Amnon and Absalom

2 Samuel 13:23-38 - Two years later, when Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king's sons to come there. Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?"

"No, my son," the king replied. "All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you." Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing.

Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us."

The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?" But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king's sons.

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. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave." So Absalom's men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.

While they were on their way, the report came to David: "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons; not one of them is left." The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom's expressed intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."

Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.

Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, "I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill."

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

As he finished speaking, the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly.

Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned for his son every day.

After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon's death.

I wonder if Absalom knew that David would refuse the invitation. I wonder if he asked just often enough to be polite and then gave up and asked for Amnon to attend instead.

If Absalom had already invited "all the king's sons," I wonder why Amnon needed a special invitation.

I wonder why Absalom had Amnon killed in the midst of a party and not quietly out in the countryside. I wonder why he waited 2 years.

I wonder why the rest of the king's sons ran away. Was there no one who could face Absalom?

I wonder who got the message of the killing to David sooner than any of the king's sons who had been in attendance. I wonder how Jonadab knew that only Amnon was dead. Was he in on the plot?

I wonder why no one went after Absalom, the murderer...for 3 years!

I don't understand why David...

1. doesn't look to punish Absalom
2. doesn't go to Absalom for such a long time
3. almost seems to feel sorry for Absalom.