2 Samuel 13 23

2 Samuel 13:23 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.

2 Samuel 13:23 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.

2 Samuel 13:23 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.

2 Samuel 13:23 esv

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

2 Samuel 13:23 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.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 23 Meaning

This verse marks the passage of two complete years following Amnon's horrific rape of Tamar, Absalom's full sister. It sets the scene for Absalom's premeditated vengeance against Amnon by detailing the location and occasion: a sheep-shearing festival hosted by Absalom at Baalhazor, a site near the territory of Ephraim. The key action is Absalom's deliberate invitation extended to all the king's sons, signaling a cunning stratagem to gather his half-brother Amnon, who he intended to murder.

2 Samuel 13 23 Context

This verse is critically positioned after the heinous act of Amnon's rape of Tamar (2 Sam 13:1-20) and Absalom's subsequent silence and seething hatred (2 Sam 13:21-22). While David was "very wroth" over Amnon's transgression, he took no decisive action, thereby allowing Absalom's simmering anger to solidify into a carefully planned vendetta. This parental inaction creates a vacuum that Absalom fills with his own distorted sense of justice. Broader still, the escalating violence within David's household, beginning with this event, is a direct and tragic fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy regarding the perpetual presence of the "sword" in David's house due to his own sins concerning Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam 12:10). The setting of the sheep-shearing festival—an annual occasion of joy and bounty—being chosen for such a dark deed further underscores the deep moral decay plaguing David's family and foreshadows the destructive consequences of unchecked sin and delayed justice.

2 Samuel 13 23 Word analysis

• And it came to pass after two full years (וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים, wayəhî miqqēṣ shənātayim yāmîm):
  • The phrase emphasizes the completeness and deliberate nature of the elapsed time. The "two years" highlight Absalom's meticulous, cold planning and sustained animosity rather than a sudden outburst of passion. This long period of inaction by Absalom suggests deep-seated cunning and premeditation, distinguishing his revenge from spontaneous rage. This waiting period also serves to highlight David's continued passivity and the deterioration of familial order.
• that Absalom (אַבְשָׁלוֹם, ’Avshālōm):
  • David's charismatic third son, known for his striking appearance and popular appeal. Ironically, his name means "my father is peace," a profound contrast to the chaos, division, and violence he brings to David's household. His actions here lay the foundation for his future rebellion and David's great sorrow.
• had sheep shearers (גֹזְזִים, gōzəzîm):
  • Refers to the annual sheep-shearing festival. These were significant, joyous agricultural festivals marked by feasting, wine, and social gatherings, as seen in the story of Nabal (1 Sam 25). The large-scale celebration and hospitality offered a perfect pretext for Absalom to gather many people, including the king's sons, without arousing suspicion about his true intent.
• in Baalhazor (בְּבַעַל חָצוֹר, bəḇa‘al ḥāṣôr):
  • Meaning "owner of the courtyard" or "possessor of a strong/fortified settlement." This specific location is likely Absalom's own estate, away from Jerusalem, offering him a greater degree of privacy and control to execute his plot without immediate royal oversight. It is thought to be a high point (Jebel Asur) that could serve as a vantage point or a place of retreat.
• which is beside Ephraim (אֵצֶל אֶפְרָיִם, ’ēṣel ’Efrayim):
  • Provides geographical reference, situating Baalhazor near the prominent tribal territory of Ephraim. This implies a location distinct and sufficiently distant from Jerusalem, where David and his court resided. This distance facilitated Absalom's ability to carry out his dark plan without direct intervention or surveillance from the king.
• and Absalom invited all the king's sons (וַיִּקְרָא אַבְשָׁלוֹם לְכָל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, wayyiqrā’ ’Avshālōm ləḵol bənê hammẹleḵ):
  • This "invitation" was a masterstroke of deceptive strategy. By inviting "all" of his half-brothers, Absalom cleverly disguised his specific intent for Amnon, making it appear as a gesture of broad hospitality rather than a targeted trap. It highlights Absalom's manipulative character and his readiness to use social customs to achieve his wicked ends.

2 Samuel 13 23 Bonus section

• The parallel "two full years" appears later in Absalom's story (2 Sam 14:28), where he also waits two years in Jerusalem before David grants him audience again. This numerical repetition might suggest a pattern of Absalom's long-game planning and a tendency towards delayed but impactful actions.
• The perversion of a communal, joyous event (sheep-shearing festival) for an act of assassination profoundly underscores the moral decline in David's house. It highlights how even traditions meant for celebration can be twisted to serve sinister purposes.
• This verse implicitly comments on the leadership vacuum left by David's inaction following Amnon's sin. His failure to address the injustice against Tamar allowed Absalom's vengeful plot to mature unhindered.

2 Samuel 13 23 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:23 marks the chilling precision of Absalom's revenge. The phrase "two full years" is central, signifying not an impulsive reaction but a deeply rooted, patiently nurtured plan, a stark contrast to Amnon's hasty, sinful act. This long delay highlights Absalom's cold cunning and resolute malice, suggesting a deep-seated grievance that David's inaction failed to address. Absalom skillfully exploited the traditional setting of the sheep-shearing festival—a time of joy and bounty—to provide a veneer of normalcy and an alibi for a large gathering. The chosen location, Baalhazor near Ephraim, likely Absalom's own domain and at a distance from Jerusalem, gave him the control and secrecy necessary for his plot. His inclusive invitation to "all the king's sons" was a sophisticated feint, a calculated maneuver to ensure Amnon's presence while deflecting any suspicion of his true, murderous intent. This verse sets in motion the fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy regarding the "sword" within David's house, revealing the devastating consequences of sin festering within a family.