1-14 Amnon loving Tamar, by Jonadab's counsel feigning himself sick, ravishes her. 15-18 He hates her, and shamefully turns her away 19-22 Absalom entertains her, and conceals his purpose 23-30 At a sheep-shearing among all the king's sons, he kills Amnon 31-36 David grieving at the news, is comforted by Jonadab 37-39 Absalom flies to Talmai at Geshur

A.M. 2972 B.C. 1032 A. Ex. Is. 459
Absalom 2Sa 3:2,3 1Ch 3:2

a fair sister 2Sa 11:2 Ge 6:2 39:6,7 Pr 6:25 31:30

Tamar 2Sa 14:27 1Ch 3:9

loved her 2Sa 13:15 Ge 29:18,20 34:3 1Ki 11:1

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.

vexed 1Ki 21:4 So 5:8 2Co 7:10

Amnon, etc. [heb] it was marvellous, or hidden, in the eyes of Amnon.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

a friend Ge 38:1,2 Jud 14:20 14:20 Es 5:10,14 6:13 Pr 19:6

Shimeah 2Sa 13:32 1Sa 16:9

Shimeah
subtil man 2Sa 14:2,19,20 Ge 3:1 Jer 4:22 1Co 3:19 Jas 3:15

4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

Why art 1Ki 21:7 Es 5:13,14 Lu 12:32

lean [heb] thin
from day to day [heb] morning by morning
I love Isa 3:9 Jer 8:12 Mic 7:3

my brother Le 18:9 20:17

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.

Lay thee 2Sa 16:21-23 17:1-4 Ps 50:18,19 Pr 19:27 Mr 6:24,25 Ac 23:15

6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

make me Ge 18:6 Mt 13:33

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

she took
Dr. Russell says, `The Eastern ladies often wash their own hands, prepare cakes, pastry, etc. in their apartments; and some few particular dishes are cooked by themselves, but not in their apartments: on such occasions, they go to some room near the kitchen.'

flour. or, paste.
and made cakes. Rather, as Mr. Parrhurst renders, `and tossed it (wattelabbaiv) in his sight, and dressed the {tossed cakes} (halleveevoth).' This will receive illustration from the account which Mr. Jackson gives of the Arabian manner of kneading and baking. `They have a small place built with clay, between two and three feet high, having a hole at the bottom for the convenience of drawing out the ashes, something similar to that of a brick-kiln. The oven is usually about fifteen inches wide at top, and gradually grows wider to the bottom. It is heated with wood; and when sufficiently hot, and perfectly clear from smoke, having nothing but clear embers at bottom, which continue to reflect great heat, they prepare the dough in a large bowl, and mould the cakes to the desired size on a board or stone placed near the oven. After they have kneaded the cake to a proper consistency, they pat it a little, then {toss it about} with great dexterity in one hand till it is as thin as they choose to make it. They then wet one side of it with water, at the same time wetting the hand and arm with which they put it into the oven.'

9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

And Ammon Ge 45:1 Jud 3:19 Joh 3:20

10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

Come lie Ge 39:11,12

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.

Come lie Ge 39:11,12

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.

force me [heb] humble me Ge 34:2 De 22:29

no such thing ought [heb] it ought not so Le 18:9,11 20:17

folly Ge 34:7 Jud 19:23 20:6 Pr 5:22,23 7:7

13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

Now therefore Ge 19:8 Jud 19:24

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

forced her 2Sa 12:11 De 22:25-27 Jud 20:5 Es 7:8

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.

hated her Eze 23:17

exceedingly [heb] with great hatred greatly

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.

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.

18 And she had a garment of divers colors 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.

a garment Ge 37:3,32 Jud 5:30 Ps 45:13,14

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

put ashes 2Sa 1:2 Jos 7:6 Job 2:12 42:6

laid her Jer 2:37

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.

Amnon [heb] Aminon
but hold Pr 26:24 Ro 12:19

regard not [heb] set not thine heart on
desolate [heb] and desolate Ge 34:2 46:15

21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

he was very wroth. The Septuagint and Vulgate add, () `But he would not grieve the soul of Amnon his son, for he loved him because he was his first-born.' The same addition is found in Josephus' and it is probable that it once formed a part of the Hebrew text. 2Sa 3:28,29 12:5,10 Ge 34:7 1Sa 2:22-25,29 Ps 101:8

22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

spake Le 19:17,18 Pr 25:9 Mt 18:15

neither good Ge 24:50 31:24,29

hated Le 19:17,18 Pr 10:18 26:24 27:4-6 Ec 7:9 Eph 4:26,31 1Jo 3:15

23 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.

A.M. 2974 B.C. 1030 An. Ex. Is 461.
sheep-shearers Ge 38:12,13 1Sa 25:2,4,36 2Ki 3:4 2Ch 26:10

invited 1Ki 1:9,19,25

24 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.

let the king 2Sa 11:8-15 Ps 12:2 55:21 Jer 41:6,7

25 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.

pressed Ge 19:2,3 Jud 19:7-10 Lu 14:23 24:29 Ac 16:15

blessed 2Sa 14:22 Ru 2:4

26 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?

let my brother He urged this with the more plausibility because Amnon was the first-born, and presumptive heir to the crown; and he had dissembled his resentment so long and so well that he was not suspected. 2Sa 3:27 11:13-15 20:9 Ps 55:21

27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

Absalom Pr 26:24-26

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.

commanded 2Sa 11:15 Ex 1:16,17 1Sa 22:17,18 Ac 5:29

heart is merry 2Sa 11:13 Ge 9:21 19:32-35 Jud 19:6,9,22 Ru 3:7 1Sa 25:36-38 1Ki 20:16 Es 1:10 Ps 104:15 Ec 9:7 10:19 Da 5:2-6,30 Na 1:10 Lu 21:34

fear not Nu 22:16,17 1Sa 28:10,13

have not I. or, Will you not, since I have, etc. Jos 1:9

valiant [heb] sons of valour

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.

servants 1Sa 22:18,19 1Ki 21:11-13 2Ki 1:9-12 Pr 29:12 Mic 7:3

gat him up [heb] rode
mule 2Sa 18:9 Ge 36:24 Le 19:19 1Ki 1:33

30 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.

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

arose 2Sa 12:16 Ge 37:29,34 Jos 7:6 Job 1:20

all his servants 2Sa 1:11 3:31

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.

Jonadab 2Sa 13:3-5

Shimeah 1Sa 16:9

Shammah
David's brother This was a very bad man: he had given his cousin Amnon the most detestable advice; and here speaks coolly of a most bloody tragedy of which he had been the cause.

appointment [heb] mouth
determined. or, settled Ge 27:41 Ps 7:14 Pr 24:11,12

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.

let not my lord 2Sa 19:19

34 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.

Absalom fled 2Sa 13:38 Ge 4:8-14 Pr 28:17 Am 5:19

35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

as they servant said [heb] according to the word of thy servant

36 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.

very sore
[heb] with a great weeping greatly 2Sa 13:15 12:21 18:33

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

Absalom fled. As Absalom had committed wilful murder, he could not avail himself of a city of refuge; but he went to Talmai, king of Geshur, his maternal grandfather.

Talmai 2Sa 3:3 1Ch 3:2

Ammihud. or, Ammihur

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

A.M. 2974-2977 B.C. 1030-1027 An. Ex. Is. 461-464
Geshur This was the {Geshur} lying between Philistia and Egypt Jos 13:13 1Sa 27:8

but another in Syria; probably the same as that beyond Jordan, whose inhabitants are joined with those of Maachathi De 3:14 Jos 12:5 2Sa 14:23,32 15:8

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

the soul of Ge 31:30 De 28:32 Php 2:26

longed. or, was consumed Ps 84:2 119:20

comforted 2Sa 12:23 Ge 24:67 37:35 38:12