2 Samuel 13:29 kjv
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.
2 Samuel 13:29 nkjv
So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.
2 Samuel 13:29 niv
So Absalom's men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.
2 Samuel 13:29 esv
So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
2 Samuel 13:29 nlt
So at Absalom's signal they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled.
2 Samuel 13 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 12:10 | "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house..." | Prophecy of family strife due to David's sin. |
| 2 Sam 12:11 | "...I will raise up evil against you from your own house..." | God's judgment manifested in familial betrayal. |
| 2 Sam 13:1 | "Now Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister..." | Introduction to Tamar and Amnon's lust. |
| 2 Sam 13:14 | "But he would not listen to her; and being stronger than she, he forced her..." | Amnon's vile act of rape. |
| 2 Sam 13:22 | "Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad..." | Absalom's silent, festering anger. |
| 2 Sam 13:28 | "Absalom commanded his servants, 'Mark when Amnon's heart is merry...'" | Absalom's precise command to kill Amnon. |
| Prov 20:22 | "Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the LORD, and he will save you." | Contrasts with Absalom's immediate revenge. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | God's prerogative for vengeance. |
| Lev 18:9 | "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister..." | Mosaic law on incest. |
| Gen 4:8 | "Cain spoke to Abel his brother... and attacked him and killed him." | First biblical instance of fratricide. |
| Gen 27:41 | "Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing... and Esau said in his heart..." | Familial hatred and premeditated harm. |
| Ps 7:16 | "His mischief will return upon his own head..." | Consequences of wicked plotting. |
| Ps 37:14 | "The wicked draw the sword... to cast down the poor... to slay those who walk uprightly;" | Reflects violent intentions. |
| Eccl 8:11 | "Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily..." | Explains delayed justice often emboldening evil. |
| Jer 14:16 | "...their wickedness I will visit on them." | God's ultimate visitation upon evildoers. |
| Matt 26:52 | "Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'" | Principle against violent reprisal. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Spiritual law of sowing and reaping, applies to Amnon. |
| Num 32:23 | "...be sure your sin will find you out." | Inescapable consequence of sin. |
| Deut 22:25-27 | Law concerning rape, death penalty if unbetrothed in a field. | Broader legal context of Amnon's crime. |
| 2 Sam 16:16-19 | Ahithophel's betrayal and advice to Absalom. | Absalom's later actions, still marked by deceit and ambition. |
| 1 Ki 1:5-6 | Adonijah's attempted coup. | David's weak discipline causing further succession issues. |
| Ps 55:23 | "But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction..." | God's justice against betrayers and the violent. |
| Prov 10:9 | "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." | Contrasts with the devious plot. |
2 Samuel 13 verses
2 Samuel 13 29 Meaning
This verse succinctly states the tragic and pre-meditated execution of Amnon by Absalom's servants. It marks the culmination of Absalom's calculated revenge for the rape of his full sister, Tamar, by their half-brother Amnon. The act was carried out precisely "as Absalom had commanded," emphasizing the precise and intentional nature of the violence. It is a grim turning point in David's family, fulfilling a part of the prophetic judgment against his household.
2 Samuel 13 29 Context
2 Samuel 13:29 takes place two full years after Amnon, David's firstborn son, raped his half-sister Tamar. During this time, Absalom, Tamar's full brother, harbored deep, unexpressed hatred for Amnon (2 Sam 13:22). David, despite being informed of the heinous crime, took no decisive action against Amnon, his beloved firstborn (2 Sam 13:21), a failure that greatly exacerbated Absalom's silent rage and desire for personal vengeance.
Absalom eventually planned an elaborate trap. He invited all of David's sons, including Amnon, to a sheep-shearing feast in Baal-hazor, a festive occasion commonly involving merriment and drink. He specifically instructed his servants to wait for the opportune moment when Amnon was "merry with wine" to strike and kill him. The verse is the culmination of this elaborate, cold, and calculated plan, marking the first tragic death of one of David's sons within the household as prophesied by Nathan (2 Sam 12:10-11). It highlights the decay and violence stemming from unaddressed sin and flawed leadership within David's own family.
2 Samuel 13 29 Word analysis
So: An introductory conjunction, signaling a direct consequence or the culmination of the preceding plan and instructions.
the servants (עֲבָדִים, 'avadiym): Refers to Absalom's personal retinue, individuals bound by loyalty or employment to him. Their role underscores Absalom's power and premeditation; he had a loyal force at his disposal willing to carry out such a violent command. This also indicates the structured nature of his plot.
of Absalom: Identifies the specific ownership and authority these servants were under. It clearly establishes who issued the lethal command and whose bidding they were fulfilling.
did (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ, vai·ya'a·su - from עָשָׂה, 'asah, meaning "to make, do, perform, accomplish"): This verb denotes the active performance of the commanded action. It's not just a thought or an attempt, but a completed deed, a decisive act of violence carried out effectively.
to Amnon: Identifies the victim. Amnon, David's firstborn, guilty of rape, now pays with his life for his heinous act. His position as firstborn makes his death especially significant for the royal succession.
as Absalom: Reinforces the source of the command and the orchestrator of the entire assassination plot.
had commanded (צִוָּה, tsiv·vah - from צִוָּה, tsavah, meaning "to command, order, give charge"): Emphasizes that this act was not spontaneous but the direct result of a prior, specific, and explicit instruction from Absalom. It signifies Absalom's direct responsibility and premeditated intent in Amnon's murder, removing any doubt that this was an unplanned act.
Words-Group analysis:
- "So the servants of Absalom did": Highlights the obedience and effectiveness of Absalom's command. His power extended to orchestrating such a violent deed through his loyal men, signaling a growing and dangerous independence from his father's authority.
- "did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded": This phrase succinctly portrays the precise execution of the plan. It's not a general action but a specific target and method, directly linking the outcome to Absalom's deliberate will. It shows a complete and successful implementation of Absalom's vengeful plot.
2 Samuel 13 29 Bonus section
The execution of Amnon, David's firstborn and heir presumptive, demonstrates Absalom's immense strategic thinking and patient resolve, contrasting sharply with David's passive parenting and Amnon's impulsive lust. The fact that the servants immediately carried out the order "when Amnon's heart was merry with wine" (as per the prior verse) highlights their disciplined obedience and Absalom's effective command over his retinue, painting him as a formidable, albeit dark, leader capable of ruthless execution. This act not only sought personal vengeance for Tamar but also served to eliminate Absalom's elder brother and potential rival to the throne, though succession was not his stated primary motive.
2 Samuel 13 29 Commentary
2 Samuel 13:29 is the climactic moment of Absalom's carefully executed revenge. For two years, he had silently brooded over the rape of his sister, Tamar, by their half-brother Amnon, a period exacerbated by King David's inaction and failure to bring justice. Absalom's cold, calculating nature is starkly revealed here, as he waits for the precise opportunity during a festive, unguarded moment to orchestrate Amnon's murder. The verse's brevity, stating simply that the deed was done "as Absalom had commanded," underscores the chilling precision and unwavering resolve of Absalom's vengeance. It marks a dark turn in David's family, confirming Nathan's prophecy that the "sword shall never depart from his house" (2 Sam 12:10) and demonstrating the devastating consequences of sin unaddressed, resentment festering, and justice taken into one's own hands. It sets the stage for the further fracturing of David's household and future rebellions.