2 Samuel 13

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:1-22

The firstfruits of iniquity. The facts are: 1 . Amnon entertains an improper affection for his half-sister Tamar, and meditates evil. 2 . Making known his secret passion to Jonadab, he is prompted to a device for securing a personal interview with her. 3 . The king, visiting Amnon in his pretended sickness, kindly arranges that Tamar should wait upon him with special focal in his chamber. 4 . Seizing an opportunity in the absence of attendants, he accomplishes his purpose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:1-33

( JERUSALEM .) The crime of Amnon. The chastisements which David experienced came upon him chiefly through his family. The misconduct of his sons was largely due to his own "in the matter of Uriah," and his defective discipline (lSa 2 Samuel 3:13 ; 1 Kings 1:6 ) in connection with polygamy ( 2 Samuel 3:1-5 ). "This institution is the absolutely irrepressible source of numberless evils of this description. It ever furnishes a ready stimulus to unbounded sensual desire in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:2

Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick. The Hebrew literally is, and it was narrow to Amnon, even to becoming sick. To an Oriental a feeling of narrowness means distress, while in joy there is a sense of largeness and expansion. Our words for distress have lost this picturesque force. That Amnon thought it hard does not mean that he had any feeling for his sister's disgrace, but that he knew that his attempt was difficult. He did not see how he could get Tamar into his power, and feared... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:3

Jonadab, the son of Shimeah. He is called Shammah in 1 Samuel 16:9 , and is there described as Jesse's third son. A brother of Jonadab, named Jonathan, is mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:21 as a valiant soldier who slew one of the Philistine giants. Subtil is not used in a bad sense, but means clever, ready in devising means. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:3

( JERUSALEM .) A false friend. "And Jonadab was a very subtil man." Every virtue has its counterfeit. As there is a friendship which is true and beneficial, so there is what appears to be such but is false and injurious. Of the former we have an instance in David and Jonathan ( 1 Samuel 18:1-4 ), of the latter in Amnon and Jonadab (his cousin, a son of Shammah, 1 Samuel 16:9 ; 2 Samuel 21:21 ), "one of those characters who in great houses pride themselves on being acquainted and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:3

A diabolical friend: a homily for young men. This chapter contains a dreadful story. The unnatural lust of Amnon, the vile counsels of Jonadab, the unsuspiciousness of the king, the confiding innocence of Tamar, her unavailing remonstrances and resistance, the hardened villainy of her half-brother, his hatred and cruel expulsion of his innocent victim, her bitter anguish and lamentations, the unjust leniency of David towards the offender (although "very wroth"), the vengeance so quietly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:4

Why art thou, being the king's son, lean? The Hebrew is, Why, O son of the king, dost thou pine away morning by morning ? There was probably a gathering of friends every morning at the young prince's house, and his cousin, attending this levee, noticed Amnon's melancholy, and, having forced a confession from him, is unscrupulous enough to suggest a plan that would make Tamar her brother's victim. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:5

When thy father cometh to see thee. While the daughters lived in Oriental seclusion in the dwellings of their mothers, the sons seem to have had separate apartments assigned them in the palace. And David evidently was an affectionate father, who even went to the abodes of his sons in a loving and unceremonious way, to see how they fared. But Jonadab abused the king's affection, and made it the very means of removing the obstacles in the way of his daughter's disgrace. And like the whole... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:7

Tamar. A princess; the daughter of David and Maacah (of Geshur), and sister of Absalom; distinguished for her beauty, modesty, domesticity, obedience ( 2 Samuel 13:8 ), tender heartedness, piety, and misfortunes. In her we see an illustration of (what has often occurred): 1 . Purity pursued by licentious desire ( 2 Samuel 13:2 ). 2 . Simplicity beset by wily designs ( 2 Samuel 13:5 ). 3 . Kindness requited by selfish ingratitude ( 2 Samuel 13:9 , 2 Samuel 13:10 ). ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:9

She took a pan. Many of the words are difficult because, being the names of ordinary domestic articles, they do not occur in literature. A man may be a good French scholar, and yet find it difficult in France to ask for things in common use. Here the Syriac is probably right in understanding, not a pan, but the delicacy Tamar had been cooking. In 2 Samuel 13:8 the word rendered "flour" is certainly "dough," and is so rendered in the Revised Version. The cakes were a kind of pancake, fitted... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:1-22

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:1-33

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:9

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