2 Samuel - Chapters 13-14 with Psalm 36

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

These chapters cover the story of David's oldest son, Amnon, raping his half-sister, Tamar, and then he discarded her as trash. Her full blooded brother, Absalom, David's third born son, took care of Tamar, but said nothing to his 1/2 brother. When King David heard, he was angry, but he did nothing. Two years of planning and plotting went by, and then Absalom was ready to act. He planned a part with all of his brothers, and when Amnon was full of wine, he called his servants to kill him. The other brothers fled home, and Absalom ran to his mom's dad in Geshur. He was there for three years, and David's heart yearned for him. Joab, the king's commander of the army, knew his king's heart, so he hired an actress to come and plead for her own "son's" life. The king pardoned her son, and then she asked if she could speak to the king, and he said yes. She then asked why he did not pardon his own son? The king asked her whose plan was this, Joab's? Yes, so the king had Joab go and fetch Absalom and bring him home, but he was not allowed to see the king's face. He lived that way for two years until he had enough. He sent for Joab, but he was ignored. Absalom decided to get his attention by setting his crop on fire. Joab came to Absalom, and then went to the king on behalf of Absalom. The king sent for his son, and when he arrived, he bowed before his father. The king kissed Absalom. Since the second son, Kileab, also named Daniel in 1 Chronicles 8:1-9, is not mentioned here, it is believed that he died at a young age. This sets up Absalom as the next king of Israel.