Absalom Takes Revenge and Flees

Two full years passed. Then Absalom arranged sheep-shearing time at Baal Hazor, beside Ephraim, and invited all the king’s sons. He also asked King David to come, but David said no, so they would not be a burden. Absalom kept urging him, and David blessed him instead of going.

Absalom then asked if Amnon could come. David questioned why Amnon should go, but Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons attend. Absalom had already commanded his servants that when Amnon’s heart was merry with wine, they were to strike and kill him. They did as Absalom ordered.

Then all the king’s sons got up on their mules and fled. Before they arrived, a report reached David that Absalom had killed all the king’s sons and not one was left. David tore his clothes and lay on the ground, and his servants stood nearby with their clothes torn too.

But Jonadab told the king that not all the sons were dead. He said only Amnon had been killed, and that Absalom had determined this from the day Amnon forced his sister Tamar. Then the watchman saw many people coming, and soon the king’s sons arrived. They wept aloud, and David and his servants wept bitterly too.

Absalom fled to Talmai son of Ammihur, the king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day. Absalom stayed in Geshur for three years. Later, David longed to go out to Absalom, because he had been comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead. What do you notice about where revenge led this family?