View 2nd Samuel 13 in the note window.
Amnon ravishes Tamar, ver. 1 - 20.
Absalom kills him, ver. 21 - 29.
David mourns: Absalom flees to Geshur, ver. 30 - 39.
1: A sister - His sister by father and mother.
2: A virgin - And therefore diligently kept, so he could not get
private converse with her.
5: My sister - So he calls her, to prevent the suspicion of any
dishonest design upon so near a relation. At her hand - Pretending, his
stomach was so nice, that he could eat nothing but what he saw dressed,
and that by a person whom he much esteemed.
9: Out - Out of the frying - pan into the dish.
10: Chamber - Amnon lying upon his couch in one chamber where the
company were with him, where also she made the cakes before him, first
sends all out of that room, and then rises from his couch, and, upon some
pretence, goes into another secret chamber.
12: Brother - Whom nature both teaches to abhor such thoughts and
obliges to defend me from such a mischief with thy utmost hazard, if another
should attempt it. Force - Thou shouldst abhor it, if I were willing;
but to add violence, is abominable. Israel - Among God's people who are
taught better things; who also will be infinitely reproached for such a
base action.
13: Shame - How can I either endure or avoid the shame?
Fools - That is, contemptible to all the people, whereas now thou art
heir apparent of the crown. Withhold - This she spoke, because she
thought her royal father would dispense with it, upon this extraordinary
occasion, to save his first - born son's life:
15: Hated her - By the just judgment of God both upon Amnon
and David, that so the sin might be made publick, and way for the
succeeding tragedies.
16: No cause - For me to go. Greater thou the other - This she
might truly say, because though the other was in itself a greater sin, yet
this was an act of greater cruelty, and a greater calamity to her because
it exposed her to publick infamy and contempt, and besides, it turned a
private offence into a publick scandal, to the great dishonour of God and
of his people, and especially of all the royal family.
18: Garment - Of embroidered work.
19: Put ashes - To signify her grief for some calamity which had
befallen her, and what that was, concurring circumstances easily discovered.
Head - In token of grief and shame, as if she were unable and ashamed to
shew her face. Crying - To manifest her abhorrency of the fact, and that
it was not done by her consent.
20: Been with thee - Behold, and imitate the modesty of scripture
expressions. Brother - Wherefore thou must forgive and forgot the injury;
therefore thy disgracing of him will be a blot to us all; therefore thou
wilt not get right from David against him, because he is as near and
dear to him as thou; therefore thy dishonour is the less, because thou wast
not abused by any mean person, but by a king's son; therefore this evil must
be borne, because it cannot be revenged: and thus he covers his design of
taking vengeance upon him at the first opportunity. Regard not - So as to
torment thyself. Desolate - Through shame and dejection of mind, giving
her self up to solitude and retirement.
21: Wroth - With Amnon: whom yet he did not punish, at least so
severely as he should either from the consciousness of his own guilt
in the like kind; or, from that foolish indulgence which he often shewed
to his children.
22: Spake - That is, he said nothing at all to him, about that
business. He neither debated it with him, nor threatened him for it; but
seemed willing to pass it by with brotherly kindness. If he had wholly
forborne all discourse with him, it would have raised jealousies in
Amnon and David.
23: Two years - This circumstance of time is noted, as an aggravation
of Absalom's malice, which was so implacable: and as an act of policy,
that both Amnon and David might more securely comply with his
desires.
26: Let Amnon - For the king designed (as the following words shew)
to keep him at home with him, as being his eldest son, and heir of his
kingdom: otherwise Absalom would never have made particular mention of
him; which now he was forced to do. Nor did this desire of Amnon's
presence want specious pretences, as that seeing the king would not, he who
was next to him might, honour him with his company; and that this might be
a publick token of friendship between him and his brother, notwithstanding
the former occasion of difference.
27: Pressed him - It is strange that his urgent desire of Amnon's
company raised no suspicion in so wise a king; but God suffered him to be
blinded that he might execute his judgments upon David, and bring upon
Amnon the just punishment of his lewdness.
28: Merry - When he least suspects, and will be most unable to
prevent the evil. I - I who am the king's son, and, when Amnon is
gone, his heir: who therefore shall easily obtain pardon for you, and
will liberally reward you.
29: Commanded - Now the threatened sword is drawn in David's
house, which will not depart from it. His eldest son falls by it, thro'
his own wickedness, and his father by his connivance is accessory to it.
37: Talmai - His mother's father, that he might have present
protection and sustenance from him; and that by his mediation he might
obtain his father's pardon.
39: Go forth - And could not he recalled, to visit him, or to send
for him. What amazing weakness was this! At first he could not find in
his heart, to do justice to the ravisher of his sister! And now he can
almost find in his heart to receive into favour the murderer of his brother?
How can we excuse David from the sin of Eli; who honoured his
sons more than God?
