2 Samuel 13 35

2 Samuel 13:35 kjv

And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

2 Samuel 13:35 nkjv

And Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is."

2 Samuel 13:35 niv

Jonadab said to the king, "See, the king's sons have come; it has happened just as your servant said."

2 Samuel 13:35 esv

And Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about."

2 Samuel 13:35 nlt

"Look!" Jonadab told the king. "There they are now! The king's sons are coming, just as I said."

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 35 Meaning

This verse affirms the accuracy of Jonadab’s prior prediction regarding David’s sons. While earlier reports exaggerated by stating all of David’s sons were killed, Jonadab had informed David that only Amnon was targeted by Absalom. Verse 35 confirms the partial truth of Jonadab's insight, as the remaining sons of the king arrived, demonstrating that the full catastrophic news initially reported was false. This marks a turning point from intense grief and despair to partial relief, albeit in a context of great tragedy.

2 Samuel 13 35 Context

This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of David's family dysfunction, a direct consequence of his own sins (2 Sam 11-12) and the prophet Nathan's declaration of the "sword not departing from his house." The specific events leading to 2 Samuel 13:35 begin with Amnon's rape of Tamar, Absalom's sister (2 Sam 13:1-19). Absalom, harboring silent revenge for two years (2 Sam 13:22-23), orchestrates a sheep-shearing feast where he commands his servants to murder Amnon (2 Sam 13:28-29). Immediately after Amnon’s death, chaos ensues. A rumor reaches David that all his sons have been slain by Absalom, causing immense grief and despair (2 Sam 13:30-31). Amidst this panic, Jonadab, a "very shrewd" and calculating man (2 Sam 13:3), interjects. He, having been a party to Amnon's scheme against Tamar, correctly deduces that only Amnon was the target of Absalom’s wrath, explaining this to David (2 Sam 13:32-34). Verse 35 serves as the moment of dramatic relief, validating Jonadab’s accuracy as David's other sons arrive, proving the initial rumor false. This, however, still leaves the tragic reality of Amnon's death and Absalom's flight, intensifying the ongoing familial and political strife within David's kingdom.

2 Samuel 13 35 Word analysis

• As Jonadab had said: This phrase, Ka'asher diber Yonadav (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוֹנָדָב), emphasizes Jonadab's foresight or manipulative intelligence. He had not merely guessed but had a firm grasp of Absalom's true intent due to his "very shrewd" (מְאֹד חָכָם - m'od chakam) nature, or perhaps through his deep involvement in Amnon's affairs, which positioned him to understand Absalom's calculated vengeance. The repetition of his name anchors the veracity of the unfolding events to his earlier spoken words.
• so it was: This short, declarative phrase, ken hayah (כֵּן הָיָה), is a powerful affirmation of truth and fulfillment. It signifies that the events unfolded precisely as predicted, reinforcing Jonadab's accurate assessment against the initial, panicked, and exaggerated reports. It marks the shift from rumor to reality.
• that the king's sons came: Ba'u benei haMelekh (בָּאוּ בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ). This is the factual core of the verse, demonstrating the immediate fulfillment. The phrase "king's sons" refers to David's remaining sons, those who had attended the sheep-shearing feast with Amnon, excluding Absalom. Their arrival proves that the most dire report—the killing of "all the king's sons"—was false, thus confirming Jonadab's discerning words.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "As Jonadab had said, so it was": This entire clause highlights the prophetic accuracy, not necessarily divinely inspired, but borne of keen human observation or insider knowledge. It showcases Jonadab's character as one who understands the dynamics and consequences within David's household, positioning him as a cynical commentator or even a silent accomplice who predicts tragic outcomes. This emphasizes the credibility of his words in a moment of great confusion and distress.
  • "the king's sons came": This short, impactful phrase represents the turning point from catastrophic rumors to a horrifying reality tempered with a degree of relief. While Amnon is dead, the arrival of the other sons prevents an even greater disaster. It underscores the partial truth—Amnon's death—while discrediting the false rumor about all sons being killed. This action validates Jonadab's intelligence and offers a moment of reduced anxiety, yet still confirms immense grief and loss within the royal family.

2 Samuel 13 35 Bonus section

• Jonadab's character: He is introduced earlier as "a very shrewd man" ('ish chakham me'od - אִישׁ חָכָם מְאֹד) in 2 Samuel 13:3. This term suggests intelligence, astuteness, and possibly a calculating nature. His accuracy in this verse serves to validate this initial character description. However, his "wisdom" is purely earthly and lacks moral or spiritual depth, being tied instead to cunning manipulation and insight into human nature.
• Polemics against contemporary beliefs: This narrative might subtly push back against any prevailing belief that a king's family, especially a divinely appointed king like David, would be immune from internal strife and human depravity. It demonstrates that sin's consequences are universal, irrespective of social standing or divine favor. The unraveling of David's house serves as a potent theological statement about the far-reaching effects of personal sin.
• Delayed consequence and fulfillment: While Jonadab's prediction is immediately fulfilled regarding the sons' survival, the broader judgment on David's house from Nathan (2 Sam 12:10-11) is continuously unfolding. This incident is another major stage in that painful, ongoing fulfillment.

2 Samuel 13 35 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:35 delivers the tragic verification of a shrewd man's insight within a spiraling family crisis. Jonadab, David's nephew, demonstrates an uncanny ability to discern the true intentions and outcomes of Absalom's two-year-old vengeful plot. His words, delivered to a king distraught by false reports, are validated immediately as the surviving sons arrive. This moment underscores the profound internal conflict and moral decay within David's household, reflecting the judgment pronounced by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. The verse doesn't just confirm Jonadab's shrewdness but also brings a modicum of relief to David, who moments before believed all his sons were dead. Yet, it also cements the stark reality of Amnon's murder and Absalom's violent departure, leaving behind profound grief, division, and an enduring vacuum in the royal lineage that will continue to plague David’s reign. The passage implicitly reveals how the ripple effects of sin can permeate and break down even the most powerful family structures, confirming the painful harvest of past transgressions.Example: The confirmation of Jonadab's word illustrates how, sometimes, difficult truths are slowly unveiled after initial shock and false alarms, much like a severe diagnosis that initially feels overwhelming but gradually yields to specific details that, while still grave, are less universally catastrophic than first feared.