Rabbah is Captured – 2 Samuel 12:26–31 & 1 Chronicles 20:2–3
- Joab fights against the Ammonites at Rabbah, taking the royal city, and sends word to David. David brings all of Israel, and they take all of Rabbah. The king's crown is given to David, and all the people are made servants to Israel.
Amnon and Tamar – 2 Samuel 13
- Absalom, David's son, has a beautiful sister named Tamar. Amnon, another of David's sons, loves her, and is miserable because of it. When Amnon's cousin Jonadab questions him why, he admits that he loves Tamar. The friend instructs him to feign illness and ask his father to have Tamar come to him and make him cakes. Amnon does as his friend suggests.
- David sends Tamar to Amnon's house, and she makes the cakes, but he refuses to eat. He has everyone else sent away and calls Tamar into his chamber. When she comes in, he tells her to lie with him, but she tells him not to do such an outrageous thing. He doesn't listen, and being stronger than she, he violates her.
- Then Amnon hates her and sends her away even though she begs him not to. Amnon has his servant put her out of the house, and she puts ashes on her head and tears her virgin's robe. When Absalom sees her, he realizes what has happened and tells her not to take it to heart. Tamar lives, a desolate woman, in Absalom's house.
- David is very angry, and Absalom hates Amnon for what he did.
Absalom Murders Amnon
- Two years later, Absalom has sheepshearers near Ephraim, and invites all the king's sons. Absalom convinces David to allow Amnon to go with him (David would not allow all of them to go), and Absalom then instructs his servants that once Amnon is drunk, they are to kill him. The servants do as instructed.
- Word comes to David that all his sons are dead, and he tears his garments and lies on the ground. David's nephew Jonadab tells him that only Amnon is dead and that Absalom had determined to do this from the time Amnon violated Tamar.
Absalom Flees to Geshur
- Absalom flees to Talmai (his maternal grandfather) King of Geshur and stays there for three years. David's spirit longs to go to Absalom.
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem – 2 Samuel 14
- Joab sends a woman to David with another story (much like Nathan told a story to David). She appeals to David to set aside the usual laws regarding murder due to extenuating circumstances. David questions if Joab is behind this woman's story, and she admits that Joab did this in order to change the course of things.
- David instructs Joab to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, which he does. David determines that Absalom will live in his own house and not come into his presence.
- Absalom is very handsome, and he has three sons and a daughter (named Tamar, and she is also beautiful).
- Absalom lives in Jerusalem for two years without coming into the king's presence. He summons Joab twice, but he doesn't come. Absalom then has his servants set fire to Joab's field, and Joab comes to him to question him why he did that. Absalom tells him it is because he didn't come when he sent for him, then questions him why he has been summoned to Jerusalem because it would be better for him to still be in Geshur. He tells Joab that he either wants to go into the presence of the king or be put to death.
- Joab goes to the king with his request, and David summons Absalom. Absalom bows before David, and David kisses him.
No comments:
Post a Comment