2 Samuel 13:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David 's brother, said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king 's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar.

NIV: But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, "My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

NASB: And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, responded, 'Let my lord not assume that they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead; because this has been set up by the intent of Absalom since the day that he violated his sister Tamar.

CSB: But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: "My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar.

NLT: But just then Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimea, arrived and said, 'No, don’t believe that all the king’s sons have been killed! It was only Amnon! Absalom has been plotting this ever since Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

Daniel is lying on the ground, robes torn. His third son, Absalom, asked him if his brothers could come to a celebration for sheep shearing season in Ephraim. Against his better judgment, David agreed. David's oldest son, Amnon, had raped Absalom's sister (2 Samuel 13:14). David was suspicious when Absalom specifically asked for Amnon, but he seems to have thought that the past two years had mellowed Absalom's anger (2 Samuel 13:23–29).

While David's sons are away, David receives news that Absalom has killed all his brothers. David is convinced the words are true. Jonadab tries to convince him otherwise.

Jonadab is such an interesting character in the dynamics of David's extended family. He is first introduced as Amnon's shrewd and crafty friend or advisor (2 Samuel 13:3). He's the one who comes up with the idea that Amnon should pretend to be sick to convince David to send Tamar to him (2 Samuel 13:5). It's not clear whether Jonadab knew that Amnon intended to rape her.

Jonadab is also the son of Shimeah, one of David's brothers, making him David's nephew and a cousin to all of David's sons (2 Samuel 13:3). As David mourns, Jonadab reveals that he apparently knew or guessed about Absalom's plan to kill Amnon at the feast. The other option is that he, too, was there and had only just arrived back in Jerusalem.

In any case, Jonadab boldly comes to his uncle the king to tell him that not all of his sons are dead, only Amnon. He also reports the reason Absalom had Amnon killed. Absalom has been planning to kill Amnon from the day he raped Tamar (2 Samuel 13:33).

In 2 Samuel 13:30–36, David receives tragic news. The first report is that his third son, Absalom, has slaughtered his half-brothers: all of David's other sons. The same nephew who helped arrange the event that led Absalom to revenge (2 Samuel 13:3–5) assures him that only Amnon, who raped Absalom's sister, has died. The surviving brothers then arrive to mourn with their father.

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).