2 Samuel 13
September 27, 2017
2 Samuel 13
Shawn Bumpers / General
2 Samuel
Introduction:
In chapter 11, David stayed back in Jerusalem.
He saw Bathsheba.
And then in chapter 12, the prophet Nathan confronted David.
In this chapter, Nathan’s prophecy continues to come true.
2 Samuel 12:9–12 NKJV
Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
As for chapter 13, David’s daughter by his wife Maacah is violated and Amnon, David’s son is killed.
v1-14
Absalom is mentioned first because the next group of chapters focus on what we might call the “David and Absalom story.”
Absalom was David’s son by Maacah and Tamar was Absalom’s full sister.
2 Samuel 13:13 NKJV
And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”
But Amnon was the oldest of David’s sons and the apparent heir to the throne.
And he developed a desire for Tamar.
Matthew 5:27–30 NKJV
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Proverbs 25:26 NKJV
A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.
So, Jonadab devises a scheme for Amnon.
Amnon would pretend to be ill, with a lack of appetite.
So, with David’s permission, Tamar went to Amnon and baked the special cakes for Amnon, who asked everyone to leave so he could enjoy the meal with his sister.
If you look at verse 6, the word “cake” is Levivot and it means “heart shaped dumplings.
Song of Solomon 4:9 NIV
You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
v15-22
Amnon thought he loved Tamar.
First he was distressed over her in vv. 1–2, and then he became ill with longing for her in verse 2 even to the point of looking haggard in verse 4.
She went to the home of her brother Absalom.
Absolom apparently knew that Tamar had been called to care for the falsely ill Amnon.
Now, verse 21 says King David heard about it and was very angry.
But that is all it says.
v23-36
Absalom waited for 2 years to act against Amnon.
Absalom had land and flocks at Baal Hazor … that was about 14 miles north of Jerusalem.
Absalom asked his father to come to the feast and bring his officials with him.
2 years had passed since the Amnon and Tamar incident, but during those two years, Absalom had perfected his plan and made arrangements for escape.
His father David had arranged for the murder of Uriah the Hittite and had survived, so why shouldn’t his son Absalom survive?
Word traveled faster than the mules David’s sons were riding on.
A messenger arrived announcing that all the king’s sons had been slain.
“The problem with revenge is that it doesn’t really solve any problems and eventually turns around and hurts the perpetrator. In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior.”
v37-39
Twice we’re told that Absalom fled.
We’re told once in verse 34 and then in verse 37.
Back in Jerusalem, David mourned over his firstborn son Amnon.
However, Absalom in Geshur was now plotting how he could take the kingdom away from his father.
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