2 Samuel 13 28

2 Samuel 13:28 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 13:28 nkjv

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon!' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant."

2 Samuel 13:28 niv

Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Don't be afraid. Haven't I given you this order? Be strong and brave."

2 Samuel 13:28 esv

Then Absalom commanded his servants, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant."

2 Samuel 13:28 nlt

Absalom told his men, "Wait until Amnon gets drunk; then at my signal, kill him! Don't be afraid. I'm the one who has given the command. Take courage and do it!"

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 28 Meaning

This verse details Absalom's direct and ruthless command to his servants for the premeditated murder of his brother, Amnon. Absalom instructs them to wait until Amnon is incapacitated by drink, then, upon his specific signal, to kill him without hesitation. He reassures them by asserting his authority and personal responsibility for the command, encouraging them to be brave and decisive in carrying out this fratricide.

2 Samuel 13 28 Context

This verse occurs during a dark period in David's reign, directly resulting from the moral decay within his family. Two years prior, David's son Amnon had raped his half-sister, Tamar, who was Absalom's full sister (2 Sam 13:1-19). David, upon hearing this, was greatly angered but took no punitive action against Amnon, leaving Absalom's fury to fester (2 Sam 13:21). Absalom, silently brooding with deep hatred for two years, orchestrates a sheep-shearing feast at Baal-hazor, traditionally a joyous and open occasion. This festivity serves as a deliberate cover and trap. He insists on Amnon's attendance despite David's initial reservations (2 Sam 13:23-27). This particular verse, 2 Samuel 13:28, is the precise moment of execution of his carefully planned revenge, revealing the cold and calculated nature of Absalom's character. It highlights the direct consequences of David's inaction and the prophetic warning that the sword would never depart from his house.

2 Samuel 13 28 Word analysis

• "Now Absalom had commanded": Hebrew: צִוָּה (tzivah), a strong and authoritative verb, indicating a firm, intentional, and premeditated directive. This was not a sudden outburst but a deliberate order, showing Absalom's authority and control over his servants. It points to a calculated plan.
• "his servants": Hebrew: עֲבָדָיו ('avadav), referring to individuals bound to his will, implying they would obey his instructions without question. Absalom likely had personal attendants loyal to him, separate from David's general staff.
• "saying, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine": "Mark" (רְאוּ, r'u - "see/observe"), indicating careful surveillance. "Heart is merry" (לֵב טוֹב, lev tov - literally "good heart") implies a joyful, carefree, or indulgent state, especially due to drinking. "Wine" (בַּיַּיִן, bayayin) identifies the specific means by which Amnon would become vulnerable, highlighting his indulgence and the tactical timing for the ambush.
• "and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon!'": This indicates Absalom's direct involvement in the timing and signal for the act, showing he retained ultimate control and would give the specific word of execution. "Strike" (הַכּוּ, hakku) is a causative form of נָכָה (nakah), meaning to "smite" or "kill."
• "then kill him.": Hebrew: וַהֲמִתֶּם (vahamittem), a clear, unambiguous command to bring about his death. There is no ambiguity regarding the intention; it is a direct order for execution.
• "Do not fear;": Hebrew: אַל־תִּירָאוּ ('al-tira'u), an imperative negating the natural apprehension or moral compunction the servants might feel for such an act of regicide/fratricide. Absalom addresses their potential fear of consequences or personal danger.
• "have not I myself commanded you?": This rhetorical question serves as Absalom's personal assurance and assertion of full responsibility. By taking full blame, he attempts to alleviate any guilt or legal jeopardy for his servants, thereby ensuring their obedience. It shows him acting as a sovereign, even against the royal order, usurping David's authority.
• "Be courageous and be valiant."": "Be courageous" (חִזְקוּ, chizku, from חָזַק, chazaq - "be strong, firm, hard"). "Be valiant" (וּבְנֵי־חַיִל, uvene-chayil, "sons of valor/might"). These are typically exhortations for righteous battle or difficult, divinely appointed tasks. Here, Absalom twisted these terms to encourage his servants in a heinous, murderous act. This manipulation demonstrates his persuasive power and moral perversion.

• "Now Absalom had commanded his servants...": This phrase highlights the pre-planning and cold determination of Absalom. He didn't merely allow a spontaneous act but actively organized it. His servants were his instruments, showing the leverage and influence he wielded in his father's court, despite David's authority.
• "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon!' then kill him.": This group of words details the strategic elements of the plot: careful observation (mark), timing (merry with wine), a precise signal (when I say), and the absolute command for assassination. It underscores the calculated cruelty and lack of mercy in Absalom's scheme, leveraging Amnon's weakness.
• "Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.": This passage demonstrates Absalom's understanding of human nature (fear of consequences) and his leadership, albeit for an evil purpose. He attempts to insulate his servants from guilt and fear by absorbing responsibility onto himself. He redefines "courage" and "valor" from their usual righteous contexts, urging them for an act of murder. This reveals his cunning, manipulation, and how far he was willing to go.

2 Samuel 13 28 Bonus section

The sheep-shearing feast was an annual rural celebration, a time of plenty and relaxation, providing the perfect cover for Absalom's dark intentions. This tradition, meant for communal joy, was cynically perverted into a setting for cold-blooded murder. Absalom's insistence on all the king's sons attending served to ensnare Amnon and also possibly to implicate them, or at least have witnesses to the chaotic event and show Absalom's rising power. His confidence in issuing such a direct, unlawful command highlights the weakness of David's authority at this point and the growing moral void within the king's household. Absalom acted as his own "avenger of blood," bypassing the king's judicial role, which was a dangerous precedent and a further act of rebellion against established order. This tragic event paved the way for even greater strife, rebellion, and David's subsequent flight from Jerusalem, underscoring the deep and lasting consequences of unaddressed sin and vengeful hearts.

2 Samuel 13 28 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:28 marks the violent culmination of two years of suppressed rage and meticulous planning by Absalom. This is not a crime of passion but a premeditated execution, engineered to happen at a vulnerable moment. Absalom displays cunning leadership and a chilling resolve, directly ordering fratricide under the cloak of a celebratory feast. His command reveals his ruthlessness: he exploits Amnon's indulgence, orchestrates the precise timing, and personally guarantees his servants' immunity to ensure their absolute obedience. His rhetoric, urging courage and valiance for a heinous deed, perverts terms typically associated with noble actions, showcasing his manipulative power. This act is a direct consequence of King David's failure to administer justice against Amnon's original sin, and a grim fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy that the sword would not depart from David's house, escalating the tragic drama within the royal family. It underscores the destructive spiral of unaddressed sin and private vengeance within God's people.