Judah 19, all Israel 12. Tamar. So long a confinement as this to a king's eldest son David over was itself a very severe punishment, and probably attended with several circumstances that rendered it peculiarly grievous. It is not however consistent with candour to accuse men of faults which there is no real proof of, and especially when there are some intimations that they never committed them; or to aggravate them beyond the real demerit. One cannot help observing here how David's adultery with Bath-sheba was punished by his son's incest with his sister Tamar; and as he now saw the threatenings of God by Nathan beginning to take place, he had too much reason to fear they should be all of them executed to the full. It was a circumstance also that must greatly affect him, that he had been, though unwillingly, a sort of accessory to Amnon's crime, by yielding so readily to Amnon's desire of having his sister sent to him; the very proposal he made of her dressing and receiving his food from her seeming enough to create some suspicion in David that he had some design upon Tamar, which he ought to have been peculiarly careful to guard against. But probably Amnon had never offended him, nor given any occasion to suspect him capable of so heinous a crime as he was now meditating, and therefore David more easily consented that his sister should have the liberty of attending him. CHAP. XII. Absalom kills Amnon. Judah 20, all Israel 13. 2 Sam. xiii. Two full years after this infamous conduct of Amnon, Absa- David over lom intended to give a feast at his estate in Baal-Hazor near Ephraim, at the shearing of his sheepi, inviting all his brethren to be present at it; and applying himself to the king, entreated 23, &c. that he also, with his attendants, would favour him with their company. But this David, though pressed to it, would by no means consent to, but softened his refusal by blessing him, or wishing him prosperity. As Amnon seems to have yet been under the king's displeasure, and under confinement by his father's order, Absalom particularly asked the king's leave that his brother Amnon might be permitted to attend them. David Sheepshearing] This was a time of festivity and gladness. Thus Nabal held a feast at the shearing his sheep. 1 Sam. xxv. 8, 36. See also Judah 20, all Israel 13. David over seemed unwilling to consent to it, and said, Why should he go with thee? Do not ask my consent to it. However, upon Absalom's further pressing him, he allowed him to accompany the rest of his brethren; little suspecting that, as he had been himself invited, Absalom could have any intention of destroying Amnon. Having now got his brother into his possession, he had the desired opportunity of executing his long-intended revenge on him, for the dishonour he had done his sister Tamar, and accordingly gave orders to his servants who at tended the feast, that as soon as ever they saw Amnon grew warm and merry with drinking, they should, upon his giving them notice, immediately despatch him; assuring them that, as they acted by his command, he would justify and protect them: Have not I commanded you? be courageous and valiant: Do not be afraid, but execute my orders with firmness and resolution. Absalom's servants did as they were commanded; and upon Amnon's murder, the king's sons all of them arose from the table, fled every one upon his own mule, and made the best of their way to Jerusalem. But before their arrival there, a report had spread through the city, and reached David himself, that Absalom had slain all his sons, and that not one of them had escaped the slaughter. This apprehension put David into the greatest agony, and, tearing his garments, he threw himself on the earth; all his servants standing round him with their clothes rent, expressing their concern and grief upon so mournful an occasion. But Jonadab, Amnon's friend, who guessed what the real fact was, immediately set the affair right, by telling the king, that he need not distress himself by supposing that all his sons were cut off, for that Amnon only was killed, and that Absalom had declared that he would be thus revenged on Amnon from the very day he heard that he had forced his sister Tamar; and therefore begged the king to moderate his grief, since Amnon was the only person that had lost his life, and that the rest of his sons were all safe. Whilst he was thus endeavouring to comfort the king, the centinel, who was placed to observe and give notice of all persons coming to Jerusalem, gave information that there was a great number of people coming behind the post where he was stationed and by the hill side; upon which Jonadab immediately said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons are just here, and confirm the truth of my con- David over Judah 20, jecture." He had no sooner said this, than they all of them all Israel 13. arrived, and upon coming into David's presence, they all burst into tears, and drew fresh tears from David and all his attendants. In this assassination of Amnon, David could not but see the further just retaliation of Providence for his own aggravated sin in the murder of Uriah, and the recollection of it must greatly enhance the bitterness of his grief, open afresh the wounds of his conscience, renew his repentance before his offended God, and cause him to deprecate the further effects of his displeasure. As for Absalom, after he had thus murdered his brother, he immediately fled to Talmai, king of Geshur, his grandfather by his mother, with whom he was safe from the effects of his father's displeasure, and intended to continue there till he could find out some means to pacify his anger and be restored to his favour and presence. He abode here full three years, 2 Sam. xiii. in which time David's grief for Amnon subsided, and as he 38. could not be recovered to life, his affection to his banished son began to revive, he wished to be reconciled to him, and wanted to find out some method whereby he might be induced to recall him from his exile and bring him back again to Jerusalem. CHAP. XIII. Absalom's reconciliation with David. JOAB soon perceived the inclinations of the king, and his 2 Sam. xiv. uneasiness at the long absence of Absalom, and took the fol- 1, &c. lowing method to engage him to consent to and order his return to the city and court. He sent to Tekoa, a town not far from Jerusalem, and brought from thence a woman remarkable for prudence, and whom he knew he could trust with the management of the affair on which he intended to send her to the king. He ordered her to personate the character of a widow woman in great distress, to put on her mourning habit, not to anoint herself with oilk, nor do any thing for the culture * Ointments were in great esteem and constant use amongst the ancients, as the means of cleanliness, and to give a grateful odour to their bodies, as these ointments were mixed up with the richest perfumes. At their festivals, espe- Judah 20, all Israel 13. David over and ornament of her person, but to appear in all respects as one that had been long mourning for a dead son; and instructing her in the nature of the complaint she was to make, and how she was to apply it when she found she had moved the royal compassion towards her, he sent her to the king, not doubting but that by this artful management he should bring over the king to his design, and ingratiate himself with Absalom, by procuring his restoration, who was David's eldest son, and whom he looked upon as his heir and successor in his kingdom. The woman, according to Joab's instructions, having obtained an audience of the king, prostrated herself on the ground before him, and earnestly implored his help. He asked her what was her complaint? She replied, that she had lost her husband, and was a disconsolate widow; that she was left with two sons, who having quarrelled in the field, and there being no person present to part them, one of them was unhappily killed by the other. On this account the whole family of the deceased is risen up against thine handmaid, demanding that he who killed his brother should be delivered up to them, that they might put him to death for having taken away his brother's life; that by destroying the heir, they may divide his inheritance amongst them. Thus will they quench my living coal1, and not leave to my deceased husband either name or remainder on the face of the earth. Numb. XXXV. 30. David, moved with compassion at the woman's story, and finding by her account there were some alleviating circumstances in the case; that he might be slain accidentally and without premeditated design and malice; that there were no witnesses of his being wilfully murdered, as the quarrel happened in a field where no one was present; that two witnesses tion and distress naturally create 1 Quench my coal]. The serving his fire. The Greek writers use the word (árupov, scintilla, fomes, to express the small remainder of a family or nation. Μικρὰ ἄττα διασώζουσαι ζώπυρα τοῦ Πελασγικού yévovs: Parvas quasdam generis Pelasgici scintillas servabant. Dion. Hal. A. R. p. 16. 1. 39. And again, Ζώπυρα ἄττα περιλειπόμενα τοῦ παλalou yévous: Quædam generis antiqui scintillæ reliquæ extabant. p. 35. 1. 34: Other instances may be seen in H. Stephens's Thesaurus, under the word Ζώπυρον. were necessary by the law in case of murder; and that the David over Judah 20, prosecution was carried on rather with a desire to strip the all Israel 13. poor family of its patrimony than from a regard to justice; immediately said unto her, Return home, and I will give orders according to thy desire. The woman, to take away any scruple the king might have for rescuing her son from the avenger of blood, said to him, My lord, O king, if there be any sin in thy preserving him from death, let the punishment of it fall on me, and on my father's house: but the king and his throne be guiltless. He immediately replied, that if any person spoke to her on the affair, she should bring him before him, and he would prevent him from giving her any further trouble. The woman, not yet seeming fully satisfied, said to him, "Let the king remember the Lord thy Godm, and let me beseech thee by his mercy that thou wouldest not suffer the avenger of blood to make any further destruction in my family", and after I have lost one son, to take away the life of my other." The king, to give her the fullest assurance of saving him that she could desire, solemnly sware by the living God that he would protect him, and that not the least injury should be done him. It appears by David's answers to the widow that he did not yet guess at the drift of her complaint to him, and had not made the least application of it to his own case; though the circumstances of her story, of one brother's killing the other, of the avenger of blood, and destroying the heir, might have naturally created in him some suspicion of her real intention. However, she had artfully prepared the way to discover it to him, as she had got him to promise that he would preserve her punish with death even wilful mur- m Remember the Lord thy God] i. e., as some think, Let the king confirm his assurance to me by oath. I rather think that she intended to put him in mind of the mercy of God, and to imitate his his example, who had provided ci- n Thou wouldest not suffer the reties of refuge for him that had been venger of blood to destroy any more] guilty of casually killing another, '79, Ne nimis perdat vinthat he might flee into one of them, dex sanguinis, as Cocceius renders lest the avenger of blood should the words. Literally, may not mulpursue him, and so destroy him. tiply to destroy, i. e. destroy my Deut. xix. 5, 6. Or she might in- living son to revenge the death of tend tacitly to insinuate, that he him that is dead. knew himself God did not always |