Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon
After two years, Absalom arranges a sheep-shearing feast, presses David for attendance, and succeeds in bringing Amnon when the king himself declines.
T23wo years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king. 24And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?” 25“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing. 26“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” 27But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons.
Absalom orders his men to strike Amnon down when he is drunk, and they kill him as commanded while the other sons flee.
28Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!” 29So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.
A false report reaches David that all his sons are dead, and the court falls into grief. Jonadab then clarifies that only Amnon has been killed, as Absalom had planned from the day of Tamar’s violation.
30While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!” 31Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. 33So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”