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2 Samuel 13

John Trapp · Citado em PreceptAustin

2 Samuel 13

Trapp on friend - “A friend no friend; a carnal friend, a spiritual enemy, who advised, for the recovery of the body, the ruin of his soul.” Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother - What Amnon needed at this time was what David had needed in 2 Samuel 11:1-2ff, a "Jonathan," a kindred spirit, a man who was closer than a brother, a man who would not be afraid to speak the truth of God's Word and Way to him. Jonadab was his first cousin and was the kind of "friend" we could all do without. Jonadab was more like a "friendly enemy," for Proverbs 27:6 says "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." THOUGHT- As an aside, men (and women), if you do not have a "Jonathan" in your life, then you are vulnerable to falling into sin, sin you would not even have imagined was possible for you to commit! Do not be deceived (by sin, by fallen flesh)! You MUST have an accountability partner (whose name is not "Jonadab"!). You need a kindred spirit, a man with a pure heart. Paul gave this same advice to Timothy writing "Now flee (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) from youthful lusts and pursue (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) righteousness, faith, love and peace, (WATCH THIS NEXT CLAUSE!!!) with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (a heart continually seeking Jesus, His Word, His Spirit, His glory)." (2Ti 2:22+). The preposition "with" (meta) means "with someone, to aid, to help!") The secular saying is true - no man is an island. A man (woman) needs accountability which is authentic and transparent and protecting! They have to be willing to ask the tough questions and after they've ask them, ask one more - "Did you just lie to me?"! and Jonadab was a very shrewd man - The Septuagint has a good rendering of Jonadab as "a very cunning (crafty) man." NET says he was "crafty" which means exceptionally clever, cunning, or shrewd, especially in devious or underhanded ways. In Genesis 3:1+ we read "the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made." Jonadab's devilish advice makes us think he was most likely a son of his father the devil! Jonadab was wise but not with the wisdom "from above (which ) is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits (HIS ADVICE WOULD LEAD TO "ROTTEN FRUIT"), unwavering, without hypocrisy." (James 3:17+). Jonadab's wisdom was "not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic." (James 3:15+). Jonadab was a man who did not live up to his name which means something like "Jehovah is willing." His tactics were more like "flesh is willing!" One English dictionary has an excellent definition of shrewd as "having or showing astute or sharp judgment in practical matters, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise." This definition would prove to an apt description of Jonadab to the degradation of Amnon's character and the defiling of Amnon's sister. Rich Cathers - Jonadab is one smart cookie. The word here is normally used to describe great wisdom, such as Solomon had. But here we see that though Jonadab’s advice is shrewd, it isn’t very ethical. “Smart” isn’t always “right”! We ought to be careful about what kind of influence our friends have on us. Do they encourage us to follow the Lord, or do they encourage us to follow the flesh? Do not be deceived (present imperative w/ a negative see need for Spirit to obey) "Bad company corrupts good morals." -- 1Cor 15:33+ Clearly Amnon was already "corrupted" by his sinful desire for Tamar and just needed a "catalyst" to make his lust a reality! 2 Samuel 13:4 He said to him, "O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" Then Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom." why are you so depressed: 1Ki 21:7 Es 5:13,14 Lu 12:32 morning by morning Isa 3:9 Jer 8:12 Mic 7:3 why are you so depressed Lev 18:9 Lev 20:17 2 Samuel 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AMNON'S THOUGHT LIFE HAD DRAINED HIM PHYSICALLY He said to him, "O son of the king - Note his manner of addressing Amnon. It was like saying, you are the king's son and the king's son should have no worries, no complaints for he can have anything his heart desires. The NET has "Why are you, the king's son, so depressed every morning?" noting that "An more idiomatic translation might be "Why are you of all people…?" Recall also that 2Sa 3:2+ tells us "Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess." And so, in theory, Amnon was the crown prince, heir apparent and first in line of succession to the throne when David passed. Why are you so depressed (dal) morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" - The Hebrew word depressed is used in Ge 41:19NET to describe the "scrawny" cows. The Septuagint translates depressed with asthenes which describes bodily sickness or one who is physically weak. This was Amnon. So something about Amnon's countenance, physical appearance or affect was obvious to (shrewd) Jonadab, who quickly picked up on it, asking in essence "Why are you so downcast?" Why would Amnon's physical appearance be so obvious? He knew (when he was thinking clearly) that to lie with Tamar (which is what he desired) would be an awful, despicable, heinous sin. And even in his deceived reasoning, he knew that the outcome could not be good. This tells us how strong was his desire for Tamar, because it clouded his reasoning and caused him to cast aside any "warning lights" (like being cut off from your people for sleeping with your sister! Lev 20:17+) that should have served as major impediments against following through on the lusts of his flesh. If he knew anything about the Law of Moses, he knew this was sin. However it is not too much to assume that he had fantasized about Tamar and thus had already committed sin in his heart. As Jesus would teach almost 1000 years later, "I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mt 5:28+) And what had Amnon done with this sin? Had he confessed it to God? I don't think so, but instead of confess it, he covered it and kept silent about it, with the result that his body wasted away, for God's hand was heavy upon him and his vitality drained away ("like father, like son") (Ps 32:3-4+). Amnon's asthenic appearance was proof of the truth of Proverbs 28:13+ that says "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper." And while Amnon had not yet sexually violated Tamar physically, he undoubtedly had violated her in his mind! Like his father, his eyes got him in trouble. And like his father who had concealed his sin, Amnon concealed his and thus he did not prosper! Amnon's appearance reminds me of Cain when God asked him “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Ge 4:6-7+) Cain's condition set him up for sin to jump on him, which is exactly what it did with Cain and would soon do with Amnon. Sin was crouching at the door of Amnon's heart, just waiting to pounce and urge him to take what his flesh was lusting for. After all, he was the king's son and women in that day were treated as little more than "property." Sin is deceptive! Then Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom - Amnon replies to Jonadab that he is in love with his own sister. As the story unfolds, one has to believe that this was not genuine love, but the perversion of love, which is lust, the fruit of which is sin and the wages of which are death (Ro 6:23+ > 2Sa 13:28, 29+). Depressed (01800)(dal from dalal = to hang, be low, languish, to be small) is an adjective (often used as a noun Ex 23:3) which means poor, weak, thin, insignificant, helpless. Poor are opposite the rich (Ex 30:15; 1Sa. 2:8; Pr 10:15; 22:16), and generally have no earthly power and thus are weak, even helpless (Job 34:28; Ps. 82:3; Pr. 22:22). It described the cattle in Ge 41:19NET = "scrawny". TWOT - Unlike ʿānî, dal does not emphasize pain or oppression; unlike ʿebyôn, it does not primarily emphasize need, and unlike rāsh, it represents those who lack rather than the destitute. We might consider dāl as referring to one of the lower classes in Israel (cf. 2 Kings 24:14; 2 Kings 25:12). In dāl the idea of physical (material) deprivation predominates. Compare, also, dallâ denoting the opposite of fatness (Genesis 41:19), and the poorest and lowest of Israel whom the Babylonians left behind (2 Kings 24:14). Gideon cites the weakness (dal) of his clan when he questioned God's call to him to deliver Israel (Judges 6:15; cf 2 Samuel 3:1). dal describes the appearance of Amnon as he pined for Tamar (2 Samuel 13:4). Dal - 47v - depressed(1), helpless(7), least(1), lowly(2), needy(1), poor(29), poor man(3), poorest(1), weak(2), weaker(1). Gen. 41:19; Exod. 23:3; Exod. 30:15; Lev. 14:21; Lev. 19:15; Jdg. 6:15; Ruth 3:10; 1 Sam. 2:8; 2 Sam. 3:1; 2 Sam. 13:4; Job 5:16; Job 20:10; Job 20:19; Job 31:16; Job 34:19; Job 34:28; Ps. 41:1; Ps. 72:13; Ps. 82:3; Ps. 82:4; Ps. 113:7; Prov. 10:15; Prov. 14:31; Prov. 19:4; Prov. 19:17; Prov. 21:13; Prov. 22:9; Prov. 22:16; Prov. 22:22; Prov. 28:3; Prov. 28:8; Prov. 28:11; Prov. 28:15; Prov. 29:7; Prov. 29:14; Isa. 10:2; Isa. 11:4; Isa. 14:30; Isa. 25:4; Isa. 26:6; Jer. 5:4; Jer. 39:10; Amos 2:7; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11; Amos 8:6; Zeph. 3:12 2 Samuel 13:5 Jonadab then said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.'" Lie down: 2Sa 16:21-23 17:1-4 Ps 50:18,19 Pr 19:27 Mk 6:24,25 Ac 23:15 2 Samuel 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Leviticus 18:9 ‘The nakedness of your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether born at home or born outside, their nakedness you shall not uncover. Leviticus 20:17+ ‘If there is a man who takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off (Lxx = exolethreuo = utterly destroyed!) in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he bears his guilt. JONADAB'S DEMONIC ADVICE TO AMNON Jonadab then said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill - This is an ironic statement for clearly Amnon already looked "depressed" (v4). Jonadab urges him to take it a step further and look really sick! NET NOTE on pretend to be ill - This verb is used in the Hitpael stem only in this chapter of the Hebrew Bible. With the exception of 2Sa 13:2 it describes not a real sickness but one pretended in order to entrap Tamar. The Hitpael sometimes, as here, describes the subject making oneself appear to be of a certain character. When your father comes to see you - Jonadab knew Amnon's servants or attendants would alert David that one of his sons was so sick he had taken to bed. say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.' - Jonadab gives Amnon evil advice, but by now Amnon is so engrossed in his lust that he is willing to do anything that might allow him make his fantasy a reality. Note the repetitive emphasis by Jonadab on the eyes (in my sight....I may see), so that the sight of beautiful Tamar would only inflame his lustful passions to the boiling point and bypass any hindrances his conscience might have presented! BAD ADVICE 2 Samuel 13:5 - James Butler - Sermon Starters Volume 4 “Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on they bed, and make thyself sick; and when they 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” (2 Samuel 13:5). Jonadab was a cousin of Amnon who was en evil rascal but was also a friend of Amnon. This friendship resulted in Amnon’s death. Bad friends are not conducive to a good life. In our text we learn of the bad advice of evil friends give. FIRST—THE DECEIT IN THE ADVICE “Jonadab said unto him.” Bad friends will give bad advice. What Jonadab told Ammon to do was very deceitful. • The deceiving about his feelings. “Make thyself sick” The deceit in the advice started early. Amnon was to pretend he was sick. The only sickness Amnon truly had was sin-sickness. • The deceiving for his father. “When thy father cometh.” David would be deceived as to the condition of Amnon and of the request from Amnon. • The deceiving of the female. “Let my sister come, and give me meat [food].” Poor Tamar would really be deceived. She was deceived about Amnon’s sickness, about David’s request, and about Amnon’s character. • The deceiving of the felon. “Him.” The person who was deceived the most was Amnon himself. He thought he was getting the desires of his perverted heart but it actually resulted in his death (2 Samuel 13:28, 29). Sin deceives its victim. SECOND—THE DESIRE IN THE ADVICE This advice was a result of Amnon’s desire to have sex with his sister, Tamar. Evil friends give evil advice to fulfill evil desires. • It was a forbidden desire. The law forbid this incest (Leviticus 18:9, 22; Deuteronomy 27:22). But evil friends have no respect for the law. They are lawbreakers and will encourage you to break the law. Don’t let the law hinder your desire is their counsel. • It was a favored desire. Jonadab did nothing to hinder this foul desire of Amnon. Evil friend will help you fulfill your forbidden desire. They will do nothing to oppose it. Foolishly we turn against those who advise us to walk a holy life. We like people who encourage us in our evil ways. That is how many pastors get their pastorates. They preach what the people want to here. • It was a foolish desire. “Let my sister Tamar come.” Tamar told Amnon that his desire was “folly” and in fulfilling it “thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel” (2 Samuel 13:12, 13). She was right. • It was a fatal desire. “Lay thee down on they bed.” Amnon would be killed (2 Samuel 13:28, 29) because of his desire. Sin brings death (Romans 6:23). It deceives you into thinking it will bring you many delights when in truth it results in death. 2 Samuel 13:6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand." make me: Ge 18:6 Mt 13:33 2 Samuel 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AMNON'S DECEPTIVE PLAN PLAYED OUT So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand - Amnon has taken Jonadab's shrewd (wicked) advice "hook, link and sinker," and put the plan into action by acting the part of a sick brother, and hiding the truth that he was a sin-sick brother! Note how Amnon's lust led to pretense (lying) which parallels David's sin of the lust of his flesh that led to his lying to Uriah. Once again we see the principle that sin almost always has other wicked "offspring." David

2 Samuel 13

Trapp - “As David had committed adultery, made Uriah drunk, and then murdered him: so Amnon committeth incest, is made drunk, and [is] then murdered.” Warren

2 Samuel 13

Trapp - The name Tamar means “Palm Tree,” signifying fruitfulness. The name Absalom means “His Father’s Peace.” The name Amnon means “Faithful, Stable.” “None of them answered their names.” QUESTION - Who was Tamar in the Bible? ANSWER - There are three women named Tamar in Scripture. One Tamar, the beautiful daughter of Absalom, is only mentioned in passing in 2 Samuel 14:27; this Tamar became the mother of Queen Maacah, who married King Rehoboam. The other two Tamars are both tragic figures, women who were ruined by the neglect and abuse of close family members. Their stories seem to be included in Scripture for the purpose of providing historical and spiritual information about the Messianic line. This article will focus on Tamar the daughter-in-law of Judah; and Tamar the daughter of David. Jacob’s son Judah (patriarch of the line of Judah) had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. A woman named Tamar married Er, but then Er died, leaving her a widow. Since it was required that the next of kin care for a brother’s widow, Tamar was given to Onan, but he also died. Shelah was still a boy and could not marry Tamar, so Judah asked her to return to her father’s house and wait until Shelah was grown up. However, once Shelah was old enough, Judah did not honor his promise. Tamar remained an unmarried widow. Tamar then went into town disguised as a prostitute, tricked Judah, and got him to sleep with her. She then became pregnant by Judah and bore twin sons named Perez and Zerah. The story is recorded in Genesis 38. The other Tamar was King David’s daughter. She had a brother, Absalom, and a half-brother, Amnon. Amnon had an obsessive desire for his half-sister Tamar, and one day he pretended to be sick and called for her to come to him in his bedroom to help him. When she was there alone with him, he raped her. Unfortunately, though David was angry, he did not punish Amnon or require him to marry Tamar, so Absalom took it upon himself to murder Amnon in revenge (2 Samuel 13:1–22). Absalom’s anger and bitterness toward his father because of these events eventually led to his attempt to usurp his throne and to disgrace David by committing public immorality with his father’s concubines. We would expect the twin sons of Judah’s incestuous union with his daughter-in-law to be outcasts, hidden away, or perhaps not even mentioned in the Bible. However, surprisingly, the Messianic line continues through Tamar’s son Perez. God did not provide a “cleaner” way to continue the line that would eventually include His Son. Perez was the ancestor of Jesus of Nazereth. It is the same with King David’s story. Absalom’s anger and rejection of his father’s rule seem to have been born out of a festering bitterness toward David. Though Absalom was clearly in the wrong for the murder of Amnon, we sympathize with him, and we sympathize with his disgraced sister. Considering David’s own immorality and the murder he committed, it is easy to see why Absalom thought himself the better man. But, despite David’s faults, God still chose to continue the line of the Messiah through David rather than through Absalom. Why are these unpleasant stories included in Scripture, and why are the people involved—people who hurt others, even their own family members—granted the privilege of being included in the Messianic line? It may be simply to show us that God’s purpose is accomplished despite man’s unrighteousness. In Hebrews 11 there is a long list of Old Testament people who are commended for their faith, and among them are many sinful people who did dreadful things. But, because they believed God, their faith was credited to them as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).GotQuestions.org (Bolding added) QUESTION: Who was Amnon in the Bible? ANSWER: Amnon was King David’s firstborn son. His mother was Ahinoam. Amnon showed despicable character, an alarming lack of self-control, and great selfishness. Amnon fell in love—or in lust—with his half-sister Tamar. She was the full sister of David’s son Absalom, and the Bible says she was very beautiful (2 Samuel 13:1). Amnon was obsessed with the desire to sleep with her, and his obsession became so consuming that Amnon grew physically sick (verse 2). Jonadab, David’s nephew, was Amnon’s adviser. He noted Amnon’s depression and, being a shrewd man (1 Samuel 13:3), came up with a plan for Amnon to sate his desire to have Tamar for himself. Jonadab gave Amnon wicked advice: he advised Amnon to feign illness and request that Tamar come to his quarters to make him some food and feed him herself. This would provide the opportunity that Amnon desired. Amnon followed the counsel, and Tamar innocently came to Amnon’s quarters to prepare some bread. When the food was ready, Amnon cleared his quarters of everyone except for Tamar and asked her to come into his bedroom to feed him. She did, and he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister” (verse 11). Tamar refused Amnon’s advances, calling his actions a “wicked thing” (2 Samuel 13:12). She tried to reason with him, pointing out the unlawfulness of his desire and that, if he took her virginity, she would bear a lifelong disgrace. She warned him that he would be counted among “the wicked fools in Israel” (verse 13). To buy time, Tamar told Amnon to request their father for her hand in marriage—such a marriage was unlawful and would not have been granted, but Tamar was clutching at straws. But Amnon did not heed her, and he proceeded to rape her (verse 14). Immediately after the rape, Amnon was filled with hatred toward Tamar; in fact, “he hated her more than he had loved her” (2 Samuel 13:15). In all likelihood, Amnon knew what he had done was abhorrent. But instead of allowing himself to feel guilty, he turned his anger on Tamar. He ordered her out and had his servant bolt the door, ignoring Tamar’s pleas to not shame her in this manner. Tamar knew she was ruined, so she tore the robes that designated her as a virgin, put ashes on her head, and mourned loudly as she left. Sadly, David, although furious at his son’s crime, did not punish Amnon (2 Samuel 13:21). But Absalom hated Amnon for what he had done to his sister and sought revenge. Two full years later, he devised a plan to move Amnon into a place of vulnerability. Absalom asked David and the princes to attend a sheep-shearing with him. David declined but allowed his sons to go with Absalom. When all the sons had gathered and were drinking together, Absalom ordered his men to kill Amnon in cold blood (verse 28). In fear for their lives, the rest of Absalom’s brothers fled back to the palace (verse 29). While they were on their way, a false report saying that Absalom had killed all his brothers reached David. Distraught, David fell down in despair (2 Samuel 13:31). Jonadab appeared to inform the king that only Amnon had been killed, and Jonadab told him why: “This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar” (verse 32). When the remainder of David’s sons reached the palace, they came to David and mourned with him. Absalom, meanwhile, fled to Geshur to escape punishment for his brother’s murder. Although David eventually found consolation and wanted Absalom to return (2 Samuel 13:39), it was several years before the two met again. Sadly, however, the family had been irreparably torn apart by Amnon’s and Absalom’s actions. In time, Absalom tried to take his father’s throne and was killed by David’s army commander, Joab. GotQuestions.org (See also Who are the sons of David mentioned in the Bible?) QUESTION - Who was Absalom in the Bible? (See also Character study by Alexander Whyte) ANSWER - Absalom was the third son of King David, by his wife Maacah. The bulk of Absalom’s story is told in 2 Samuel 13-19. He had a strong influence on his father’s reign. The first recorded event defining Absalom’s life also involved his sister Tamar and half-brother Amnon. Tamar was beautiful, and Amnon lusted after her. When Tamar rebuffed Amnon’s advances, he arranged, through subterfuge, to have her come to his house, where he raped her. After the rape, Amnon put Tamar out of his house in disgrace. When Absalom heard what happened, he took his sister in to live with him. For the next two years, Absalom nursed a hatred of his half-brother. Then, using some subterfuge of his own, Absalom invited Amnon to his house for a party. During the festivities, in the presence of David’s other sons, Absalom had his servants kill Amnon in cold blood. Out of fear of his father, Absalom ran away to Geshur, where he stayed for three years. During that time, Scripture says that David “longed to go out to Absalom,” but we’re never told that he actually did anything to reconcile the relationship. David’s general, Joab, was ultimately responsible for bringing Absalom back to Jerusalem. However, even then, Absalom was not permitted to enter David’s presence, but had to live in a house of his own. He lived this way, presumably never contacting or being contacted by his father, for two years. Finally, once again by way of Joab’s intercession, the two men get back together, and there is a small measure of reconciliation. Unfortunately, this peace did not last. Possibly resenting his father’s hesitancy to bring him home, Absalom began to stealthily undermine David’s rule. He set himself up as judge in Jerusalem and gave out promises of what he would do if he were king. After four years of this, he asked to go to Hebron, where he had secretly arranged to have himself proclaimed king. The conspiracy strengthened, and the number of Absalom’s followers grew steadily, such that David began to fear for his own life. David gathered his servants and fled Jerusalem. However, David left behind some of his concubines and a few informers as well, including Zadok and Abiathar the priests and his adviser Hushai. Upon entering Jerusalem as king, Absalom sought to solidify his position, first by taking over David’s house and sleeping with his concubines, considered an unforgivable act. Then he laid plans to immediately pursue and attack David’s forces, but the idea was abandoned owing to the advice of Hushai. This delay allowed David to muster what troops he had at Mahanaim and mount a counterattack to retake the kingdom. David himself did not take part in the counterattack, having been persuaded by his generals to remain behind. He did give explicit instructions to the generals to “deal gently” with Absalom, in spite of his treason. Scripture makes the point that all the troops heard David’s orders concerning Absalom. However, the orders were disobeyed. As Absalom was riding under some trees, his long hair became entangled in the branches, and he was unhorsed. Joab found Absalom suspended in mid-air and killed him there. Thus, the rebellion was quelled, and David returned to Jerusalem as king. David mourned deeply over his son, so much so that it affected the morale of the army. His grief was so great that their victory seemed hollow to them, and they returned to the capital in shame rather than triumph. It was not until he was rebuked by Joab that David was restored to a measure of kingly behavior. Much has been said about David’s neglect of Absalom in this sad incident. It is possible that parental responsibility is a lesson we can take from this episode, but Scripture does not expressly teach it here. We do know that David did nothing about Amnon’s rape of Tamar, although he knew about it. If David had avenged Tamar, would Absalom have taken it upon himself to mete out justice? And what was the impact on Absalom’s soul of carrying hatred for Amnon for so long? We don’t know the answers to those questions, but it seems that David’s inaction had a deleterious effect in Absalom’s life. What we can say with certainty, however, is that pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Absalom’s self-promotion led to nothing. Also, God is sovereign. God foiled Absalom’s plan to overthrow his father’s kingdom (see 2 Samuel 17:14). All events are settled in eternity, and nothing, not even the Absaloms of the world, can thwart the power of God to do as He pleases in history.GotQuestions.org Related Resources from Gotquestions: What is Absalom’s Monument? What is an Absalom spirit? 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. BGT 2 Samuel 13:2 καὶ ἐθλίβετο Αμνων ὥστε ἀρρωστεῖν διὰ Θημαρ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ ὅτι παρθένος ἦν αὐτή καὶ ὑπέρογκον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Αμνων τοῦ ποιῆσαί τι αὐτῇ LXE 2 Samuel 13:2 And Amnon was distressed even to sickness, because of Themar his sister; for she was a virgin, and it seemed very difficult for Amnon to do anything to her. KJV 2 Samuel 13:2 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. NET 2 Samuel 13:2 But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her. CSB 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her. ESV 2 Samuel 13:2 And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. NIV 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon became frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her. NLT 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her. NRS 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. NJB 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was so obsessed with his sister Tamar that it made him ill, since she was a virgin and Amnon thought it impossible to do anything to her. NAB 2 Samuel 13:2 He was in such straits over his sister Tamar that he became sick; since she was a virgin, Amnon thought it impossible to carry out his designs toward her. YLT 2 Samuel 13:2 And Amnon hath distress -- even to become sick, because of Tamar his sister, for she is a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her. GWN 2 Samuel 13:2 Amnon was so obsessed with his half sister Tamar that he made himself sick. It seemed impossible for him to be alone with her because she was a virgin. BBE 2 Samuel 13:2 And he was so deeply in love that he became ill because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin, and so it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. Amnon was so frustrated: 1Ki 21:4 Song 5:8 2Co 7:10 2 Samuel 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FRUSTRATED FLESH OF AMNON Amnon was so frustrated (obsessed, tormented; tsarar; Lxx - thlibo) because of his sister Tamar - "It was distressing to Amnon" - The idea of frustrated is that he felt restricted, cramped, distressed, bound up by his sinful thoughts about Tamar and those thoughts repeatedly pressed in on his heart (the Septuagint translates "frustrated" with thlibo in the imperfect tense depicting an act which occurs over and over). His fallen flesh was pressing on him over and over again. He was battling with his fallenness, against an inner enemy that is not only powerful but deceitful, so deceitful that it would cause him to reason unclearly or even more to the point, to not use sound reason at all. He was consumed with passion for his beautiful sister. In a word, he had the seeds of lust growing, the same seed that had caused his father David to commit unspeakable evil (cf 2Sa 11:2+). David committed evil against another man's wife, but Amnon had become so deceived that he would soon commit evil against his very own sister. I am reminded of Hosea 8:7 which says "they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind." David had sown the wind, but would begin to reap the whirlwind (or hurricane), incest being an even greater evil than he had committed with Bathsheba (if there can be a greater degree of evil). That he made himself ill (chalah; Lxx - arrosteo = be weak, sickly), for she was a virgin (bethulah; Lxx - parthenos) - Josephus says "his grief so eat up his body, that he grew lean, and his colour was changed." Why was he "ill?" He was "lovesick" (Song 2:5, Song 5:8). Lovesick (at WebMD) refers to the strong feelings that arise from being unable to be with your loved one physically or emotionally. In Amnon's case as the context shows, we might more better term it "lust sick!" (see also infatuation) His desires for Tamar were so strong, so continual that it was as if he was actually ill (he may have even been that). Such is the effects of lust let out of its cage! It begins by devouring the one who has tried unsuccessfully to keep it in the cage! Of course this term of explanation, for, makes it clear why he was feeling overwhelmed with a sense of sickness! Not only was she beautiful. Not only was he her brother. But Tamar was also a virgin, untouched by a man's hand. The thought that it would be his own hand that was seeking to touch her was enough to make him ill! Unfortunately, being made ill is no defense against a raging fire of lust in one's breast! True love waits. Lust doesn’t! THOUGHT - For all you young ladies, if a man is pressuring you to go to bed with him, tell him that if he really loves you, he’ll wait.