Second Samuel 13:21

The Bible says in Second Samuel 13:21, “But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.” David heard that his daughter Tamar had been raped by his son Amnon. David heard that Tamar had isolated herself and removed herself from society into her brother Absalom’s home. David heard that now his family was split by shame and hatred and the desire for revenge. No wonder that he was very angry.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 13:22-39, “And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.[23] And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.[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.[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.[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?[27] But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.[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.[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.[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.[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.[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.[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.[35] And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.[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.[37] But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.[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.” This passage explains itself really well. David suffered greatly through his children. That can happen in life. The first child born into the world, named Cain, became the first murderer. In this incident David’s son, Absalom, murders his half-brother, Amnon. One thing that this passage shows is that David loved all of his children, no matter what they did. Even though Absalom fled, David wanted to go get him to return. Notice what is said at the end of verse thirty-five now that Amnon is dead. David “was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.” Something similar was said about David after his first son with Bathsheba had died as an infant. Perhaps because David had been a man of war and had often seen death up close, that David understood death. He accepted death as a part of life. Once someone dies, it is over. It is time to move on, no matter how that person died. God took them. They are no longer part of this world. Hopefully, they had true faith in the Lord and are now with Him. But have your time of mourning, and then get on with life. You are not dead. You are alive, therefore, live.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 14:1-23, “Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.[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:[3] And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.[4] And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.[5] And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.[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.[7] And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.[8] And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.[9] And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.[10] And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.[11] Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.[12] Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.[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.[14] For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.[15] Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.[16] For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.[17] Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.[18] Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.[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:[20] To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.[21] And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.[22] And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.[23] So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.” This is a long story that tells us how much Absalom was a part of David’s life. David constantly had issues with Absalom and trouble because of Absalom. Evidently, Absalom had a lot of ability, a lot of determination, and was a gifted young man. But unfortunately, it does not appear that he was a believer. We do not see Absalom praying to the Lord or asking the Lord to guide him like we see in the life of David. O how much children can cause sorrow and trouble for godly parents!

The Bible says in Second Samuel 14:24-33, “And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.[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.[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.[27] And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.[28] So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.[29] Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.[30] Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.[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.” We notice that Absalom named his own daughter Tamar after his sister who had been raped and humiliated by Amnon. That terrible event started this entire downward spiral that lasted a lifetime. Once again we see that Absalom is only characterized by his physical and human attributes. And we also see more negative aspects to Absalom’s character in the way that Absalom was determined to get Job’s attention and to get Job to do what Absalom wanted. Anyone who will destroy someone’s private property to get what he wants is not a good person.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 15:1-3, “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.[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.[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.” What we see here is that Absalom is very ambitious and very aggressive at taking power and authority to himself. In effect Absalom is trying to take over the duties of the king. Absalom is like many other people have been over the centuries who have become involved in politics: the lust for power. They become intoxicated by this lust. They become willing to tell any lie and do any mischief in order to gain that power. That is why the Bible says in First John that there are already many antichrists. It started with Nimrod and the first Babylonian kingdom. It will end with the antichrist himself. But his time will be short because Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.

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