2 Samuel 13 32

2 Samuel 13:32 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 13:32 nkjv

Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, "Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:32 niv

But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom's express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:32 esv

But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13:32 nlt

But just then Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimea, arrived and said, "No, don't believe that all the king's sons have been killed! It was only Amnon! Absalom has been plotting this ever since Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 32 Meaning

2 Samuel 13:32 presents Jonadab's immediate reassurance to King David, refuting the false report that all his sons were killed by Absalom. Jonadab reveals the truth: only Amnon is dead, and this act of retribution was premeditated by Absalom from the very day Amnon violated their sister Tamar. The verse highlights Absalom's calculated vengeance and Jonadab's unique insight into the volatile dynamics within David's household, a consequence stemming from David's own inaction regarding Tamar's rape.

2 Samuel 13 32 Context

This verse is a crucial turning point in 2 Samuel chapter 13, which details the profound crisis within David's royal family. The preceding events recount Amnon's incestuous rape of his half-sister Tamar and King David's utter failure to enact justice, merely being "very angry" (13:21). This lack of judicial action creates a vacuum that Absalom, Tamar's full brother, fills with his own calculated revenge. For two full years (13:23), Absalom silently harbored a burning hatred, planning Amnon's demise. The immediate context of 13:32 is the aftermath of the sheep-shearing feast where Absalom executed his plan, killing Amnon. The initial news reaching King David is exaggerated—that all the king's sons have been slain. Jonadab's intervention corrects this grave misinformation, providing clarity and confirming Absalom's specific, premeditated act of vengeance, rooted deeply in Tamar's violation. This episode directly fulfills Nathan's prophecy in 2 Samuel 12:10-11, where "the sword will never depart from [David's] house," and "trouble against [him] from [his] own household."

2 Samuel 13 32 Word analysis

• But Jonadab answered (וַיַּעַן יְהוֹנָדָב - vayya‘an Yehonadav):

  • Jonadab: "Yahweh is liberal" or "The Lord is willing." As Amnon's "very crafty" (חכם מאד - chakham m'od, "very wise/shrewd") friend from 2 Sam 13:3, Jonadab previously advised Amnon's scheme to rape Tamar. His answering implies he possesses key, insider information, now shifting from aiding Amnon's sin to explaining Absalom's vengeance. His role highlights his manipulative, self-serving intelligence.
  • answered: Implies he was specifically addressed or that he felt compelled to speak due to his unique knowledge. This positions him as an unexpected source of truth.

• “No, my lord (אַל יֹאמֶר אֲדֹנִי - al yomer adoni):

  • No, my lord: Jonadab directly corrects David's grave assumption. The polite address "my lord" respects David's kingship while simultaneously delivering a jarring reality check. It sets a tone of confidential disclosure, distinguishing his accurate information from common rumor.

• do not think that all the young men, the king’s sons, are dead (אֶל בָּל יֹאמַר אֲדֹנִי אֵת כָּל הַבַּחוּרִים בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ מֵתוּ - al bal yomer adoni et kol habbakhurim b'nei hammelekh metu):

  • all the young men: The initial, overwhelming false report, intended to create maximum alarm and chaos.
  • king’s sons: Emphasizes the royalty and vulnerability of David's heirs.
  • dead: The ultimate loss and consequence, momentarily feared by David as total.

• for Amnon alone is dead (כִּי אִם־אַמְנוֹן לְבַדּוֹ מֵת - ki im-amnon levaddo met):

  • for (כִּי - ki): Introduces the true reason or correction.
  • Amnon (אַמְנוֹן - Amnon): "faithful" or "true." An ironic name given his perfidy. He is the specific target of Absalom's premeditated act.
  • alone is dead (לְבַדּוֹ מֵת - levaddo met): Crucial clarification. Only Amnon suffered the consequence, highlighting the targeted nature of Absalom's vengeance. This precision indicates detailed prior knowledge.

• for by the mouth of Absalom (כִּי עַל־פִּי אַבְשָׁלֹם הָיְתָה - ki al-pi Avshalom hayetah):

  • by the mouth of (עַל־פִּי - al-pi): Literally "upon the mouth of." Signifies "by the word of," "by the command of," or "by the expressed intention of." It implies a verbal pronouncement or, more likely, a settled decision expressed in close confidence. This is not casual speech but a declaration of purpose, implying deliberate planning known to Jonadab.

• this has been determined (הָיְתָה - hayetah):

  • determined: The Hebrew verb here is היה (hayah), meaning "to be," "to exist," "to come to pass." However, the full phrase "על־פי... הָיְתָה" in this context conveys a sense of something "having been determined" or "decreed" as a result of Absalom's intention. It suggests a settled outcome. Some translations use words like "decreed," "planned," "resolved." It points to Absalom's unwavering resolution and long-term planning, rather than a spontaneous act.

• from the day he lay with his sister Tamar (מִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר עִנָּה אֶת־תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ - min hayyom asher innah et-tamar achoto):

  • from the day (מִן הַיּוֹם - min hayyom): Specifies the exact starting point of Absalom's resolve – the traumatic event itself. This demonstrates the deep, lasting impact of the rape on Absalom and his cold-blooded approach to revenge.
  • he lay with his sister Tamar (עִנָּה אֶת־תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ - innah et-tamar achoto):
    • lay with his sister Tamar: The verb ענה (‘innāh) means "to afflict," "to humble," "to violate," specifically referring to sexual humiliation and rape. It emphasizes the severity and trauma of the act.
    • his sister: The mention of Tamar as Amnon's sister underscores the heinous nature of the incestuous act and Absalom's fraternal protective rage, which he channeled into vengeance. This act violated not just Tamar but the family honor and covenant purity, crying out for justice that David failed to provide.

2 Samuel 13 32 Bonus section

• David's Lack of Intelligence: The scene highlights David's apparent lack of a functioning intelligence network, or perhaps his general disconnect from the deep personal anguish and plots brewing within his own children's lives. Jonadab, a "very crafty man" but not an official advisor, proves to be the most informed person regarding the intimate, destructive plans among David's sons. This contrasts sharply with David's earlier shrewdness in his rise to power.
• Failed Justice: The phrase "this has been determined from the day he lay with his sister Tamar" profoundly connects Absalom's violent act directly to David's failure to enact justice against Amnon. Because the patriarch, the king, did not uphold the law (Lev 18:9, Deut 22:25-27), Absalom took justice into his own hands, thereby violating the divine order and continuing the cycle of violence. This failure to judge effectively demonstrates the limitations and consequences of a leader's negligence.
• The Chain of Sin: This verse underscores how one sin (Amnon's rape, unchecked by David) directly led to another (Absalom's murder) and further disintegration of the family, echoing how sin's initial consequence often metastasizes into further tragedy within individuals, families, and nations if not genuinely addressed and atoned for.
• Premeditation vs. Impulse: Jonadab's revelation of Absalom's long-standing resolve to kill Amnon, planned from "the day" of the rape, makes the act significantly more chilling than an impulsive outburst. It portrays Absalom as calculating and patient, qualities that would later define his rebellion against David.

2 Samuel 13 32 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:32 offers a chilling glimpse into the unraveling of David's house. Jonadab, once Amnon's accomplice in depravity, now stands as a revealer of truth and an unintended prophet of doom. His knowledge, likely gained from his unique closeness to Amnon and possibly Absalom's inner circle, underscores the depth of David's ignorance about the simmering rage within his own family. The verse profoundly highlights Absalom's character as a calculated avenger, contrasting sharply with David's initial passivity concerning Amnon's crime. Absalom's retribution was not a fit of passion but a premeditated execution, determined from the day of Tamar's rape, emphasizing the long-term, festering wound that David failed to heal. This moment serves as a painful echo of Nathan's prophecy concerning the sword never departing from David's house and troubles arising from within his own household, directly linking David's unaddressed sin to the subsequent calamities that plagued his lineage.