2 Samuel 13:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king 's sons.

NIV: Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there.

NASB: Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons to celebrate.

CSB: Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

NLT: Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to a feast.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

This verse introduces what's about to happen and summarizes Absalom and David's discussion (2 Samuel 13:24–27).

It's been two years since Amnon, David's oldest son, raped David's daughter Tamar and his own half-sister (2 Samuel 13:14). In that time, David has been angry, but he hasn't held Amnon to account (2 Samuel 13:21). He should at least force Amnon to give Tamar justice by marrying her and providing her with a family. But as confident as David is on the battlefield, he has a hard time managing those who are closest to him.

Absalom, Tamar's full brother, has spent the time in cold calculation. He's acted like everything's normal, and he hasn't given away how he feels about Amnon (2 Samuel 13:20–22).

It's time to make his move. Absalom invites David and his courtiers to celebrate while workers shear Absalom's sheep. David demurs, suggesting Absalom doesn't have the money to throw a party that big. Absalom insists that at least Amnon come, possibly as the king's representative. David questions his choice, so Absalom asks that all his brothers come (2 Samuel 13:24–27). David had nineteen sons in total, although the youngest probably aren't included in this incident (1 Chronicles 3:1–9).

If David was suspicious about the situation, he doesn't show it. He should have recognized that Absalom was inviting his sister's rapist to the countryside several miles away, in a place surrounded by Absalom's own men. Absalom orders his servants to get Amnon drunk and then kill him (2 Samuel 13:28–29).

Wool from sheep was a major source of revenue in this region. As with the grain harvest, the time of shearing the sheep was often celebrated with feasting (1 Samuel 25:7–8). It's when everyone came together to collect wool and begin to process it. Those who owned the sheep threw a massive party for everyone who came to complete the hard work.

Second Samuel 13:20–29 depict Tamar as desolate, David as furious, and Absalom as calculating. David's oldest son, Amnon, raped his own half-sister Tamar and threw her out into the street. Tamar's full brother Absalom tries to comfort her with thoughts of familial loyalty but secretly plots his revenge. Meanwhile, David is angry but seems to make no move to punish his son. Two years later, Absalom completes his plot to ambush and murder Amnon.

In this chapter, God's curse that the sword will strike David's house (2 Samuel 12:10) begins to emerge. David's firstborn son Amnon lusts over half-sister Tamar. Tamar fights back, but Amnon first rapes her and then rejects her. David is angry but does nothing. Two years later, Tamar's full brother Absalom murders Amnon. Three years after that, Absalom returns and becomes the enemy in David's house who takes his wives in public (2 Samuel 12:11–12; 15:1–16; 16:21–23).

This begins fulfillment of some of God's curses against David (2 Samuel 12:10), and sets the scene for others (2 Samuel 12:11–12). David's oldest son, Amnon, rapes his own half-sister, Tamar. Her full brother Absalom murders Amnon, starting a five-year campaign of vengeance against David. By the end, two of David's sons will be dead, his daughter will be desolate, and David will be deeply humbled (2 Samuel 14—19).