View 2nd Samuel 13 in the note window.
mmon's violence to his sister. (1-20) Absalom murders his
brother Ammon. (21-29) David's grief, Absalom flees to Geshur.
(30-39)
Verses 1-20: From henceforward David was followed with one trouble
after another. Adultery and murder were David's sins, the like
sins among his children were the beginnings of his punishment:
he was too indulgent to his children. Thus David might trace the
sins of his children to his own misconduct, which must have made
the anguish of the chastisement worse. Let no one ever expect
good treatment from those who are capable of attempting their
seduction; but it is better to suffer the greatest wrong than to
commit the least sin.
Verses 21-29: Observe the aggravations of Absalom's sin: he would have
Ammon slain, when least fit to go out of the world. He engaged
his servants in the guilt. Those servants are ill-taught who
obey wicked masters, against God's commands. Indulged children
always prove crosses to godly parents, whose foolish love leads
them to neglect their duty to God.
Verses 30-39: Jonadab was as guilty of Ammon's death, as of his sin;
such false friends do they prove, who counsel us to do wickedly.
Instead of loathing Absalom as a murderer, David, after a time,
longed to go forth to him. This was David's infirmity: God saw
something in his heart that made a difference, else we should
have thought that he, as much as Eli, honoured his sons more
than God.
