The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 29
II. SAM. Chap. 13. from the 1. verſ. to the 23.
IN this Chapter is ſet down the execution of that correction threatned by Nathan, to David for his ſinnes of adultery and murther, Chap. 12. 10, 11. Amnons inceſt with Davids Daughter, Tamar anſwering to his adultery, and Abſolons murther of Davids Sonne Amnon, anſwering to his murther of Ʋriah: as we likewiſe ſee the ſame, chap. 15. In the perſon of Abſolon, riſing thereafter in rebellion againſt his Father David, and defiling of his Fathers Concubines. In which Tragicall Hiſtory we have. 1. The time noted, vers 1. After that notable victory of David againſt the Ammonites, & their ſubduing: which had been matter of joy, followes now that which is matter of ſorrow. 2. We have to conſider the actours firſt in this fact of inceſt, and of the crime it ſelf, and thereafter we ſhall come to the actours in the murther that followed thereon: the firſt perſon who is agent in this inceſtuous crime is Amnon Davids eldeſt Sonne, begotten on his Wife Ahinoam the Iſraelite. His firſtborne, and ſtrength of his youth. His delight and hopefull ſucceſſour to him in his Kingdome, and he on whom all Iſrael looked, as the Sunne riſing after the death of David, and finally whoſe appearing greatneſſe ſhould have moved him to follow vertues agreeable to his eſtate: yet he falls into this filthy crime to the diſhonour of God, griefe of his Father, diſgrace of his Sifter, his own utter ruine, and the regret of all Iſrael. And in his perſon, (next to the death of the Child, Chap. 12. 14.) is Davids ſinne puniſhed. The ſecond agent, or rather patient in this crime is Tamar, the Kings daughter: and whoſe mother was daughter to the King of Geſhur, and ſhe Abſolons ſiſter german: a virgine, and forced by Amnon: who is deſcribed, verſ. 1. Not only by her name, but alſo from her beauty, whereby Amnon was allured ſo to luſt after her. For fulfilling whereof, he takes that wicked courſe which followeth: but firſt is ſet down, how this rage of luſt worketh on himſelfe, verſ. 2. and 4. That he was ſo vexed, that he fell ſick for Tamar, and waxed leane from day to day: whereupon followed Jonadabs pernicious counſell, how he ſhould fulfill his deſire: and ſo he comes in as the third actour in this tragedy and wicked crime; and is diſcribed, 1. From his name. 2. From his friendſhip to Amnon. 3. From his conſanguinity with him, being Davids brothers ſonne: and ſo, they being brothers Children. And 4. From his ſubtility, which was ſeen after, like that of Achitophels in his wicked counſell, verſ. 5. The occaſion whereof is ſet down, verſ. 4. Towit, his queſtioning Amnon why he waxed leaner daily, being the Kings ſonne, and ſo not having any probable cauſe to be ſo: and Amnons revealing to him that it was his love to Tamar, whereupon enſueth Jonadabs pernitious counſell, how he might eaſily compaſs his deſire, verſ. 5. Which Amnon greedily embraces: and does follow, verſ. 6. By lying down, and making himſelfe ſick: upon the hearing whereof, David as the fourth actor in this tragedy, out of Fatherly affection coming to viſit Amnon: he deſires that his ſiſter Tamar might come, and dreſs him ſome meate, which he might eate from her hand; whereunto he raſhly and inconſiderately conſents, and directs his daughter, verſ. 7. to go to Amnons houſe, to dreſs him meat: not conſidering the perill, which might and did enſue: by reaſon of youth and lubricity of that ſex, where there is occaſion had of enticement and provocation. So that as we ſee the foure actours in this tragedy, ſo we may ſee the foure antecedent occaſions provoking and promoting this wicked fact of inceſt: which are, 1. Tamars beauty alluring, and coming to Amnons houſe: whereas abefore ſhe was carefully keeped at home, according to the cuſtome of Virgins; ſo that as, verſ. 2. Amnon thought it hard to come at her, to do any thing unto her. 2. Amnons luſt inraging. 3. Jonadabs counſell promoving. And 4. Davids indulgence and facility throw circumvention, conſenting to Amnon his ſonnes petitioning. After this, followeth the manner of the committing of this wicked fact. 1. By removing the impediments which might hinder, verſ. 9. Commanding all who were in his bed-chamber, to go out from him. 2. By intaeating of her, to lye with him: and when ſhe could not be ſo moved, but had refuſed. 3. By forcing her, which deniall of her's, and diſſwading of him, is grounded upon foure arguments. verſ. 12. and 13. 1. From naturall neareneſs of conſanguinity, he was her brother, and therefore it would be inceſt. 2. From being againſt the law which makes it capitall, Levit. 18. 9. Whereunto Iſrael, Gods people are bound to obey, and therefore to do no ſuch thing. 3. From the conſequents of this ſinne. 1. That Amnon ſhould be counted a foole in Iſrael: and ſo, unworthy to reign after his Father. 2. It ſhould bring not only ſinne, but ſhame upon her: which a brother ſhould not wiſh; let be, to be the doer thereof. And 4. That it were better to ſpeak to the King, to give her to him in marriage: which (ſhe ſaies) he would not refuſe. All which arguments have this event, verſ. 14. 1. He would not hearken to her. 2. Being ſtronger then ſhe, he forces her, and lyes with her. Whereupon enſueth theſe ſad ſequells 1. Having ſatisfied his luſt, he hates her more then ever he loved her, verſ. 15. 2. Uncivilly, and unbrotherly, he not only bids her begone, but alſo commands his ſervant, that waited on him, to put her out violently, and bolt the dore after her: although ſhe ſhew him that the doing of this unto her, would be a greater wrong then the other: becauſe the former might be either covered by ſecrecy, or cured by future marriage: whereas this diſgracefull manner of putting her away, would tend to her ſhame and diſhono…r, and make any remedy impoſſible: upon which this his barbarous, uncivill, and unnaturall dealing. 2. She fall's into deſperate lamenting, verſ. 19. Putting aſhes on her head, as the cuſtome of ſuch was: and tearing her garment, and crying. 3. Abſolon her brother, comforts his ſiſter, and receives her into his houſe, where ſhe remained deſolate: but conceives a deadly hatered againſt Amnon, for this wrong done to his ſiſter, verſ. 20. and 22. And the fourth ſad ſequell or conſequence, is verſ. 21. When King David hard of all theſe things, he was very wroth.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. IN this tragicall hiſtory of the performance, what Nathan had threatned, Chap. 12▪ 10, 11. We ſee that one jot of Gods Word, and threatnings ſhall not faile: as we ſee in that of our firſt parents, the firſt world: againſt the Idolatrous Jewes, and the incredulous in our Saviours time: and here, &c. beware, then to ſinne, and to hearken to Satan, to put the day of the Lord farre from us, as he ſaid to our firſt parents, yee ſhall not dye at all. But by ſpeedy repentance, either to prevent Gods wrath, as Niniveh did, or to remove it, as David did, chap. 24.
2. Theſe tragicall accidents fall out after that notable victory over the Ammonites, and Davids triumphant returne to Jeruſalem, which ſhewes the viciſſitudes that are in this life, as are in the ſeaſons of that yeare: ſummer and winter, night after day, ebbing after flowing, and hereafter rejoycing, ſorrowing: no ſublunary thing being permanent, nor perfit, and therefore neither to be truſted unto, or delighted in, but only in God, and only to expect elſewhere plenitude of joy and perpetuity thereof, Pſal. 16. 11.
3. Verſ. 1. The motive and inducement to Amnon to luſt after Tamar, is her beauty, wherewith he is allured and inſnared by a luſtfull looking thereon, as we read the like, Gen. 6. 2. Whereby we ſee, the wrong uſe that many make of the benefits of God either beſtowed on others, as in the forenamed examples, or on themſelves, as Sampſons ſtrength, Achitophel's wiſedome, Hamans preferment, and the like: and that we ſhould watch over our ſelves, and the uſe of our ſenſes, as Job did, chap. 31. 1. For it was no fault in Tamar to be beautifull (it being a good gift if joyned with grace, Pſal. 45. 13.) but the fault was in Amnon, luſting thereby: as it is no fault in the candle it burning, but in the flie that ſcorches it ſelfe in the flame, he making it the occaſion of her diſgrace, and his own ruine. Alſo we ſee, whither will not luſt carry the inordinate minds of pamper'd and unruly youth's, if grace do not reſtraine.
4. We ſee here▪ in that Amnon loved Tamar, (not with a chaſt love, but a luſtfull and unchaſte love.) Where ſinne beginnes, towit, at the heart and affections: which are the root and ſpring, and not being ſanctified, and ſet on the right object ſends forth rotten and filthy ſtreames, and brings forth wicked and ill fruit: which ſhould make us to watch over our hearts with diligence, and to beſeech God to ſanctify our affections, to love what he loves: and hate, what he hates.
5. Verſ. 2. It is ſaid, that this unlawfull luſt vexed him, that he fell ſick: which ſhewes what an ill gueſt this was, as we ſee covetouſneſs was to Ahab, and pride to Haman, and as theſe and the like vices, are to thoſe who harbour them, and thereby makes them become like thoſe demoniaks in the Goſpell, before that Chriſt diſpoſſeſt them, and which ſhall vex them farre worſe hereafter in eternall torment.
6. Amnon likewiſe is ſenſible of the ſickneſs of his body, and growes leaner day by day, but he was not ſenſible of the ſickneſs of his ſoule: and ſo are many more. But we ſhould pray to God that we may be as ſenſible of our ſpirituall ſickneſs, as we are of our corporall, which ſhould drive us to repentance, and faith to Chriſt, to heale our back-ſlidings, as we ſee it promiſed, Hoſ. 14. 4. But the cauſe why we are not ſenſible of the ſoules ſickneſs, nor death thereof, is the want of the life of grace, which only makes the ſoule ſenſible of ſinne.
7. Where it is ſaid, that Tamar was a Virgine, and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing unto her: towit, ſo long as ſhe was carefully keeped, as Virgins were accuſtomed to be from acceſs, and private company of men. Which teaches that as ſinne ſhould be eſchewed, ſo all the occaſions, and provocations to ſinne, ſhould likewiſe be avoided: which when in the contrary, they are neglected, or (as in this example of Tamars going to Amnons houſe through Davids ſimplicity) afforded. We ſee in this (as alſo in D…nah's example, Gen. 34.) what the ſame through ſinfull corruption, and force of temptation produceth.
8. Verſ. 3. It is ſaid, that Anmon had a friend, named Jonadab (but who really and truly was his greateſt foe, by his pernicious counſell which he gave him, how to ſatisfy his inceſtuous luſt with his owne ſiſter) ſo that he was rather a friend to his vice, and a foe to his perſon or ſoule: whereas a true friend, whoſe friendſhip is grounded on God and vertue, will be a foe to their friends vice, by wholeſome admonition and rebuke, and a friend to their ſoules ſalvation: therefore ſaies Solomon, Prov: 27. 6. Faithfull are the wounds of a friend, but the kiſſes of an enemy are deceitfull: and Prov. 28. 13. He that rebuketh a man, afterwards ſhall find more favour, then he that flattereth with his tongue.
9. This Jonadab alſo is called a very ſubtile man, a property whereof many do glory, But their glorying is their ſhame, for wit or ſubtilty, without true wiſdome: the beginning whereof is the feare of God, is but the Serpents property: making men wiſe only to do evill, as he did Amnon here, and as Achitophel taught Abſolon, and as Pharaoh alſo ſpoke, Exod. 1. 10. All which ended and tended to deſtruction, therefore if we have any quickneſs of wit or qualities of mind, beyond others, let us beſeech God to ſanctify the ſame, that they prove not a ſnare to us, or others, as Joſephs cup was, which was found in Benjamins ſack, or Ʋriah's letter which he carried with him to Joab in his owne boſome.
10. Verſ. 6. Amnon as readily obayes Jonadabs wicked counſell to do evill, as Jonadab was to give it, whereby we ſee the corruption of nature, ready like flax to take with fire: and how ſoon, youth eſpecially, who feares not God, nor are not truly wiſe themſelves, are apt to follow rather evill counſell than good, and flatterers adviſe, nor reall and true friends to their own ruine and deſtruction: as we ſee here, and in Rehoboam.
11. Verſ. 7. In Davids facility and conſent to Amnons petition, that Tamar might come to his houſe and dreſs him meat, that ſo he might get opportunity to put his wicked intention and Jonadabs counſell to execution, we ſee that the too great indulgence of Parents is the occaſion of Childrens much ſinning, and in the end of their deſtruction, as we ſee here in Amnon, and the ſonnes of Eli's, which ſhould be an admonition to Parents, not be too indulgent to their Children, but to bring them up in aw, vertue, correction and in the feare of God. Alſo we ſee here that even Kings daughters in thoſe times, did not ſcorne to put their fingers to ſome works of houſe wifery, as here in cooking of meate.
12. Verſ. 9. Where Amnon commands that all men ſhould go out of his chamber before he enterpriſed the fact. We ſee, that many think ſhame that men ſhould ſee or know that, which they neither feare, nor are aſhamed, that God ſhould ſee: ſuch is the deceitfulneſs and naturall Atheiſme of the heart of man, therefore the Scripture tell's us, That the foole hath ſaid in his heart, that there is no God, an example alſo of this we ſee in Judah, Gen. 38. 23. That unlawfull acts ſeek the ſhelter of ſecrecy.
13. At laſt, Verſ. 11. Amnon diſcovers his intention in his petition to his Father, and requiring all to go out from him, and having taken hold of Tamar, he ſaies to her, come lye with me, my Siſter: which ſhewes the progreſs of ſinne from luſt in the heart, to perſuaſion by Word, and at laſt performance in the deed. And how impudent the wicked become at laſt, ſhaking off all modeſty or ſhamefaceneſs: as we ſee alſo in Potiphars wife, Gen. 39. 7. As alſo (as the proverb ſaies) That time, place, and opportunity makes many whore and theefe, and therefore for avoiding of ſinne ought to be eſchewed. Likewiſe we ſee how unjuſtly do carnall men miſplace their affections: though they be of neereſt relation, where grace is not to reſtraine and direct them.
14. Verſ. 12. Where Tamar ſaies to Amnon, that no ſuch thing ought to be done in Iſrael: Which was the only Church of God, and therefore whom holineſs doth become, as is ſaid, Pſal. 93. 5. We learne that our lives and actions ought to be ſutable to our profeſſion, and ſeeing it is holy, and the Church whereof we count our ſelves members, is the holy Catholick Church, and the head thereof is holy, Therefore we ſhould be holy, as he is holy, without which holineſs no man ſhall ſee God, Heb. 12. 14.
15. Next, where ſhe calles the ſinne, folly, and in committing thereof, that he ſhould be as one of the fooles in Iſrael. We ſee what ſinners are, eſteeme of themſelves as they pleaſe, they are in Gods account, and all truly Godly, but fooles: as they are oftimes ſtyled in Scripture, and eſpecially in the Proverbs, 18. 6. 23. 9. 26. 1. and elſe-where, therefore the worldly wiſe man in the Goſpell is called, the rich foole: and ſo they may, becauſe they forecaſt not: nor provide for the time to come, and preferre momentary ſinfull pleaſures, or profit to everlaſting: and ſo makes a fooliſh and unwiſe choice.
16. Verſ. 13. Where ſhe ſaies, Whither ſhall I cauſe my ſhame to go? We ſee that ſinne brings ſhame, as we ſee in our firſt Parents, and has brought many to ſhamefull deaths, and to be ſhamefull ſpectacles: which though they eſcape here, they ſhall not eſcape before men, and Angells hereafter.
17. Verſ. 14. It is ſaid notwithſtanding all her arguments of diſſwaſion, he would not hearken to her, but forced her, and lay with her, and ſo committed that vile act of inceſt againſt the lawes, both of God and man: and which the baptiſt reprehended in Herode, and which the Apoſtle alſo, 1 Cor. 5. condemned as deſerving excommunication and giving over into the hands of Satan, where we ſee that where Satan prevailes, no arguments neither from reaſon, equity, dammage, or the Word of God will prevaile: but what God or man ſaies is deſpiſed, as we ſee is ſaid, Chap. 12. 9. Yea God himſelf is contemned, as verſ. 10. is ſhewne.
18. It is ſaid that Amnon forced her, he being ſtronger then ſhe. Where we ſee, when gifts of body or mind, or any other benefit that God gives, is abuſed to ſinne, againſt the giver; from bleſſings, or benefits they turne to curſes, and to their deſtruction in the end, who are the abuſers of them: as we ſee in the ſtrength of Sampſon, the wiſdome of Achitophel, he preferment of Judas, the riches of the rich glutton, and foole, the beauty of Abſolon, and here the ſtrength of Amnon.
19. Verſ. 15. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, more then he loved her. Which ſhewes the ſhortneſs of unlawfull pleaſure enduring no longer then the ſinfull act, and for which like fooles they hazard, and looſe pleaſures for evermore: and next, wherein the fulfilling of unlawfull luſt, and carnall ſinfull pleaſure (as alſo all ill grounded love and friendſhip) at laſt doth end; when once the conſcience is touched and awaked, towit, in a bitter hatred, more then ever they loved ſinne, as we ſee 1 Cor. 7. 11. The ſame being as thoſe locuſts, Rev. 9.
20. Herein alſo is a reſemblance of true repentance, when we are not only grieved for the committing of ſinne, but alſo hates the ſame exceedingly, and puts it to the dore from us in the practiſe of our lives, and bolts the dore upon it, that it may never after returne to us, nor we to it, like the dog to the vomit, or the ſow to the puddle.
21. Verſ. 20. In Abſolons ſpeech to Tamar, ſaying that Amnon is her brother, and not to regard that thing (for which himſelfe conceaved a deadly hatered againſt Amnon, and reſolved to kill him though he was his brother) we ſee the pattern of a notable and dangerous diſſembling hypocrite, who ſpoke ſo faire, extenuating the matter to Tamar, and in that particular ſpoke neither good nor evill to Amnon, but on the contrary thereafter invited him to a feaſt, where he cauſed crually to murther him: as hereafter alſo, chap. 15. He played the cunning hypocrite, as ſhall be ſhewne in their own place, whereby he ſtole the hearts of the people from his father firſt, and next would have ſtolen his Crowne.
22. Verſ. 21. When David hard of theſe things he was very wroth. Doubtleſs, both at himſelfe, for his own ſimplicity, and indulgence: the ſad fruit thereof he now ſaw; as alſo at his ſonne Amnon, for his wicked fact of inceſt, which proceeded from idleneſs, pampering the fleſh, and carnall delight in the beauty of women, the peſts of Kings courts. Wherein we ſee that oftimes the Child which the father loves moſt: as David did Amnon (as we ſee, verſ. 36. and 37.) becomes their greateſt griefe through too much indulgence towards ſuch. As we ſee in the ſonnes of Eli, in Amnon here, and Abſolon hereafter.
23. Where it is ſaid, that Abſolon hated Amnon, becauſe he had forced his ſiſter: as this teaches us that ſuch wrongs ſhould not be done, leſt we incurre the hatred of thoſe, whoſe love rather we ſhould ſeek to injoy. So likewiſe this ſheweth where ſin, and eſpecially murther here beginnes, towit, at the heart: as we ſee in Cain. And therefore we ſhould reſiſt beginnings, and watch over the heart, with all watchfulneſs and diligence. It being like the fort, or citadell, which if Satan once take in, he will the more eaſily command all the reſt.