2 samuel 13 and 14

Read 2 Samuel 13 and 14 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Sam 13:1-22 {p} Amnon, the firstborn and heir of David, forces his half-sister Tamar by deceit
2 Sam 13:23-27 {s} Absalom manipulates the king + contrives to get Amnon in his power
2 Sam 13:28-30 {p} Absalom’s servants kill Amnon + it was told the king that all his sons were dead
2 Sam 13:31 {s} The king and all his servants tore their garments
2 Sam 13:32-33 {p} Jonadab the king’s nephew assures the king that only Amnon is dead
2 Sam 13:34-39 {s} Absalom fled to Geshur 3 years + the king mourned for him every day
2 Sam 14:1-4 {s} Joab enlists a woman of Tekoa to go to the king to render a favorable judgment
2 Sam 14:5-7 {p} She relates her story of her only remaining son, who is under a death sentence
2 Sam 14:8-9 {s} David: I will render judgment + Woman: Let your throne be guiltless concerning my son
2 Sam 14:10-12 {s} The king’s judgment: your remaining son shall be preserved
2 Sam 14:13-17 {p} Woman: Why then do you not also preserve your son who was banished
2 Sam 14:18-20 {s} David to the woman: is Joab involved in this request concerning Absalom
2 Sam 14:21-23 {s} David to Joab: I have granted your request; go bring Absalom back to Jerusalem
2 Sam 14:24 {s} David: He shall return to his own house, but he shall not see my face
2 Sam 14:25-27 {p} Absalom’s beautiful appearance + his three sons and beautiful daughter Tamar
2 Sam 14:28-30 {p} Absalom sent for Joab but he would not come + set his field on fire
2 Sam 14:31-33 {s} David sent for Absalom, and he kissed him (forgave him)

The strong themes:

2 Sam 13:1-22 {p} Amnon, the firstborn and heir of David, forces his half-sister Tamar by deceit
2 Sam 13:23-30 {s+p} Absalom deceives the king, his sons + Absalom’s servants kill Amnon
2 Sam 13:31-33 {s+p} The king and all his servants tore their garments + only Amnon is dead
2 Sam 13:34-14:7 {s+s+p} Absalom banished to Geshur/ Joab contrives to see him returned
2 Sam 14:8-17 {s+s+p} David returns a favorable judgment concerning a son under a death sentence
2 Sam 14:18-27 {sx3+p} David perceives her request was about Absalom: brings him home but refuses to see him
2 Sam 14:28-30 {p} Absalom 2 years in Jerusalem; set Joab’s field on fire because he was shunned

The chiastic structure:

1a) 2 Sam 13:1a, After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar;

1b) 2 Sam 13:1b-22 {p} Amnon forces Tamar/ Amnon rejects Tamar, whom he loved;

1c) 2 Sam 13:23-27 {s} Absalom manipulates the king so that Amnon is sent to him;

1d) 2 Sam 13:28-29a, The death of Amnon, at the command of Absalom;

1e) 2 Sam 13:29b-31 {p+s} The king’s sons fled/ the king mourned when it was told him;

1f) 2 Sam 13:32a, Jonadab: Absalom has not killed all the king’s sons but Amnon only;

central axis) 2 Sam 13:32b, “For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar;”

2f) 2 Sam 13:33 {p} Let not the king think that all his sons are dead, but Amnon only is dead;

2e) 2 Sam 13:34-39a, Absalom fled/ King + sons + servants wept very bitterly/ the king mourned Absalom;

2d) 2 Sam 13:39b {s} King David had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead;

2c) 2 Sam 14:1-23 {s+p+s+s+p+s+s} Joab manipulates the king so that Absalom is sent to him;

2b) 2 Sam 14:24 {s} King David bans Absalom from his presence (he rejects Absalom, whom he loved);

2a) 2 Sam 14:25-27 {p} Absalom’s beautiful appearance + his sons and daughter, Tamar, a lovely woman.

Let us realize first of all, that all the players in today’s drama are family. Jonadab, who first gave Amnon deceitful counsel concerning Tamar, is the cousin of Amnon, Absalom, Tamar, and Joab. He is the son of David’s brother, and Joab is the son of David’s sister Zeruiah (1 Chr 2:16). Why does Jonadab conspire to harm with such great harm, his cousin Tamar? Amnon was the firstborn of David (2 Sam 3:2), i.e., he was the crown prince, next in line to be king after David. I don’t think Jonadab loved any of them, but he was acting to ingratiate himself with whomever he thought would benefit Jonadab the most in the long run.

But why did David, who loved the LORD’s law, not act to do justice for Tamar? In Torah, a woman’s father is the one who ensures that all things are done justly for that woman. If a man takes a woman’s virginity, then he pays the bride price for that woman to her father, and she becomes his wife (Deu 22:28-29). And he cannot diminish her food, clothing, or marital rights (s-x, therefore children) all the days of her life. David is Tamar’s father. What did he do for Tamar? When he heard of it, he was very angry, but he did not do justice for her, because Amnon was his firstborn son and his heir. In a sense, by his inaction, he took Amnon’s side against Tamar.

I believe this may be because, consciously or no, David saw his own sin in Amnon’s sin. He abused his power as king to compel the adultery of Bathsheba. Likewise, Amnon, being stronger than his sister, forced her.

Then Absalom’s sin also is David’s own sin! He planned Uriah the Hittite’s murder with malice aforethought. Likewise, Absalom planned Amnon’s murder with malice aforethought. But if the king had done justly for Tamar, Absalom would likely not have gone down the path of murder. So all of the trouble which troubled David’s house, was a result of David’s own transgressions of Torah.

Confession and repentance before his children, and his nation, was the only wise course open to David, a course, however, which he did not take. Instead his heart, which yearned for his son, he allowed to become hardened toward him (“he will not see my face”). Let not this be our course, but turn the hearts of the fathers toward the children Father! May the LORD be merciful and gracious, and pour out a spirit of repentance upon the fathers and leaders in our own nation!