Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
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 13:20

And Absalom her brother said unto her ,.... Either meeting her in the street, or rather when come to his house: hath Amnon thy brother been with thee ? been rude with thee, and lain with thee, which is the meaning of this modest expression; which he guessed at, having heard of her being sent to his house, and knowing his lustful disposition, and seeing her in such a forlorn condition: he calls him Aminon, for so it is in the Hebrew text, and not Amnon, by way of contempt, as Kimchi... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:21

But when King David heard of all these things ,.... Of Amnon's ravishing Tamar, and turning her out of doors in that inhuman manner he did, and of her distress upon it: he was very wroth ; with Amnon; but we read not of any reproof he gave him, nor of any punishment inflicted on him by him. Abarbinel thinks the reason why he was not punished was because his sin was not cognizable by a court of judicature, nor was punishable by any way, or with any kind of death inflicted by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:22

And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad ,.... That is, said nothing at all to him about the rape of his sister; not that he was sulky with him, and would not converse with him at all; for then Amnon would have mistrusted that he was meditating revenge, and therefore would have been upon his guard; but on the contrary he talked freely, and in appearance friendly, on other things, the better to conceal his hatred of him, and his design to avenge the injury of his sister: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:23

And it came to pass after two full years ,.... Two complete years after the rape was committed; so long Absalom kept it in his mind, and was contriving how to avenge it; he let it alone so long, that it might be thought by the king and Amnon, and all the family, that it was quite worn out of his mind, and entirely forgotten by him, and therefore might the more safely confide in him: that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim ; though a prince, the son of a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:24

And Absalom came to the king ,.... At Jerusalem, to invite him in person: and said, behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers ; persons employed in shearing his sheep: and this being a time of entertainment and joy: let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants, go with thy servant ; he invited the king and the whole royal family to go with him to Baalhazor, and partake of the sheepshearing feast; for by "his servants" are not meant the king's domestic servants, his guard and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:25

And the king said to Absalom, nay, my son, let us not all now go ,.... He did not object to the invitation entirely, he was willing some of the family should go, but not all; it seems probable that he particularly excepted himself and his eldest son, the heir to his crown, for the reason following: lest we be chargeable unto thee ; one or two persons more, supposing them to be private persons, would have added but little to the expense, if any; but as David was a king, he must have come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 13:26

Then said Absalom, if not ,.... If it is not thy pleasure to go with me, if I cannot have the honour of thy company: I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us ; let me have the next mark of honour that can be given me, the presence of the king's eldest son, and heir to the crown; he seems to express affection for him, and a particular desire of his company, as if all ill will towards him was removed from him, and this would be a public declaration of reconciliation between them: ... read more

Group of Brands