2 Samuel 13:28 Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.”
Justice and revenge can sometimes look like cousins. It can be hard to tell exactly the shape justice would take in any particular circumstance. Thus the clear guidance of “an eye for an eye” language of the Scriptures. You don’t take a life for an eye, or a leg for a finger. There must be a balance, an equity involved.
The backstory of our text is this. Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister Tamar. Not a good thing in anyone’s book. This was and is an appalling act. There is never a justification for rape. Period..
And the feeling hasn’t changed much over the thousands of years since the Hebrew Bible was written. Even back then rape was to be rejected, along with murder and adultery. Sexual crimes are never acceptable.
We have seen trials in recent years that have highlighted the powerful using their power to subject others to sexual violence. Unfortunately, too often, much of this kind of violence goes unreported. It doesn’t have to be the famous and wealthy who are the perpetrators. Too often they are close relatives and friends.
So over the past thousands of years, things haven’t changed that much. Amnon was filled with lust for Tamar. I spent so much time thinking about her that it made him sick. That’s what the text tells us. And then he schemed with Jonadab, or more correctly, Jonadab plotted with Amnon and gave him the idea for the circumstance of the violent act. You have to be careful who you allow to influence you!
So the plot to trick King David into allowing Tamar to come and “help” his sick uncle. The deed is done. Amnon rejects Tamar after he has violated her.
One element that you might miss is this: Amnon & Absalom are both sons of King David. Tamar is Absalom’s sister. Complicated! That is what happens when you have multiple wives like David did.
So as the story continues and Absalom has Amnon killed, two stories from earlier in the Scriptures come to mind. The same vocabulary and stories are at work. The first story is the murder of Able by Cain, brother killing brother. The second involves Noah getting drunk after leaving the Ark. Alcohol does affect people’s judgment.
So the hatched plot, Absalom sets the wheels in motion to avenge his sister’s violation. Royal families have power to wield, and he wield’s power. Amnon is killed. Absalom knows their father will be very angry, so he runs for safety.
After being away for two years, he is brought back to Jerusalem. There is no reconciliation with his father. The banished person does not remain banished. But the repair of the relationship does not take place between father and son.
And this continued break in relationship ends up dividing them. Absalom rises up in rebellion against his father. David has to flee for his life again, a replay of his time running for Saul.
Think of this. The King is running for his life from his own son! This is a sad state of affairs.
The big picture remains the same. The LORD wants to set up a people to be His special emissaries in this world. Every time He does this, the people fail. It doesn’t matter if the people are as ‘good’ as David, there are still failings. But the LORD makes as way for the banished to not remain banished.
We can come home!
The Arnold Journey 