The House Caves In
The House Caves In
2 Samuel 13:20-39
20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house. 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.
23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house. 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.
23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
Sleepwalking Through Life
When Tamar leaves Amnon in devastation, her protective big brother, Absalom, enters the picture. Absalom tenderly comforts his sister, and brings her into his own home; one day he will name his own little girl “Tamar.” Absalom is confident that their father David will deal with this outrageous evil, and so are we. After all, we have seen David deal swift, decisive justice to people like the Amalekite messenger and Ish-bosheth’s assassins. But though David is “very angry,” he does nothing. He never punishes Amnon or cares for Tamar.
David seems to sleepwalk through these next chapters: he doesn’t fight, he can’t make a decision, he never knows what’s going on in his own house. He’s distant, unengaged, passive, ineffective. All his strength, vitality, and interest are sapped. We can’t avoid the conclusion that David’s long season of private sin changed him. God forgave him, as we’ve seen, but his leadership is compromised. He’s lost his moral authority. He can’t deal with Amnon’s evil with his own past on his mind. And when David’s sin sidelines him, it leaves the door ajar for a line of scoundrels to slink in, like Absalom, Sheba, and Adonijah. One of 2 Samuel’s great lessons is the beauty of a clean conscience: “the wicked flee when no pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion (Prov 28:1).” I want to keep my conscience as clear as I can, so that my service to God is unhindered.
David seems to sleepwalk through these next chapters: he doesn’t fight, he can’t make a decision, he never knows what’s going on in his own house. He’s distant, unengaged, passive, ineffective. All his strength, vitality, and interest are sapped. We can’t avoid the conclusion that David’s long season of private sin changed him. God forgave him, as we’ve seen, but his leadership is compromised. He’s lost his moral authority. He can’t deal with Amnon’s evil with his own past on his mind. And when David’s sin sidelines him, it leaves the door ajar for a line of scoundrels to slink in, like Absalom, Sheba, and Adonijah. One of 2 Samuel’s great lessons is the beauty of a clean conscience: “the wicked flee when no pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion (Prov 28:1).” I want to keep my conscience as clear as I can, so that my service to God is unhindered.
Absalom's Plan
I once heard a preacher imaginatively describe David’s dinner table at this time. David picks at his food, staring out the window. Amnon eats and laughs like nothing’s happened (Prov 30:26). Absalom chews in silence, thinking of his sister, hating Amnon, resenting David. Absalom may also begin meditating on Genesis 34. When Dinah is raped, her father Jacob does nothing, and her brothers avenge her by murdering an entire village. Soon, Absalom forms his own, masterful plan of revenge.
He lets two years pass. Then he invites David to a sheep-shearing party, knowing that he will decline. He adds artistic touches by mimicking Amnon’s crime against Tamar, and David’s crime against Uriah. He presses David to “send my brother Amnon,” and serves Amnon a meal, pretending friendship. He gets Amnon drunk, and then orders his servants to strike him down (with the words of Joshua 1:9!). If anyone ever needed killing, it is Amnon! But this is not the way to do it.
He lets two years pass. Then he invites David to a sheep-shearing party, knowing that he will decline. He adds artistic touches by mimicking Amnon’s crime against Tamar, and David’s crime against Uriah. He presses David to “send my brother Amnon,” and serves Amnon a meal, pretending friendship. He gets Amnon drunk, and then orders his servants to strike him down (with the words of Joshua 1:9!). If anyone ever needed killing, it is Amnon! But this is not the way to do it.
Helpless to Act
At the end of chapter 13, David’s royal house is caving in. Tamar is desolate. Amnon is dead. Absalom flees to his mother’s people, still plotting. David looks totally helpless. He receives an inaccurate story of what happened, but instead of checking it out as he once did, he just collapses in the floor. He longs to chase Absalom down, but can’t find the strength to do it. He is angry, heartbroken, bitter, conflicted, and tired. Above all, he knows that he’s reaping.
Looking to Jesus
Romans 15:4 tells us that the Old Testament Scriptures should fill us with hope and encouragement. It’s hard to find either in this sad story! We are driven to look to Jesus. David, like Adam, failed in his rule and brought a great curse to many. Jesus came to succeed where they failed, and undo the death-spiral of our sin. He finds the Tamars, and binds them up with his love. He assures the Absaloms that justice is coming. He even offers cleansing to the Amnons by his own blood! And he stands with the Davids in the mess they’ve made, supplying hope, wisdom, maturity, and the promise that “I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5).” Is your hope in him?
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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
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