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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 13

The righteous God had lately told David, by Nathan the prophet, that, to chastise him for his son in the matter of Uriah, he would ?raise up evil against him out of his own house,? (2 Sam. 12:11). And here, in the very next chapter, we find the evil beginning to rise; henceforward he was followed with one trouble after another, which made the latter part of his reign less glorious and pleasant than the former part. Thus God chastened him with the rod of men, yet assured him that his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:1-20

We have here a particular account of the abominable wickedness of Amnon in ravishing his sister, a subject not fit to be enlarged upon nor indeed to be mentioned without blushing, that ever any man should be so vile, especially that a son of David should be so. Amnon's character, we have reason to think, was bad in other things; if he had not forsaken God, he would never have been given up to these vile affections. Godly parents have often been afflicted with wicked children; grace does not... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:21-29

What Solomon says of the beginning of strife is as true of the beginning of all sin, it is as the letting forth of water; when once the flood-gates are plucked up, an inundation follows; one mischief begets another, and it is hard to say what shall be in the end thereof. I. We are here told how David resented the tidings of Amnon's sin: He was very wroth, 2 Sam. 13:21. So he had reason to be, that his own son should do such a wicked thing and draw him to be accessory to it. It would be a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:30-39

Here is, I. The fright that David was put into by a false report brought to Jerusalem that Absalom had slain all the king's sons, 2 Sam. 13:30. It is common for fame to make bad worse; and the first news of such a thing as this represents it as more dreadful than afterwards it proves. Let us not therefore be afraid of evil tidings, while they want confirmation, but, when we hear the worst, hope the best, at least hope better. However, this false news gave as much affliction to David, for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 13 This chapter relates some of the evils that were to arise out of David's house, and which were similar to the evils committed by him; the deflowering of his daughter, and the murder of his eldest son: the story is this; Amnon falls in love with Tamar, his sister, and grew thin upon it, which being observed by a friend of his, inquires the reason of it, which having got out of him, forms a scheme for obtaining his desire, and which succeeded; for by it he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:1

And it came to pass after this ,.... After the sin of David with Bathsheba, his repentance for it, and pardon of it, and the birth of Solomon as a token of reconciliation; yet after all this the divine threatenings must take place; they had begun already in the death of the child begotten in adultery, and others here follow: that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar ; she was his sister both by father and mother's side; the mother o, f them was Maacah, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:2

And Amnon was so vexed ,.... Distressed, straitened, and perplexed in his mind through unruly and unbridled lusts that raged in him: that he fell sick for his sister Tamar ; as Antiochus son of Seleucus did for his mother in law Stratonice, who, to cure him of it, was delivered to him by his father F19 See the Universal History, vol. 3. p. 519. Ed. fol. : for she was a virgin ; and so kept very recluse from the company of men, that he could not come at her; so Philo F20 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:3

But Amnon had a friend ,.... Though in the issue his friendship proved his ruin: whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother ; so that they were own cousins, the same with Shammah, 1 Samuel 16:9 , and Jonadab was a very subtle man ; a very penetrating man into the dispositions of men, and could judge by their countenances what they were, and the affections of their minds, and had a talent in forming schemes; he was wise to do evil and was wickedly cunning. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:4

And he said unto him, why art thou, being the king's son , lean from day today ?.... Or "morning by morning", F23 בבקר בבקר , "in mane in mane", Montanus. ; he was the king's eldest son, heir to the crown, fed at his table, had everything to make him gay and cheerful, and yet pined away; his flesh wasted F24 "Fecit amor maciem -----". Ovid Metamorph. l. 11. Fab. 11. v. 793. , his countenance waxed wan and pale, and especially in the mornings; in the daytime he met... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:5

And Jonadab said unto him ,.... Being a subtle man, he presently formed a scheme to relieve him, and open a way for the enjoyment of what he desired: lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick ; feign thyself sick, pretend that thou art so, by lying down on the bed, and making complaints of one kind or another: and when thy father cometh to see thee ; as he quickly would, after hearing of his illness, being very affectionate to his children: say unto him, I pray thee let, my... read more

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