Absalom Seeks Revenge

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 13:19-39. Tamar was so upset about what her brother Ammon did she put ashes on her head and tore her multicolored garment. She put her head in her hands and cried.

Her brother Absalom saw her distress and asked if her brother Ammon had been with her. He advised her to hold her peace because Ammon was her brother. So Tamar remained in desolation at her brother Absalom’s house.

When King David heard what happened he was angry. Absalom didn’t speak to his brother from that day forward. He was angry with Ammon for forcing himself on his sister.

Two years later, Absalom and his sheep shearers were in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim. Absalom went to the king and invited the king, his servants and all the king’s sons to join them.

The king didn’t think it necessary for him and all his servants to join Absalom, because they would be burdensome to him. But the king gave Absalom his blessings.

Absalom insisted that the king allow his sons to join him and his sheep shearers. The king finally gave in and allowed his sons to go with Absalom.

Absalom instructed his servants to wait until Ammon was drunk on wine and when he told them to they were to kill him. Absalom’s servants did as he requested and killed Ammon.

When the other brothers saw what happened they got on their donkeys and left. They may have feared for their life as well.

The king heard that Absalom had killed all of his sons. He was so upset he laid on the ground and he and his servants tore their clothes.

Jonadab came and told David not all of his sons were killed, only Ammon. He also told David that Absalom had it in his heart to do away with Ammon ever since he took advantage of his sister, Tamar.

Absolom fled and the man who kept watch saw many people coming behind him.

Jonadab told the king that his sons were coming home and as soon as he got done telling him they arrived. The king, his sons, and his servants were distraught over Ammon’s death. They all shed tears of grief.

Absalom fled. He went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, who was the king of Geshur. Absalom stayed in Geshur for three years.

His father, King David, mourned for his son every day. After three years David was comforted concerning his son Ammon, who was dead, but David longed to go to Absalom.

This is one of those tough family situations that went from bad to worse. David’s heart had to be grieved. His family was torn apart by all these incidents. His children turned on one another. Ammon violated his daughter, Tamar and Absalom killed his brother, Ammon. Can you imagine how broken David’s heart must have been?

I’m sure David never imagined that anything like this would take place in his family. Sometimes the people we love the most and are closest to hurt us the worse. Have you ever had tough situations in your family that broke your heart? Maybe you haven’t had anything to this extent or maybe you have. Either way when our heart is broken all we can do is turn to God for comfort.

As you’ve probably heard it said a million times “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” This is a perfect example of that statement. Absalom let his anger get the best of him. It is understandable that he would be angry and upset in this situation, but taking his brother’s life didn’t help the situation any. It only made the situation worse than it already was.

Romans 12:19 tells us, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 13:19-39

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 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.
24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32 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.
33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

Things to think about:

• What did Absalom tell Tamar to do about what Ammon did to her?
• How did Absalom plan to get revenge on Ammon?
• Did his plan work?
• How did Absalom’s revenge affect his family?
• Who should we turn to when life gets too hard to handle?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see the turmoil that took place in King David’s family. We can see that his heart was broken over these circumstances in his family. Thank God he had You to turn to in his time of trouble. David loved You and You loved him. Help us to turn to You for the comfort we need when life is tough. Help us to keep our emotions under control when life is out of our control. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “I Go to the Rock” ~ Whitney Houston

Deborah H. Bateman

Deborah H. Bateman encourages other believers in their walk with Jesus Christ through Bible study. She is a Christian Author, Blogger, Website Designer, and Book Publishing Coach. She is the Founder of Christian Daily Resources a Christian online ministry dedicated to "Sharing God's Word". Deborah is the author of more than thirty books in the Daily Bible Reading Series and one book about self-publishing called: Self-Publishing Simplified: How to Publish a Book on Kindle. Deborah shares Daily Bible Reading lessons here on her blog at http://DeborahHBateman.com/blog Her website: Christian Daily Resources is at http://ChristianDailyResources.com She shares a Daily Bible Verse on her blog Bible Verse Tweet at http://www.bibleversetweet.com/. Deborah has a family favorite recipe blog called Recipe for Life at http://deborah-bateman.blogspot.com. She invites you to check them out and subscribe to the ones you like.