In the meantime Absalom had fled. Just then the soldier on sentry duty saw a large crowd coming down the hill on the road from Horonaim. He went to the king and reported what he had seen. Jonadab said to David, “Those are your sons coming, just as I said they would.”
Yep. Jonadab was aware all along of what would happen. With that then in mind, I think that while he had advised Amnon how to approach Tamar, it was not at all in his mind that he would rape her.
Absalom fled and went to the king of Geshur, Talmai son of Ammihud, and stayed there three years. David mourned a long time for his son Amnon
David’s actions make me think of Jacob’s when he believed his favorite son Joseph was killed (Genesis 37:32-35). And in all this, not a tear shed for Tamar? A fault line is clearly being exposed in David’s character. And it will get worse…
Joab knew that King David missed Absalom very much, so he sent for a clever woman who lived in Tekoa. …The woman went to the king, bowed down to the ground in respect, and said, “…You have not allowed your own son to return from exile, and so you have condemned yourself by what you have just said.”
In instructing the woman to say these things, Joab was clearly taking a page out of Nathan’s book in confronting David (2 Samuel 12:1-12). Hey, if it worked once…
“Did Joab put you up to this?” he asked her.
She answered, “I swear by all that is sacred, Your Majesty, that there is no way to avoid answering your question. It was indeed your officer Joab… Your Majesty is as wise as the angel of God and knows everything that happens.”
I am so far from this, Father! Please give me wisdom (James 1:5; 1 Rois 3:12).
Later on the king said to Joab, “I have decided to do what you want. Go and get the young man Absalom and bring him back here.”
Joab… went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. The king, however, gave orders that Absalom should not live in the palace. “I don’t want to see him,” the king said. …Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king.
God had forgiven David completely, demonstrated as such in his actions (2 Samuel 12:24-25). David, despite knowing that, only forgave Absalom half way – which is not forgiveness at all (Matthew 18:21-35). The words of Jesus still ring true (Matthew 6:12).
There was no one in Israel as famous for his good looks as Absalom; he had no defect from head to toe. His hair was very thick, and he had to cut it once a year, when it grew too long and heavy. It would weigh about five pounds according to the royal standard of weights.
Vain could be added to the list. 😊 Trusting in appearances (1 Samuel 10:23-24): history was about to repeat itself (2 Samuel 15:13-14). Help me to see through your eyes, Lord (1 Samuel 16:7)!