2 Samuel 13

Notes on the verses

Guar. XIII. Ver. 1—39. Amnon violates his sister Tamar. Absalom assassinates Amnon, and flies to Geshur.—David’s sin proceeds to work its own punishment; and as that began in lust, and ended in murder, so we find both mingled in the family feuds which now follow. Amnon pretends sickness, in order to obtain the company of his sister Tamar, whom he cruelly violates; Absalom conceals his resentment, till he finds an opportunity to murder his brother Amnon. Absalom then flies, to prevent his other brothers from taking revenge for the death of Amnon, and afterwards breaks out into open rebellion against his father; and all these events arise for the punishment of David’s sin. And thus his own heart, and the hearts of his family, are torn with distress and anguish inexpressible. This chapter brings before us.

Amnon was a brute, in that he had no regard to the feelings, the reputation, or the happiness of his sister. He was worse than a brute, in that after he had forced her into sin, he deserted, despised, hated her, and turned her out of doors, as if she had been the guilty party, and had seduced him. Another character, at least equally detestable, was his cousin Jonadab, “a very subtle man,” the pander of Amnon’s lust, and the accomplice, the planner of all his crimes. Hewing, &c. So to feed through the brick-kilns, is to work in them. The fact appears to be, that David treated the Ammonites as the Egyptians had formerly treated them; made slaves of them. Chap. XIII. Ver. 8. She took flour.—Dr. Russell says, “The Eastern ladies often wash their own hands, prepare cakes, pastry,

&c. in their apartments. And some few particular dishes are cooked by themselves, but not in their apartments; on such occasions, they go to some room near the kitchen.” — Made cakes.—Rather, as Parkhurst renders, “and tossed it, wattelabbaiv, in his sight, and dressed the tossed cakes, halleveevoth.” This will receive illustration from the account which Jackson gives of the Arabian manner of kneading and baking. “They have a small place built with clay, between two and three feet high, having a hole at the bottom for the convenience of drawing out the ashes, something similar to that of a brick-kiln. The

11 And when she had brought them unto him b 1 Ki. 21.4. to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.” Co) ee.

22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Am- But the principal thing to be remarked in this chapter, is the powerful and affecting manner in which Tamar pleads and reasons with her wicked brother, and which is thus admirably paraphrased by Bishop Patrick: “There is something so moving, and the arguments are so strong in Tamar’s speech to Amnon, that one would almost wonder why it did not prevail with him to desist. Nay, my brother, do not force me. Here she reminds him of his relation to her, for which she hoped he would have such a reverence as not to meddle with her, much less to offer violence to her, which it was abominable to do, even to a stranger, much more to one of the same blood. For no such thing ought to be done in Israel.

Whatever other nations did, who had not the knowledge of God’s laws, she begs of him to consider, that they both belonged to a nation which was God’s peculiar people; had been instructed better, and therefore should act otherwise. Do not thou this. She prays him (besides the scandal it would give) to reflect with himself on the heinousness of the crime, and how highly offensive it would be to the Divine Majesty. And, whither shall I cause my shame to go? She beseeches him (besides the sin against God) to consider the disgrace it would be to her, who, after such a foul act, must be ashamed to look any one in the face. Lastly, she puts him in mind of his own reputation, which so vile an action would tarnish for ever, and make him to be looked upon as a man void of all sense, religion, honour, and humanity: As

is usually about 15 inches wide at top, and gradually grows wider to oven the bottom. It is heated with wood; and when sufficiently hot, and perfectly clear from smoke, having nothing but clear embers at bottom, which continue to reflect great heat, they prepare the dough in a large bowl, and mould the cakes to the desired size on a board or stone placed near the oven. After they have kneaded the cake to a proper consistence, they pat it a little, then toss it about with great dexterity in one hand till it is as thin as they choose to make it. They then wet one side of it with water, at the same time wetting the hand and arm with which they put it into the oven.” — Bagster. _ Ver. 18. A garment of divers colours.—See note on (Genesis 37:3). Ver. 20. Hold now my peace, my sister.—Instead of bringing Amnon to justice, in vindication of his sister’s injured character, he sullenly meditates revenge; a temper never to be indulged. See ver. 28. 98) Ver. 21. He was very wroth.—[The Septuagint and Vulgate add: “But he would not grieve the soul of Amnon his son, for he loved him because he was his first-born.” The same addition is found in Josephus; and it is probable that it once formed a part of the Hebrew text.] — Bagster. Ver. 26. Let my brother Amnon.—He urged this with the more plausibility because Amnon was the first-born, and presumptive heir to the crown; and he had dissembled his resentment so long and so well, that he was not

suspected. — Bagster. Ver. 30, All the king’s sons.—Thus public report usually exaggerates! Ver. 37. Absalom fled.—[As Absalom had committed wilful murder, he could not avail himself of a city of refuge; but went to Talmai, king of Geshur, his maternal grandfather.] — Bagster. — Talmai…. king of Geshur.—His grandfather by his mother’s side, (2 Samuel 3:3). Ver. 38. Geshur.—[This was not the Geshur lying between Philistia and Egypt, (Jos. xiii, 13. (1 Samuel 27:8).) but another in Syria, probably the same as that beyond Jordan, whose inhabitants are joined with those of Maachathi.] — Bagster. Ver. 39. And (the soul of) king David longed.—Hebrew, “Was consumed;” i.e. with intense desire to see him.

See (Job 19:27).