Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents

About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 


The Book of 2 Samuel

Originally, the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel were one book. 1 Samuel was mostly about Israel's first king, Saul. 2 Samuel is mostly about King David and his family. The dates of the events that happened in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel were about 1000 B.C.


Bible Timeline
 
Here is a good timeline to see the book of 2 Samuel in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm


 


2 Samuel 11 - 13

David sins with a woman named Bath-sheba
David tries to cover up his sin.
Solomon is born.
David's son, Amnon, rapes his half-sister.
Absalom kills Amnon and then runs away.

 

2 Samuel 11


David sins with a woman named Bath-sheba


It was the end of the year. It was the time of year when kings went to fight wars with other nations.  David sent the leader of his army, Joab, and his soldiers to fight the Ammonite people.  The Israelites took the Ammonite city named Rabbah.  David did not go with his army. He stayed at home in Jerusalem.
[1] And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

 

"David Sees Bath-Sheba Bathing"
by J. James Tissot
From the Christian Theological Seminary web site

One evening, David got up from taking a nap. He was walking on the roof of his house. He could see inside other houses. He saw a beautiful woman in another house. The woman was taking a bath.
[2] And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
 

David sent his worker to find out more about the woman. His worker told him that her name was Bath-sheba. She was married to a Hittite man named Uriah. Her father's name was Eliam.
[3] And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?


David sent his worker to bring Bath-sheba to his house. Bath-sheba was clean and was finished with her monthly cycle.  Bath-sheba and David had sexual relations. Then Bath-sheba went back home.
[4] And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.


Bath-sheba became pregnant. She sent a message to tell David that she would have a baby.
[5] And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.


 



David tries to hide his sin. David brings Bath-sheba's husband home from the war.


David sent a message to Joab, the army leader. David wanted Joab to send Bath-sheba's husband, Uriah, to see him.

[6] And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.


Uriah came to meet with David. David asked him about Joab and the other soldiers. He asked him how the war was going.
[7] And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.


David told Uriah to go home and wash his feet. Then Uriah left, and David sent a lot of food.
[8] And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.

But Uriah did not go home. He slept by the door of David's house. He stayed with David's workers.
[9] But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.


David's workers told him that Uriah did not go home. David talked to Uriah. Uriah has been at the war. He has been a long way from home. David wanted to know why he didn't go to his home after he returned to Jerusalem.
[10] And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?


Uriah said that the other soldiers and the Ark must live in tents now during the war. He didn't think it was fair for him to go home while they are in tents.
[11] And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.


David told Uriah to stay there. He said Uriah could leave the next day. So Uriah stayed there in David's house that day and the next day.
[12] And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.


David invited Uriah to eat with him. Uriah ate food, and David gave him a lot of alcohol to drink. Uriah became drunk. But he did not go home. He slept on one of David's servants' beds.
[13] And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

 




David has another plan to hide his sin with Bath-sheba.

 

The next day, David wrote a letter to Joab (the leader of the Israelite army). He gave the letter to Uriah to give to Joab.
[14] And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.


In the letter, David told Joab to put Uriah in the front part of the army. He wanted Joab in the place with the most fighting. Then he wanted the rest of the army to move back. David wanted Uriah to get killed in the war.
[15] And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.


The Israelite army got ready to fight the people in the city named Rabbah. Joab sent Uriah to a dangerous area. Joab knew that Rabbah's best soldiers were in that area.
[16] And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.


The Ammonite soldiers in Rabbah fought with Joab's soldiers. Some of the Israelite soldiers died. Uriah was one of the soldiers who died.
[17] And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
 

Joab told the messenger that David would remind him of what happened to Abimelech at the city named Thebez. This is from Judges 9:


Then Abimelech went to the city called Thebez. He camped there and started a war with the city. The men and women in Thebez ran and hid in the tower.  They locked the doors and went up to the roof.

[50] Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
[51] But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.


Abimelech went to the tower. He tried to get in. Then he was planning to set the tower on fire.
[52] And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.


A woman on top of the tower threw down a big rock. The rock broke Abimelech's skull.
[53] And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.


 

Abimelech called a young soldier to help him.  He asked the young soldier to kill him with his sword. Abimelech knew he was going to die. He didn't want people to say that a woman killed him.  So, the young man stabbed Abimelech, and he died.
[54] Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
 

When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone went back home.
[55] And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

Joab planned to send a report about the war to David. Joab told a messenger what to say.  After the messenger tells the king what happened at Rabbah, David may get mad. David may be upset that the Israelite army went close to the city of Rabbah. It was easier for the people in Rabbah to shoot from the city wall.  David may talk about a war that happened a long time ago (please see box at left). He may remind the messenger about Abimelech. The woman threw the big rock off the top of the wall and killed Abimelech.  Then the messenger should tell David that Uriah (who was from the group of people called the Hittites) is dead, too.
[18] Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
[19] And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
[20] And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
[21] Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.


The messenger went to see David. He told David what Joab said.  He said that the Ammonite army in Rabbah came out to fight with them in the field. Then the Israelites pushed them back all the way to the city gate.  The Ammonite soldiers shot from the wall of the city.  Some of the Israelite soldiers were dead. The messenger told David that Uriah was dead.
[22] So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
[23] And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
[24] And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.


David gave a message to take back to Joab. He told Joab not to feel bad. He said that soldiers die in wars. He wanted the messenger to encourage Joab. He wanted Joab to fight the city again and defeat the city.
[25] Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
 

Bath-sheba learned that Uriah was dead. She was very sad about Uriah.
[26] And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.


After the mourning time (time for everyone to be sad) was finished, David sent someone to bring Bath-sheba to his house. Then David married Bath-sheba. Later, she had a baby boy. God was not happy that David did these things.
[27] And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
 



2 Samuel 12


God punishes David and Bath-sheba for their sin.


Nathan was a prophet. God talked to Nathan. God told Nathan to go to David. Nathan told David a story.  The story was about 2 men. One man was rich, and one man was poor.

[1] And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

"Nathan Reproaches David"
by J. James Tissot
From the Christian Theological Seminary web site


The rich man had many sheep. The poor man had only one little lamb.  The man bought the lamb when it was a baby. He fed it and took care of it. He raised it with his own children.  The lamb ate the man's food and drank from the man's cup. The lamb slept in the man's lap. The man loved the lamb like it was his own daughter.
[2] The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
[3] But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.


One day, a traveling person came to the rich man's home. The rich man didn't want to kill any of his sheep to give to the traveler. So the rich man got the poor man's lamb. He killed the lamb and gave it to the traveler to eat.
[4] And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.


David was very mad at the rich man. He made a promise in the name of the living God. He told Nathan that the rich man will die. He said the rich man should pay the poor man for the sheep four times. The rich man did not have any pity on the poor man. 
[5] And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
[6] And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.


Nathan told David that he (David) was the rich man. The story was to show David that he sinned (David was like the rich man, and Uriah was like the poor man).  Nathan told David what God said. God said that He made David king of Israel. He saved David from Saul.
[7] And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;


God said He gave Saul's family to David . He gave David all of the land of Israel and the land of Judah's tribe.  If David did not have enough, God would have given him more.

[8] And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.


God asked David why he did not obey Him? David broke God's commandments. God knows what David did with Uriah.  He knows that David took Uriah's wife. He knows that David sent Uriah to the front of the war so the Ammonites would kill him.
[9] Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.


God says that now David's family will always have violence. It is because David did not obey God. He stole Uriah's wife.
[10] Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.


God told David about the bad things that will happen to him now.  God said that someone in David's family will fight against him. God will give David's wives to another man. The man will have sexual relations with David's wives, and everyone in Israel will know about it.

[11] Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
[12] For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
 

David confessed to Nathan that he sinned. David knew that he did wrong things. Nathan told David that God has forgiven him, and he will not die. But David's sins made God's enemies happy. They said bad things about God. God will punish David. Nathan said that Bath-sheba's baby will die.
[13] And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
[14] Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.


Nathan left and went home. Then Bath-sheba and David's baby became sick.
[15] And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.


David prayed to God. He asked God to make the baby healthy again. David fasted (he did not eat anything).  He laid all night on the floor. The leaders of his house workers tried to get him up. David refused to get up.  He refused to eat.
[16] David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
[17] And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.



The baby died when it was 7 days old. David's workers were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead. They said that when they tried to talk to David when the baby was sick, he did not listen to them. They thought he would be too upset if they tell him now that the baby is dead.
[18] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?


David saw that his workers were whispering. He felt that meant the baby was dead. David asked his workers if the baby was dead. They told him yes.
[19] But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.


David got up from the floor. He took a bath and put on oil. He changed clothes and went to God's tent. He worshipped God then went back home. He asked his workers to bring him some food. They brought some food, and he ate it.
[20] Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.


His workers did not understand why he ate now. When the baby was alive, David refused food. Now the baby was dead, and David got up and ate.
[21] Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
 

David said that he fasted and cried when the baby was alive. He was hoping God would let the baby live. But the baby died. If David fasts now, the baby will not live again. In the future, David will die, and he will go to the baby. But the baby will not come back to life now.
[22] And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
[23] But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.


Bath-sheba was very upset and sad that her baby died. Later, David and Bath-sheba had another baby boy. David named him Solomon. God loved Solomon very much.
[24] And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.


God sent Nathan the prophet to Solomon. Nathan called Solomon "Jedidiah" because God loved him. (The word "Jedidiah" means beloved of God.)
[25] And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

 



The Israelites take the city of Rabbah.
 

Joab and the Israelite army continued the war with the Ammonite people. The Israelites attacked the city named Rabbah.  Joab sent a message to David. He said that the Israelites now control the water for the city. David should bring the rest of the Israelite army to Rabbah. They should camp by the city and then attack it and take it. If David does not come, then people will say that Joab was the one who took Rabbah.
[26] And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
[27] And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
[28] Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.


David took his army and went to Rabbah. He fought with the people in the city and won. He took the city.
[29] And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.


David took the crown off the king of Rabbah. The crown was heavy. It was made with gold and valuable stones. They put the crown on David's head. Then they collected everything valuable in the city.
[30] And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
 

This verse is controversial. People who study the Bible have different opinions about it. Some people feel that David killed the Ammonite people. Other people feel that David made the Ammonite people work for the Israelites.


[31] And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

 


 


List of David's children

Mother's name Child's name
   
Maacah Tamar
  Absalom
Abigail Chileab
   
Haggith Adonijah
   
Ahinoam Amnon
   
Abital Shephatiah
   
Eglah Ithream
   
Bath-sheba Solomon
   
Mothers not named  
  Daniel
  Shimea
  Shobab
  Nathan
  Ibhar
  Ellishama
  Eliphelet
  Nogah
  Nepheg
  Japhia
  Elishama
  Eliada

2 Samuel 13


David's son, Amnon, rapes his sister, Tamar.


David's son, Absalom, had a sister named Tamar.  Absalom and Tamar had the same mother. Tamar was very pretty.  Absalom and Tamar had a half-brother named Amnon.  Amnon's father was David, too. But Amnon had a different mother. Amnon was in love with his own half-sister. He loved Tamar.
[1] And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.


Amnon thought about Tamar a lot, and he got sick.  Tamar was a virgin. Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with Tamar.
[2] And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
 

Amnon had a friend (cousin) named Jonadab. Jonadab's father's name was Shimeah. Shimeah was David's brother.  Jonadab was very clever, and he could figure out how to do things.  Jonadab saw Amnon. He asked Amnon why he was looking so thin.  Amnon told him it was because he was in love with his half-sister, Tamar.
[3] But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
[4] And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.


Jonadab thought of a plan. He told Amnon to pretend he was sick. When David comes to see him, he can say that he wants Tamar to come. He can say that he wants Tamar to come and cook some food for him.
[5] And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.


Amnon took Jonadab's advice. He acted like he was sick. David came to see him.  Amnon told David that he wanted Tamar to come and cook him some food.
[6] So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.


David sent a message to Tamar. He asked her to go to Amnon's house. He told her to cook some food for Amnon.
[7] Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.


Tamar went to Amnon's house. He was in bed acting like he was sick.  Tamar made some cakes of bread while Amnon watched her.
[8] So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

After the cakes were finished baking, she gave them to Amnon. He refused to eat until everyone else left the room.
[9] And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.


Amnon told Tamar to bring the food closer to him.  Tamar took the food over to him.
[10] And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.


When she took the food to him, he grabbed her. He wanted to have sexual relations with her.
[11] And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

 

Tamar tries to stop Amnon. She reminds him that incest and rape are against God's laws. Back in the book of Leviticus, God says that brothers and sisters should not have sexual relations. 

Then Tamar tries to convince Amnon to talk to David to marry her. People who study the Bible feel that Tamar knew that brothers and sisters could not be married. But she may have been saying this so that Amnon would let her go, and she could escape.

Tamar said no. She begged him not to force her. She said it was against God's laws in Israel. She will be shamed. Other people will think Amnon is a fool. She said Amnon should talk to David if he wants to marry her.  
[12] And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
[13] And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.


But Amnon would not listen to Tamar. He was stronger than she was, and he raped her.
[14] Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.


Then Amnon hated Tamar. He hated her more than he loved her before. He told her to get out.
[15] Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

 

In the Bible, a woman's virginity is very valuable and important.  A woman who was not a virgin would probably never get married. She would live with her family and never be independent.

Back in the book of Deuteronomy, God's law said that if a man raped a virgin, he must marry her. That is because no other man would marry her.

Tamar wanted Amnon to marry her. She knew brothers and sisters should not marry. But if Amnon sent her away, Tamar knew that she would be shamed. Everyone would know what happened, and she would never be married. People would think badly of her because she had been raped.

Tamar said that Amnon shouldn't treat her like this. She said it was worse to send her away. But Amnon did not listen to her.
[16] And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.


Amnon told his worker to put Tamar out and lock the door behind her.

"The Desolation of Tamar" by J. James Tissot
From the
Christian Theological Seminary web site

[17] Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.


All of David's daughters wore pretty and colorful clothes. When people saw the special clothes, they knew the girls were virgins.  Amnon's worker put Tamar outside and locked the door behind her. Tamar tore her clothes and put ashes on her head to show she was very upset. She held her hand on her head and was crying.
[18] And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
[19] And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.


Absalom saw his sister. He asked her if Amnon had raped her. He told her to be quiet. He didn't want her to tell anyone what happened. Amnon was her brother. She shouldn't think about it. Tamar was very upset and sad and stayed at Absalom's house.
[20] And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
 

When David heard what happened, he was very upset.
[21] But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
 

Absalom hated his brother Amnon because Amnon raped Tamar.  Absalom didn't talk to Amnon at all.
[22] And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

 


 


Amnon was David's oldest or firstborn son. He would be king after David dies.
 

Absalom has Amnon killed because of what he did to Tamar.


Two years passed. One day, Absalom's workers were cutting the wool off the sheep. They were in the place named Baal-hasor which is near Ephraim. Absalom invited all of his brothers and half-brothers to come.
[23] And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.


Absalom asked David to come. But David said no.  He said it would be too expensive for Absalom to have a lot of people. Absalom tried to convince David to go. David said no, but he blessed Absalom.
[24] 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.
[25] 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.
 

David didn't want to go, but Absalom asked David to let Amnon go. David asked why Amnon should go.
[26] 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?


Absalom kept asking David, so David let Amnon and all of his other sons go.
[27] But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.


Abaslom talked to his workers. When Amnon becomes drunk, Absalom will tell them to kill him. They should kill him and not be afraid because Absalom told them to do it.

[28] 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.


The workers obeyed Absalom. They killed Amnon.  Then all of David's other sons got up. They hurried and ran away.
[29] 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.


While the other sons were traveling home, someone told David what happened. They told David that Absalom killed all of his sons. They told David that none of his sons were alive.
[30] And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.


David was very upset. He got up and tore his clothes to show he was very, very sad. Then he laid on the ground. All of his workers tore their clothes, too. They stood near David.
[31] Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

 

Jonadab was the cousin who gave Amnon the plan to rape his own sister, Tamar. Jonadab was David's nephew. Jonadab was the son of David's brother, Shimeah.

Jonadab  talked to David. Jonadab said that David should not think all of his sons are dead. Jonadab thinks that only Amnon is dead. He said that Absalom has been planning to kill Amnon since the day Amnon raped Tamar.
[32] And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
[33] Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.


Absalom ran away.

The man in the city who watched the gate could see far. He saw many people coming to the city. Jonadab said the people were David's sons. He said he was right, and that they were not killed.
[34] But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
[35] And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

 

When Jonadab finished talking, the sons arrived. They were crying. David and his workers were crying, too.
[36] And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
 

Absalom ran away. He went to his grandfather, Talmai.  Talmai was the son of Ammihud--the king of the place called Geshur.  David was sad for his son and mourned (cried) every day.
[37] But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.


Absalom stayed in Geshur for 3 years.
[38] So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.


David wanted to go see Absalom. He knew Amnon was dead, and Amnon could not come back.
[39] And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
 

 

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