‏ 2 Samuel 13

* Ammon's violence to his sister. (1-20) Absalom murders his

brother Ammon. (21-29) David's grief, Absalom flees to Geshur.

(30-39)

1-20 From henceforward David was followed with one trouble

after another. Adultery and murder were David's sins, the like

sins among his children were the beginnings of his punishment:

he was too indulgent to his children. Thus David might trace the

sins of his children to his own misconduct, which must have made

the anguish of the chastisement worse. Let no one ever expect

good treatment from those who are capable of attempting their

seduction; but it is better to suffer the greatest wrong than to

commit the least sin. 21-29 Observe the aggravations of Absalom's sin: he would have

Ammon slain, when least fit to go out of the world. He engaged

his servants in the guilt. Those servants are ill-taught who

obey wicked masters, against God's commands. Indulged children

always prove crosses to godly parents, whose foolish love leads

them to neglect their duty to God. 30-39 Jonadab was as guilty of Ammon's death, as of his sin;

such false friends do they prove, who counsel us to do wickedly.

Instead of loathing Absalom as a murderer, David, after a time,

longed to go forth to him. This was David's infirmity: God saw

something in his heart that made a difference, else we should

have thought that he, as much as Eli, honoured his sons more

than God.