2 Samuel 13:26 kjv
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?
2 Samuel 13:26 nkjv
Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"
2 Samuel 13:26 niv
Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us." The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?"
2 Samuel 13:26 esv
Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"
2 Samuel 13:26 nlt
"Well, then," Absalom said, "if you can't come, how about sending my brother Amnon with us?" "Why Amnon?" the king asked.
2 Samuel 13 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:8 | Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. | Sibling jealousy leading to murder |
| Prov 26:24 | An enemy disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. | Deceptive speech masking hatred |
| Prov 26:25 | Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. | Charm hides deep malice |
| Prov 26:26 | Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. | Hidden hatred revealed |
| Ps 28:3 | Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, but malice is in their hearts. | Hypocrisy and hidden malice |
| Ps 55:21 | His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. | Deceptive words as a weapon |
| 2 Sam 12:10 | 'Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' | Consequences of David's sin, prophecy fulfillment |
| 2 Sam 13:22 | Absalom never spoke to Amnon, either good or bad, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had raped his sister Tamar. | Absalom's deep-seated, silent hatred |
| Gen 27:35 | Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has cheated me..." | Brotherly betrayal, though different motives |
| Matt 5:21-22 | "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder... but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother... is liable to judgment." | Warning against unaddressed anger/hatred |
| Prov 10:12 | Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. | Hatred causes conflict, leading to harm |
| Prov 23:6-8 | Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy... "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you. | False hospitality, deceptive invitations |
| Luke 20:20-23 | So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere... But he perceived their craftiness... | Perceiving hidden motives |
| Rom 16:18 | For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites... by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. | Smooth talk as a means of deception |
| 1 John 3:15 | Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. | Link between hatred and murder |
| 2 Sam 13:28 | Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine... strike him and put him to death." | Fulfillment of Absalom's plan immediately after |
| Ps 41:9 | Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. | Betrayal from those trusted |
| Jer 9:8 | "Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit. With their mouths they speak peace to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps." | The danger of deceptive speech |
| Prov 12:15 | The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. | David's lack of deeper inquiry |
| 1 Kings 13:7 | And the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward." | Invitation, good or ill intent. David's misjudgment |
2 Samuel 13 verses
2 Samuel 13 26 Meaning
2 Samuel 13:26 details Absalom’s persistent and seemingly deferential request to King David, his father, following an earlier rejection of Absalom's invitation for all the king's sons to attend a sheep-shearing feast. Absalom narrows his request, specifically asking for Amnon, the crown prince and Absalom's half-brother, to accompany them. David, still wary or hesitant, questions the necessity of Amnon's presence. This exchange reveals Absalom's deceptive manipulation, meticulously plotting his vengeance against Amnon for the rape of Tamar, his full sister. David's reply, though showing some caution, highlights his tragic lack of full discernment regarding the deep-seated hatred brewing in his household, ultimately paving the way for the coming tragedy.
2 Samuel 13 26 Context
This verse occurs after the tragic rape of Tamar by her half-brother Amnon, King David's eldest son and presumptive heir. Absalom, Tamar's full brother, nurses a deep, silent hatred for Amnon for two years (2 Sam 13:22-23) because David, though angry, took no decisive action to punish Amnon or protect Tamar. Absalom finally initiates his elaborate plan for revenge by inviting all the king’s sons to a sheep-shearing festival in Baal-Hazor. David initially declines due to the high cost of such an assembly, showing prudence in finance but perhaps lacking discernment in personal relationships. It is within this dynamic that Absalom makes the specific request concerning Amnon. The king's delayed justice, Absalom’s vengeful plotting, and David’s wavering perception create a volatile environment, fulfilling Nathan's prophecy of calamity within David's own house due to his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:10-12).
2 Samuel 13 26 Word analysis
- Then Absalom said: Absalom (אֲבְשָׁלוֹם, Avshalom), meaning "father of peace," stands in stark contrast to his actions. His speech here is polite and outwardly deferential, a calculated veneer for his sinister intentions.
- "If not,": The Hebrew phrase is אִם לֹא (’im lō’), literally "if no," implying a concession or alternative. Absalom uses this to appear respectful and understanding of David's earlier refusal, presenting this narrower request as a fallback, yet it's precisely what he wants. This feigned humility is a key element of his manipulation.
- "please let my brother Amnon go with us.":
- "please let": A strong verb of pleading or requesting, (נָא, na), highlighting the politeness Absalom displays.
- "my brother Amnon": The term "brother" is used, ironically, by one plotting fratricide. Amnon (אַמְנוֹן, Amnon) means "faithful" or "reliable," a name cruelly antithetical to his character and behavior. The polite address hides profound malice (refer to 2 Sam 13:22, where Absalom "hated Amnon").
- "go with us": This phrase (אִתָּנוּ, ittānū) suggests a communal, inclusive atmosphere, perfect for a feast. However, the true purpose is to isolate Amnon, drawing him away from the security of the royal court into a situation where he can be murdered without direct royal intervention.
- "But the king said to him,": King David's response indicates a lingering sense of unease or caution. His role as king requires vigilance, but his past failures regarding family issues leave him vulnerable to deception.
- "Why should he go with you?": The Hebrew לָמָּה יֵלֵךְ עִמָּךְ (lāmmāh yēlēḵ ʿimmāḵ) reveals David's intuition that something might be amiss. He perceives a specific rather than general request for Amnon and seeks to understand its true motive. This question shows partial insight but tragically falls short of full discernment, not connecting Absalom’s two-year silent hatred with this specific request. David fails to "see" the depth of his son's hatred and the plot. His inability to act decisively against Amnon’s original crime has left him unable to protect Amnon now.
2 Samuel 13 26 Bonus section
The two-year silence (2 Sam 13:22) preceding this exchange is crucial. It reflects Absalom's calculating patience and refusal to confront directly, opting instead for covert, destructive action. This quiet festering of bitterness contrasts sharply with righteous indignation that seeks justice or reconciliation. The narrative indirectly warns against delayed or insufficient justice by authorities, showing how such negligence can breed vigilante actions. The contrast between Absalom's appealing appearance and "peace-father" name versus his treacherous deeds is a literary device highlighting profound hypocrisy. David’s initial dismissal and subsequent hesitant inquiry speak volumes about his leadership—strong in some areas, deeply flawed in his personal domain. This entire chapter serves as a tragic consequence of unpunished sin and parental failure within David’s household, fulfilling God's word through Nathan.
2 Samuel 13 26 Commentary
This verse serves as a chilling example of strategic deception, patiently executed. Absalom's refined politeness and persistent appeals reveal a meticulous, Machiavellian mind bent on revenge. His calculated 'concession' by narrowing his request from "all the king's sons" to just "Amnon" effectively disarms David's initial refusal. David, burdened by the fallout of his own sins and perhaps in denial about the deep rift within his family, asks a valid question "Why should he go with you?", yet he tragically fails to perceive the venomous intent behind Absalom’s courteous words. The verse highlights the perilous nature of unresolved sin and unaddressed grievances within a family or a nation, which, like a hidden root of bitterness, can erupt in catastrophic ways. It underscores David's tragic parental blind spot, failing to grasp the gravity of the silent hatred cultivated for two years, demonstrating how spiritual discernment can be clouded by personal complacency or unconfessed sin.