Absalom Flees

The brothers of Absalom fled in terror.

They were not entirely sure Absalom was not killing all heirs to the throne to secure his own position as heir apparent. News reached David that Absalom had killed all the princes. David tore his clothes and fell to the ground in grief.

His servants tore their clothes in sympathy with the agony of the king at such a horrendous loss of life. What must have gone through David’s mind as he recalled the reservations he had about allowing all his sons to congregate in one place at one time? “Exaggerated as the report was, David accepted it as true. His very hesitancy in agreeing to have his sons attend the feast suggests that he had some misgivings. In fact he consented only after urgings (see vs. 26, 27), and then probably against his better judgment. Now he believed that his worst fears had been realized and that a general massacre of all the royal princes had taken place.” Jonadab’s evil suggestion to Amnon had started this disastrous chain of events.

}Now, seeking to ingratiate himself with the king, he said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead” (2 Samuel 13:32, 33).

Jonadab knew a day of reckoning was eventually coming for Amnon.

He no doubt feared Absalom would also seek him out for retribution for his part in the rape. David’s surviving sons made their way to Jerusalem, bearing shocking news.

They had witnessed the murder of their eldest brother.

Jonadab was not slow in pointing out he had been right concerning the death of Amnon.

Absalom fled north to Geshur, knowing he would not be safe in Israel.

Here, east of the Sea of Galilee, he found sanctuary with Talmai, king of Geshur, his mother’s father. God corrected what David neglected.

Events sometimes take their natural course, and God does not intervene to restrain the evil of sin punishing sin.