[Brother V]

2 Samuel 13-15

Today we get:

• Amnon rapes Tamar
• Absalom has Amnon killed
• The wise woman schools David
• Absalom attempts a coup

2 Samuel 13

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

Amnon loves his half sister Tamar. Amnon's mother was Ahinoam, Tamar's mother was Maachah.

2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.

He had butterflies in his stomach anytime she was around. He liked her so much, that he couldn't do anything when she was around.

Amnon confides in his buddy Jonadab, that he has the hots for his sister.

5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

So Amnon does as Jonadab recommends, David sends Tamar to make him lunch.

Tamar goes and makes the lunch, and Amnon sends everyone out of his room.

11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

This ticked off Amnon. Being turned down by the woman who you think you love is always hurtful.

14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

He raped his sister.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

What post is it where someone said "hate means loves less". In this verse, does hate mean "loves less"?

Let's read it with loves less...

15Then Amnon loved less her exceedingly; so that the less love wherewith he loved less her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

No, hatred means hatred.

16 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

Sending her away is worse than the rape. Remember, when you take a virgin, you should keep it.

17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

He kicked her out, and locked the door. It's sad when young love goes bad.

18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

She was wearing traditional virgin clothes that she had to take off. No more would she be able to wear the divers colours. She would be stuck with the mono-colours of de-virgin-ed women.

20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

Absalom tells her to forget about it, and not to tell anyone, he's the big brother, he'll take care of it.

David heard about it, and was pissed!

Absalom went for two years without talking to his brother.

Absalom then holds a sheep shearing party, and invites the king and all his brothers.

David says no, he won't go, and neither will the boys, but then relents and lets all his sons go.

28 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.

So, when Amnon is drunk, Absalom is going to have his men kill him.

29 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.

The kings boys then take off crazily on their mules.

A messenger makes it back to David and tells him that Absalom has killed ALL of David's boys.

31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

Ripping off your clothes is a sign of despair.

32 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.

Same Jonadab as before, he didn't quite mention to David that it was his idea for the faking being sick and deflowering his sister.

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 Amnon only is dead.

Absalom flees, and the rest of the kings sons show up back in town.

38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

Once again we see how David copes. He only cares about things he can change, and doesn't bother mourning for a long time over the dead ones. He'd rather spend time with his sons that are alive, then spend time wishing he was spending time with things that you can't have.

2 Samuel 14

1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

Joab is such a wise old general.

2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

So the wise woman gets an audience with David and she tells a story (purportedly HER story) about having two sons and one kills the other.

6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

Then she claims her family wants to stone the surviving brother, but she doesn't want that to happen, because if it does, then the family name will die out (and that's a bad thing).

David then pardons the surviving son, and says that anyone who kills him, will have to answer to David.


13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.

Ah, the lady then says, it's nice of you to do this for me, but why won't you do it for yourself.

19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:

David realizes that this is something Joab would do.

Why does this remind me of the Nathan story from the other day? It seems no one will tell the king to his face that he is doing wrong, they make up some grand similar story, and have the king come to judgment, then tell the king that he is the guilty one, or that the story deals with the king.

21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

Praise Jesus, the family will be united again!

Joab fetches Absalom, but he doesn't get to see the king, now lets learn about Absalom.

25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

He's a pretty boy.

26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

Polled means cut off, once a year, he'd shave his head.

A shekel was 8.33 grams, he had 200 shekels (1666 grams) of hair. He had about 3.67 pounds of hair cut off every year.

Absalom wanted to see the king, so he sent for Joab, but Joab wouldn't go, so he sent for him again, and he wouldn't go.

To get Joab's attention, he burned down his barley field.

31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

33 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

Finally, after several years, father and son see each other again.

2 Samuel 15

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

He was putting together a little posse.

2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

So Absalom sets up court just by the gate.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

Absalom claims that the king is busy.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Absalom turned the people to him, by claiming the king was too busy to pass any judgements.

Didn't David set up his sons as chief rulers?

2 Samuel 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

Absalom lied to the people.

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

For forty years, Absalom was turning the people away from the king.

David let him go to Hebron.

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

David must've been rather clueless for the past 40 years.

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

So David and the remaining few loyal people leave.

David goes into exile.

30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

They feared for their life. Remember, David always lived in the now. So, his eminent death at the hand of his son, really worried him.

31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

This is an example of imprecatory prayer. David prays not for good for him, but bad for others. That's imprecatory prayer.

David sends his buddy Hushai, to go ask Absalom if he can help.

So what have we learned today?

1. Don't rape your sister, if you do, your brother will probably kill you.
2. If your son runs away, let him stay gone, otherwise, it'll probably just be a headache for you later.
3. If you do let your son come back, don't let him out of his house.

YIC
V

[Ahimaaz Smith]

The Family Business

Tamar had a point, if Amnon wanted to have sex with her, he really should have asked their Dad for her hand in marriage first. However, I can see Amnon’s point of view, too—Tamar was obviously a slut, being pimped out by Uncle Jonadab, or she would not have been traipsing around unescorted in the men's chambers. If you’re a Prince of Israel, you can hardly be expected to marry a whore like Tamar, however high her birth, even if you do take her virginity. Nevertheless, you should to pay up, lest the pimp’s enforcer (Absalom) smite you at the next family barbecue.

David’s kindly nature shines throughout this whole, sorry episode. If I had been David, I would have been royally furious with Absalom, because, with Amnon dead, I could never have collected the 50 shekels owed to me under Deuteronomy 22:28-29.

My Three Sons

And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar.... 2 Samuel 14:27

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.... 2 Samuel 18:18

We are not told how or why, but all three of Absalom’s sons must have died. They probably died working in the family business, roughing up deadbeat johns for their Dad and Jonadab. Perhaps if Absalom had not been so quick to slay Amnon, then Amnon would have done his brotherly duty and slept with Absalom's wife to continue the family name, as required by Deuteronomy 25:5. At least, it's something to think about before you kill your brother.

Absalom eventually got out of the Mafia goon business (probably because he didn’t have any more sons to act as muscle) and set up shop as the ancient Hebrew version of The People’s Court, depriving his father David of the lucrative opportunities for graft that came with judicial service in ancient Israel.

The Long First Year of King David

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. 2 Samuel 15:7

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 2 Samuel 5:4

So Absalom pretty much took over the judicial system as soon as David was anointed king. Who would have thought that all of the events between David’s coronation in 2 Samuel 5 and Absalom’s usurpation in 2 Samuel 15 (moving the ark, dancing before the Lord, getting rid of Michal, slaying Philistines and Zobahites and Syrians and Ammonites, building a cedar house, tarrying at Jerusalem, impregnating Bathsheba, offing Uriah, waiting for his son with Bathsheba’s to be born and die, impregnating Bathsheba again, waiting for his second son with Bathsheba to be born, then waiting three years for Absalom to return from the land of Geshur), would take less than one year? This shows just how much you can accomplish if you have the Lord on your side.

[Ahimaaz Smith]

I forgot to mention, 2 Samuel 13 is always very popular with the boys and girls in the pre-K Sunday School classes that I teach. Praise God! Even at such a young age, the children of Landover Baptist are growing wise in the ways of the Lord.

[Ahimaaz Smith]

I can't believe I didn't mention this, but in 2 Samuel 15:27, we are introduced to the great hero of the Bible, at least in my humble opinion (and I don't mean Jonathan the son of Abiathar, though he was pretty cool, too).

[Brother V]

Originally Posted by Ahimaaz Smith

I can't believe I didn't mention this, but in 2 Samuel 15:27, we are introduced to the great hero of the Bible, at least in my humble opinion (and I don't mean Jonathan the son of Abiathar, though he was pretty cool, too).

Zadok, no we are introduced to him in 2 Samuel 8:17.

Who else could it be???

V

[Brother Temperance]

Originally Posted by Brother V

2 Samuel 13-15

18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

She was wearing traditional virgin clothes that she had to take off. No more would she be able to wear the divers colours. She would be stuck with the mono-colours of de-virgin-ed women.

Wait a second...
Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

Was Joseph's famous coat of many colours essentially just some clothes his daddy made him that let everyone know he was a total virgin?