Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Samuel 13:21–29, “But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.”
King David was very angry with Amnon for violating his half sister Tamar but he didn’t do anything about it. Perhaps, if David had disciplined Amnon when he was a child then this whole thing may not have happened. Even after the event, when Amnon should have been punished, according to the Law, David didn’t do anything. Absalom was emboldened by the king’s lack of response and continued with his own plans. Two years later, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to celebrate the sheering season. Absalom had to get permission from the king but the king didn’t want his son to have such a large expense. Eventually, when he didn’t get his own way, Absalom persuaded the king to let Amnon come. The king gave Amnon permission to go and, when Amnon was getting drunk, his brother’s servants murdered him. Absalom was avenging his sister but he was also eliminating a rival for the crown. All the princes, who had been allowed to come, ran away when Amnon was killed. Absalom had wanted all the king’s sons to come so that he could make them all afraid of his power and scare them into not challenging him for the throne.
No comments:
Post a Comment