sin with Bathsheba continued to unfold within his own family. Exo 4:13 But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” but gave him his blessing. David’s blessing granted Absalom approval to proceed with the celebration. In kindness, David released his son; yet that permission enabled Absalom to carry out the murder of Amnon and opened a darker chapter of division in David’s house.. Gen 28:1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him.… “If not,” said Absalom, After David declined Absalom’s invitation to attend the sheep-shearing feast, Absalom, whose name means “father of peace,” persisted in seeking permission for Amnon to come instead. Absalom, David’s third son and Tamar’s full brother, had concealed his anger for two years after Amnon violated Tamar. His apparent patience masked a settled plan for judgment and revenge. 1Ki 2:20 “I have just one small request of you,” she said.… “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” Calling Amnon “my brother” presents the request as a normal family invitation, though Absalom intended to isolate him at a festive gathering and kill him. Sheep-shearing marked a season of abundance, feasting, and hospitality, making it an unlikely setting for violence. Absalom used the occasion and his father’s trust to carry out what he had planned in secret. 1Sa 20:6 If your father misses me at all, tell him… “Why should he go with you?” the king asked. David recognized that no clear reason had been given for sending Amnon, perhaps sensing the unresolved tension within his household. Yet David did not investigate further or restrain his sons. Nathan had warned that the sword would not depart from David’s house because of his sin against Uriah, and the disorder now spreading through David’s family revealed the painful fulfillment of that judgment. 1Sa 20:27 But on the day after the New Moon, the second day,… But Absalom urged him, Absalom persisted until David yielded, concealing his settled purpose beneath the appearance of a family celebration. His invitation followed two years of silence after Amnon’s violation of Tamar, showing that Absalom’s anger had not faded. David’s failure to deal decisively with Amnon left room for Absalom to pursue vengeance in his own way. Luk 24:29 But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is… so the king sent Amnon David sent Amnon despite his earlier concern, unaware that Absalom had prepared the feast as the setting for his brother’s death. Amnon’s murder would fulfill Absalom’s plan for revenge, yet it would also deepen the violence and division already consuming David’s household. 1Ki 1:9-10 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves… and the rest of his sons. The gathering of David’s sons brought the royal family together at Baal-hazor, where Absalom intended Amnon alone to be struck down. Their presence made the murder public within the family and intensified the fear of a wider attack against David’s heirs. The event marked a decisive step toward the conflict that would eventually drive David from Jerusalem. 2Ch 11:23 Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons… Now Absalom had ordered his young men, Two years after Amnon’s assault on Tamar, Absalom’s silence gave way to a carefully arranged act of vengeance. As a king’s son, Absalom possessed servants who carried out his commands, and he used that authority to draw others into his sin. 2Sa 11:14-15 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab… “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, The sheep-shearing feast at Baal-hazor provided an appearance of family celebration while Absalom concealed his deadly purpose. Amnon’s intoxication left him unsuspecting and defenseless, exposing the false security of indulgence. 1Sa 25:36-37 When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was… and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Amnon had committed a grievous evil against Tamar, but Absalom did not act as a lawful judge or seek the justice God had appointed. Murder multiplied the violence already consuming David’s house, fulfilling Nathan’s warning that the sword would not depart from David’s family. 1Ki 2:29-34 It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled… Do not be afraid. Absalom strengthened his servants for an act they might otherwise have feared to commit. His assurance offered protection from earthly consequences, not freedom from guilt before God. Deu 31:6-8 Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified… Have I not commanded you? Absalom made his personal revenge the basis for obedience. Human authority never excuses disobedience to God’s command against murder. Jos 1:6-7 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give… Be courageous and valiant!” Words associated with faithful courage in battle were corrupted to enlist men in treachery and bloodshed. Absalom’s revenge brought no healing to Tamar or peace to David’s household, but opened the way for further rebellion, grief, and judgment. 2Sa 10:12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people… So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Absalom’s servants carried out the deliberate command to kill Amnon at the sheep-shearing feast. As a royal son, Absalom had attendants under his authority, and their obedience made them participants in his planned murder. Amnon’s death came two years after his rape of Tamar, Absalom’s full sister, while David had failed to bring public justice against Amnon. Absalom’s anger over Tamar’s disgrace was understandable, but he chose vengeance rather than entrusting judgment to God or submitting the matter to the king’s lawful authority. The murder revealed the growing violence within David’s house, fulfilling the judgment announced after David’s sin with Bathsheba: “the sword shall never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 12:10). 2Sa 11:15-17 “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle;”… Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule. The other royal sons fled in terror, apparently fearing that Absalom’s attack might extend beyond Amnon. What began as a family gathering became a scene of panic and bloodshed, exposing the deep disorder within David’s household. Their mules marked their royal standing, since such animals were commonly used by princes and prominent persons for travel. Absalom’s secret revenge not only killed Amnon but also fractured the king’s family and prepared the way for Absalom’s later rebellion against David. 1Ki 1:49 At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror… While they were on the way, The surviving sons of David were fleeing Absalom’s feast after Amnon’s murder. Their hurried departure reflected the terror and confusion unleashed by Absalom’s deliberate act of vengeance. 1Sa 4:12-13 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line… a report reached David: News arrived at the palace before the royal sons themselves could return. In a crisis, early reports often carried incomplete or distorted information, yet David had reason to fear the worst because violence and division had already taken root within his household. 2Sa 18:31-32 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king… “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; The report greatly overstated Absalom’s action. Absalom had ordered the death of Amnon alone, fulfilling his long-held plan to avenge Tamar’s violation. Still, the murder exposed a deeper revolt of heart against David’s authority and foreshadowed Absalom’s later rebellion. Job 1:18-19 While he was still speaking, another messenger came… not one of them is left!” The false report intensified David’s grief by presenting the loss as total. Only Amnon had been killed, but the terror within David’s family revealed the continuing consequences of his earlier sin, as Nathan had warned that the sword would not depart from his house. Jos 10:20-21 So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict… Then the king stood up, David rose in sudden anguish at the report that Absalom had killed all the king’s sons. The news appeared to confirm the collapse of his household under the discipline foretold after his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:10–12). 2Sa 12:20 Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed… tore his clothes, Tearing garments publicly marked overwhelming grief and horror. David believed that every one of his sons had been murdered, and the royal family seemed devastated in a single act of violence. 2Sa 1:11 Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them… and lay down on the ground. David’s posture revealed helpless sorrow before God. The king who had ruled Israel with strength could not prevent the consequences of sin, hatred, and revenge from tearing through his own house. 2Sa 12:16 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted… And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. The servants joined David’s mourning, sharing the grief of the royal household and honoring their king. Their response reflects the communal character of mourning in Israel, where tragedy affecting the king also touched the nation. 2Ki 18:37 Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator,… But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: Jonadab was David’s nephew and therefore part of the royal household. His earlier counsel to Amnon had helped arrange Tamar’s violation, revealing a crafty and morally corrupt character (2 Samuel 13:3–5). His knowledge of Absalom’s intentions shows that the court was not unaware of the deep hostility growing within David’s family. 1Ch 20:7 and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s… “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, Jonadab addressed David with outward respect while bringing clarity to the false report. The announcement that all the king’s sons had been killed would have threatened both David personally and the stability of the kingdom. David’s household had become a place of fear and grief, fulfilling Nathan’s warning that violence would not depart from David’s house (2 Samuel 12:10). 2Ki 11:1-3 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son… for only Amnon is dead. Amnon’s death was deliberate, not an indiscriminate attack upon the royal family. As David’s firstborn son, Amnon stood prominently in the line of succession, but his abuse of Tamar had exposed his contempt for righteousness and family honor. Absalom acted as Tamar’s brother and defender, though he took vengeance into his own hands rather than seeking justice through lawful authority. 2Sa 4:7 They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying… In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. Absalom had concealed his anger for two years while preparing to kill Amnon (2 Samuel 13:22–29). Amnon’s sin against Tamar had produced continuing bitterness, division, and bloodshed within David’s family. David’s failure to deal decisively with Amnon’s wickedness left room for Absalom’s resentment to harden into murder. The events demonstrate how unaddressed sin spreads its consequences through a household and how human vengeance deepens sorrow rather than restoring peace. Gen 34:5-7 Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah… So now, my lord the king, Jonadab addresses David with the honor due to Israel’s anointed king, even while bringing news from within the royal household. The formality of his words contrasts with the disorder and violence consuming David’s family. 1Sa 24:8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave,… do not take to heart the report David had received the devastating report that Absalom had killed all his brothers, and he responded with grief as though his entire household had been destroyed. Jonadab urges him not to surrender to the first report before its truth is established. 2Ki 19:6 who replied, “Tell your master that this is what the LORD… that all the sons of the king are dead. The false report revealed how quickly Absalom’s planned attack had produced fear and confusion. The apparent loss of every royal son would have meant both profound personal sorrow for David and a crisis for the future of his house. 1Sa 4:17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled… Only Amnon is dead.” Amnon alone had been killed at Absalom’s command, fulfilling the revenge Absalom had harbored since Amnon violated Tamar. Amnon’s death brought judgment upon grievous sin, yet Absalom’s murder opened a deeper wound in David’s family and began the course of rebellion that would threaten the kingdom. 2Sa 14:6-7 And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting…
Absalom Flees to GeshurAbsalom escaped immediately after arranging Amnon’s murder at Baal-hazor. His revenge for Tamar’s violation brought further bloodshed into David’s house, fulfilling Nathan’s warning that the sword would not depart from David’s family. Absalom’s flight delayed judgment but did not remove his guilt, and it began the separation that would later lead to his open rebellion against David. 1Ki 2:28-29 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah… When the young man standing watch looked up, A watchman served as an early warning for the royal household, observing roads and surrounding heights for approaching travelers or danger. In the confusion following Amnon’s death, the watchman’s report became especially urgent because David had first received the alarming and inaccurate message that all his sons had been killed. Ezk 33:2-7 “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them:… he saw many people coming down the road west of him, The approaching group was David’s surviving sons and their attendants returning from the sheep-shearing feast. Their arrival would disprove the report of a massacre while confirming the death of Amnon alone. The visible movement of many people also reflects the disorder and grief caused by Absalom’s calculated act. 2Ki 9:17-18 Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel… along the side of the hill. The hill country surrounding Jerusalem provided natural lookout points and travel routes. The watchman’s elevated position enabled him to identify movement before the group reached the palace, giving David time to learn what had occurred. 1Sa 14:4-5 Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass.… And the watchman went and reported to the king, The watchman faithfully brought his observation to David, whose grief had overwhelmed him after hearing of Amnon’s supposed death. Reliable testimony was necessary to replace rumor with truth and to bring clarity to the king’s troubled household. 2Sa 18:24-27 Now David was sitting between the two gates… “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, The report identified the travelers by their route as they approached the city. Their presence signaled that the king’s sons were returning, though Absalom was absent because he had already fled from the consequences of his crime. Isa 15:5 My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee… along the side of the hill.” The watchman’s careful report prepared David for the arrival of his sons. The scene joins grief, judgment, and mercy: Amnon’s sin had led to death, Absalom’s vengeance had divided the family, yet the other sons were preserved. 1Sa 23:26-28 Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain… So Jonadab said to the king, Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, stood near the royal household and understood its members and tensions. He had earlier devised the plan that enabled Amnon to violate Tamar, making his counsel morally compromised even when his assessment of events proved accurate. David received news of violence within the family already under the shadow of Nathan’s warning that the sword would not depart from his house. 2Sa 12:1-7 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived,… “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! The arrival of David’s sons confirmed that Absalom had not ordered a massacre but had singled out Amnon, the man who had dishonored Tamar. Their return brought visible proof of the grief and disorder that Absalom’s vengeance had unleashed. Amnon’s death fulfilled the consequences set in motion by his sin, David’s failure to administer justice, and Absalom’s determination to act in his sister’s defense. 2Ki 10:13-14 Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah… It is just as your servant said.” Jonadab’s report relieved David’s fear that all his sons had been killed, yet it could not lessen the loss of Amnon or heal the division in the royal family. Human schemes, sinful desires, and delayed justice had produced sorrow exactly as God had warned David after his sin with Bathsheba. The Lord’s discipline did not cancel His covenant with David, but it exposed the devastating reach of sin within those closest to him. 2Ki 7:16-20 Then the people went out and plundered the camp…… And as he finished speaking, Jonadab’s report was immediately confirmed when David’s surviving sons arrived from Absalom’s feast. The feared slaughter of all the royal heirs had not occurred, yet Amnon’s death brought devastating judgment into David’s household. Num 16:31 As soon as Moses had finished saying all this,… the sons of the king came in, wailing loudly. The princes returned in terror and grief after witnessing Absalom’s planned murder of Amnon. Their mourning revealed the shattering of peace within David’s family and the continuing fulfillment of Nathan’s warning that the sword would not depart from David’s house. Mrk 5:38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader… Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly. David mourned not only the loss of Amnon but also the painful consequences of sin, resentment, and neglected justice within his family. The servants shared the king’s grief, as the tragedy in the royal house became a sorrow felt throughout the court. 2Sa 1:11-12 Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them… Now Absalom fled Absalom escaped after arranging Amnon’s murder at Baal-hazor, avenging Tamar’s violation but taking judgment into his own hands. David’s household continued to suffer the consequences foretold by Nathan: violence rose from within his own family, and the sword did not depart from his house. 1Ki 2:28-30 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah… and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. Geshur was a small Aramean kingdom northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Talmai was Absalom’s maternal grandfather, since Absalom’s mother Maacah was Talmai’s daughter. David’s marriage alliance with Geshur had provided political advantage, but it also gave Absalom a secure foreign refuge beyond David’s immediate authority. Absalom remained there for three years, separated from Jerusalem while the injury within David’s family remained unresolved. 2Sa 3:3 his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal… But David mourned for his son every day. David grieved both for Amnon, who had been killed, and for Absalom, who had become an exile through his own sin. His fatherly love did not erase Absalom’s guilt, yet neither did Absalom’s guilt remove David’s sorrow. The divided family foreshadowed the deeper division that Absalom would later bring upon David’s kingdom. 2Sa 18:33 The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate… After Absalom had fled Absalom fled after arranging Amnon’s murder in retaliation for Tamar’s violation. Although Amnon’s sin had gone unpunished by David, Absalom’s private vengeance brought further bloodshed into a household already marked by David’s earlier sins. Flight acknowledged that he could not remain in Jerusalem after killing the king’s eldest son. 2Sa 14:13 The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this… and gone to Geshur, Geshur was an Aramean kingdom northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Absalom’s mother, Maacah, was the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, so Absalom found protection among his maternal relatives. The refuge lay beyond David’s immediate authority while remaining close enough for the conflict within David’s family to remain unresolved. 2Sa 14:32 “Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask:… he stayed there three years. Absalom’s long exile gave David time to mourn Amnon and to grieve the loss of Absalom as well. Yet neither justice nor reconciliation was completed during those years. Absalom would return to Jerusalem, but the unresolved wounds of Tamar’s suffering, Amnon’s murder, and David’s weakness would eventually contribute to a greater rebellion against the king. 1Ki 2:38-40 “The sentence is fair,” Shimei replied. “Your servant…”… And King David longed to go to Absalom, Absalom had fled to Geshur after killing Amnon and remained there beyond David’s reach. David grieved both the loss of Amnon and the estrangement of Absalom. His love for his son did not excuse Absalom’s murder, yet it revealed the sorrow of a father divided between justice and mercy. The continuing fracture in David’s household fulfilled Nathan’s warning that violence would not depart from David’s house because of his sin (2 Samuel 12:10–12). David’s desire for reconciliation anticipates the biblical call to seek restoration where repentance and truth make it possible. 2Sa 14:1 Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart… for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death. Time had softened the first anguish of Amnon’s death, though it could not remove the consequences of the family’s sin. Having passed through mourning, David’s attention turned more fully toward Absalom, his absent and guilty son. God’s grace does not deny the seriousness of sin or its painful results, but He remains compassionate toward those who have wandered far from Him. 2Sa 12:23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast?… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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