1. Shimeah's son, David's nephew; "very subtle," worming out the secrets of the heir apparent, Amnon his cousin, to gain favor. Pretending "friendship," he insinuated that a "king's son" ought to gratify his passions without scruple, and not make himself lean by restraining them; and gave the hellish advice whereby that wicked prince incestuously forced his half sister Tamar. Then, when Absalom had in revenge killed Amnon, and the king was heartbroken at the exaggerated story that all the king's sons were slain, Jonadab practiced the same sycophancy to David; not a word does he breathe of his own abominable share in the matter; no sorrow has he for Amnon whose professed "friend" he was, but whose ruin he hurried; "by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar"; "Amnon only is dead, Amnon only is dead"; "let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart" (2 Samuel 13). Evil communication is fatal; the friendship of the wicked is hollow, for it is based on selfishness (Psalms 12:2; Psalms 141:4-5), and when regard for self comes in collision with regard for a friend, the latter will be set aside for the former; see 1 Kings 22:30; 1 Kings 22:32.

2. (See JEHONADAB.)