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Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

Absalom Kills Amnon

²³ 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. ²⁴ Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?"

²⁵ "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.

²⁶ Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us."
The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?" ²⁷ But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king's sons.

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. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave." ²⁹ So Absalom's men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.

³⁰ 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." ³¹ The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

³² 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. ³³ My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."

³⁴ 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."

³⁵ Jonadab said to the king, "See, the king's sons are here; it has happened just as your servant said."

³⁶ As he finished speaking, the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly.

³⁷ Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned for his son every day.

³⁸ 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.

Sometimes, revenge-like ice cream, is a dish best served cold. Absolom hates his half brother Amnon. He takes his time. After a few years he throws a party at his ranch while sheering sheep. He invites the King and all the family. David declines, (he didn't want to be a burden.)Absalom is insistent, so David sends all the princes.

Absalom orders his men to kill Amnon on his command, ( after he gets drunk at the party.) As the men are killing Amnon, the other princes flee. The word gets back to the capital before the princes do, (how did that happen? Did they stop and chat on the way? Maybe someone had signal and texted, I don't know,) and the rumor is that Absalom killed all his brothers.

Jonadab knows better. He knows that Absalom only wanted to kill Amnon because Amnon raped his sister, (at Jonadab's advice.) The princes arrive and everyone ripes clothes and morns. Absalom flees. Justice has been served.

Questions:

1. Why did Absalom throw the party?

2. Didn't Abnom know Absalom wanted to hurt him?

3. Would this had happened if David had been more hands on after Amnon raped Tamar?