The Throne of David, Treatise · Section 30
II. SAM. Chap. 13. from the 23. verſ. to the end.
FOllows now the ſecond part of the Chapter, & in it, the Tragicall hiſtory of Abſolons murthering of Amnon for the forcing of his Siſter Tamar, and as an accompliſhment of that threatning in part of Nathan, againſt David for the killing of Ʋriah, whoſe blood did crye like Abels for revenge. In which Hiſtory we have to conſider. 1. The haynouſneſſe of this ſinne of fratricide, and muther. 2. The perſons actors in this Tragedy. 3. Their ſeverall vices, or errours. 4. The manner of this murther and acting thereof. And 5. the conſequences.
Firſt, what a haynous ſinne murther is, we may ſee not onelyonly in the prohibition thereof in Gods Word, and the puniſhments that enſueth thereon, as we may perceive in theſe wherewith Ʋ riahs blood was avenged, and Naboths, & the Lords Prieſts whom Saul cauſed to be killed, &c. the ſame making a man like to Satan, who being a murtherer from the beginning, and innocent blood crying ever to heaven till the ſame be avengend, as we ſee in Abels, and Rev. 6. 10. And debarring from the Kingdome of Heaven, as we ſee Rev. 22. 15. But of all ſorts of murther paricide and fratricide is the moſt haynous, as we ſee that of Cains murthering of his Brother Abel, and Abemelechs murthering of his Brethren, Judg. 9. And therefore periſhing thereafter ſhamefully, and of Abſolons murthering here, of his Brother Amnon.
Secondly the perſons actours in this Tragedy are. 1. Abſolon King Davids third Son procreat upon Maacha the Daughter of Talmai King of Geſhur an infidell, & who is the principall actour, deviſer, commander, and avower of this cruell murther. 2. David the King, in his ſimplicity and indulgence to his Children, albeit by circumvention, yet he is the expoſer by his authority of his Sonne Amnon to this murther. 3. Amnon the Kings eldeſt Sonne incircumſpectly (and yet by Gods juſt judgement,) is he who is murthered. 4. Abſolons ſervants are the burreans and executers of this murther. 5. The Kings other Sonnes were ſpectatours, being invited and preſent at this bloody banquet. 6. Jonadab acts the part of an inconſtant courtier (his friend Amnon now being ſlain) implying, Verſ. 32. That the fact was a juſt revenge of the forcing of Abſolons Siſter Tamar, notwithſtanding that he had plotted the way how it ſhould be done, and therefore now he turnes to Abſolons part who was living, the other being dead and gone. 7. Gods part is not to be a bare ſpectatour in all this, or a permitter onelyonly; but alſo a worker, directing all theſe evills to a good end. As he did all that which was done to Joſeph by his Brethren, towit, to his own glory, in the puniſhment of vice; and fatherly correction of his ſervant David, and ſo to performe what his word was by Nathan threatned.
Thirdly, the vices of theſe actouns are. 1. In Abſolon, we ſee hatred. Groſſe diſſimulation, implacable malice, deſire of revenge, ambition to the next to the Crown, treaſon; effeminate cruelty, commanding others to do, what he durſt not himſelf, and want of all reverence, or duty to his Father, or his authority, and herein alſo his ſubtilty appears. That Vers 22. he never ſpoke good, or bad to Amnon, towit of that ſubject, of the rape, or forcing of his Siſter, by quarrelling with him for the ſame: that ſo he might conceale his malice, till he found occaſion to put the ſame in execution, and ſo he was paſt Maſter in the rule of courteous diſſimulation: and in all this, and above all, we ſee his irreligious contempt of God, or his commandements, and that he regarded onelyonly the wrong that was done to Tamar, but not the offence that was done to God.
2. In David, we ſee his errours were. 1. His too great indulgence to his Sonnes, whereupon proceeded his facility without ſuſpition to believe, and obey them. And 2. his negligence in his office as a Magiſtrate, who ſhould have puniſhed Amnon for his inceſt deſerving death; and which he neglecting, is thus puniſhed and revenged by Abſolon to his great grief, and in Gods juſt judgement.
3. In Amnon his errour was, the want of the remorſe of conſcience for his inceſt, and his ſleeping in ſecurity, ſeeing for the ſpace of two years, nothing was ſaid unto him by Abſolon, or done unto him, nor expected by him.
4. In Abſolons ſervants, we ſee their vice and wickedneſſe was, their baſe ſlavery whereunto they ſubject themſelves to betray, and murther the Prince, upon the onelyonly warrant of their Maſters command, and authority; miſregarding both Gods command, and the Kings authority, or conſidering the cauſe, on conſequence of the fact:
5. In the reſt of the Kings Sonnes, we ſee their imprudence, to have committed themſelves all at one time to have been at ſuch a banquet, as alſo their negligence in being onelyonly ſpectatours, and not ſeeking any way to hinder the fact.
6. In Jonathan we ſee the patterne of a temporiſing, and diſſembling courtier, favouring and following them, by whom they may beſt ſtand, and framing his ſpeeches all to that end.
Fourthly, the form of the practiſing, and execution of this bloody fact is extended in all the circumſtances thereof. 1. The time was after two full years, and at the ſhearing of ſheep, which was uſually celebrated with a publick feaſt, as we ſee, Gen. 38. and 1 Sam. 25. At which time Abſolon takes occaſion to invite the King, and his Sonnes, and particularly Amnon, to his feaſt of ſheepſhearing, and then to murther Amnon. 2. The place is Baalbazor which bordereth with Ephraim. 3. The occaſion, is Abſolons earneſt invitation of the King and all his Sonnes to his banquet: which when the King had refuſed to go, he preſſes him, that Amnon ſhould go; which at laſt the King grants, and that all his other Sonnes ſhould alſo go with him. 4. The manner of the acting is, when all are come, the banquet is begun with great mirth, and liberall entertainment, eſpecially in drinking of Wine: that Amnon being drunk might make the leſſe reſiſtance, & therefore Abſolon gives commandement to his ſervants, when they ſaw him ſo, that then they ſhould kill him, upon his warrant and authority, which accordingly they wickedly perform.
Laſt of all, the conſequents are, the Kings Sonnes flie, David and all his ſervants mourne: Jonadab mitigates the firſt report, and in a manner excuſes Abſolon for the fact, and Abſolon flieth, and goeth to Geſhur, where he remained three years.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. IN Amnon before, and now in Abſolon, both Iſraelites, and profeſſours of the true worſhip of God, and members of the viſible Church. We ſee groſſe and wicked crimes of uncleaneſſe in the one, and cruelty in the other, which ſhewes us, that it is not enough to be profeſſours of the truth, & of the Chriſtian name, or will ever that avail us to ſalvation, if our practiſe be contrary to our profeſſion, but our guiltineſſe is the greater that we diſhonour our holy profeſſion by our unholy life, mocks God, giving him words, but our reall ſervice to Satan, makes the Enemies to blaſphmy, and brings deſtruction upon our own ſouls.
2. Verſ. 1. Two full years Amnon ſleeps in ſecurity before his inceſtuous fact is puniſhed, whereby we ſee. 1. The Lords long ſuffering patience all this while, which he abuſed and ſhould have led him to repentance. And 2. albeit ſinners through Satans ſubtilty lie ſleeping in ſecurity, yet the Lords juſtice and their deſerved puniſhment ſleeps not, but though he come with leaden feet, yet he comes at laſt with an iron hand to cruſh them in pieces.
3. Amnon had eſcaped puniſhment which David as the Magiſtrate ought to have inflected impartially according to the Law, which was one of the cauſes of his ſecurity, but he could not eſcape that puniſhment which God in his juſt judgement had ordained for him, therefore let none, though never ſo great Prince…, as Amnon was, or others, dreame of impunity for ſinne, for aſſuredly howſoever they may eſcape the hand of man, the hand of God in his own time ſhall reach them.
4. Abſolon had all theſe two years harboured in his heart, this hatered and inveterate malice which he had againſt Amnon, and which now he was to put in execution, whereby we ſee where Satan once gets poſſeſſion of the heart, as he got alſo of Cains, and Iudas, he will never reſt till he bring that wicked ſeed ſown and rooted there, till a full harveſt & perfection, as he did this inveterate hatered of Abſolons towards Amnon. Which ended in a cruell murther. And that evill determined courſes die not, as oftimes the good does. Before their performance.
5. Abſolon invited all the Kings Sonnes to a banquet, and in ſpeciall, Amnon whom he intended to murther, as we ſee Verſ. 26. So that it is no new thing to ſee fouleſt practiſes varniſhed over with fair pretences, as in that fact of Simeon and Levi againſt the Sechemites, the faſt indicted by Jeſabells means for killing of Naboth, and here Abſolons inviting of Amnon to a feaſt, intending to murther him. This alſo is the practiſe of Satan in tempting to ſinne, he layes before them pleaſure, or profite, and the like, and invites them, as it were to taſte and take of theſe baits, intending their deſtruction, as it is …, … decipit auceps, whereunto we oppoſe, omnibus eſca cibis …r… ſ…beſſe puta.
6. Verſ. 25. King David being alſo invited to this banquet refuſes to go, but he bleſſed Abſolon, who was accurſed of God, and going about a curſed and … fact. Which teaching us, that man bleſſeth in vain, where the Lord bleſſeth not, and therefore Children ſhould earneſtly deſire that with parents bleſſing which is onelyonly optative, the Lord would joyn his bleſſing which is operative, and ſo carry in a holy courſe of life, that the one may concurre with the other.
7. Verſ. 27. After that David had denyed, that Amnon ſhould go, yet through Abſolons …reſſing, he conſents at laſt, that he and all other his Sonnes, ſhould go. Where we ſee what importunity doth produce, and eſpecially by ſervent and frequent prayer, and waiting what is produced at the hands of God, our heavenly King and Father: as we ſee in the anſwer to the Canaa…itiſh Woman at laſt, and the parable of the importunate friend, and Widdow.
8. Verſ. 28. Where Abſolon directs his ſervants to marke, when Amnons heart was merry with Wine, that then they ſhould kill him. We ſee 1. what is the fruit oftimes of drunkenneſſe when men are beſotted thereby, and both rendred incapable of perceiving of danger, and unable to reſiſt violence, as is ſaid by the Poet, enervat vires, debilitatique pedes, then they become an open prey to any invader. And 2. we ſee that it is a fearfull thing for men, to be taken away in the very act of ſinning, as Zimri and Coſby, were, Core and Dathan, and here Amnon in the very act of drunkenneſſe. Wherein alſo appeareth Abſolons greater cruelty, by making him drunk firſt to murther his ſoul, and thereafter in his ſecurity to murther his body.
9. In the executing of this cruell fact, Abſolon ſayes to his ſervants, fear not, ſpeaking of the fear of man, but he forgets to ſpeak of the feare of God: and again, have not I commanded you? (ſayes he) as if his command was a ſufficient warrant, though contrary to the commandement of God. So that we ſee hereby, that in all wayes of the wicked God is no wayes before their eyes, and that preſumptuouſly they preferre themſelves unto him, and their unjuſt obſequie, to his juſt obedience.
10. Abſolon likewiſe calls the execution of this baſe cruelty in his ſervants, courage and valour, being indeed but treacherous and cowardly murther. Which ſhewes, that vices are oftimes coloured with the name of vertues; as drunkenneſſe is called good fellowſhip, avarice good Husbandry, ſubtilty to deceive, wiſedome, and pride magnanimity; as treacherous murther is here called courage and valour: and ſo on the contrary vertues fair face is beſmeared with the foule aſperſion of vice, as humility is counted baſenes, modeſty hypocriſy, and charity, profuſion, as Judas called that which was beſtowed on Chriſt to be waſte. This being Satans policy to make vice owned, and vertue counted odious.
11. Verſ. 29. It is ſaid that the ſervants of Abſolon did as their Maſter commanded them, and killed Amnon. Being hereby rather ſlaves to his vice and to Satan the inſtigator. Where we ſee the proverb verified, ſuch Masters, ſuch Man, a godleſſe, bloody and diſſembled Maſter, and they godleſſe, bloody and diſſembled ſervants, miſregarding the fear of God, or his holy commandement, to pleaſe man, and obey his wicked commandment; whereas they ſhould onelyonly obey the Lord, and their Maſters commandement ſo farre as it was agreeable to Gods, as is ſaid, Act. 5. 29. And as we ſee a worthy example here of in Sauls footmen, 1 Sam. 22. 17. Who at their Kings commandement would not kill the Prieſts of the Lord, which wicked Doeg the Edomite did thereafter, in a moſt cruell and barbarous manner, as alſo in the Midwives of Egypt, Exod. 1. 16.
12. Verſ. 31. 36. and 37. Upon the hearing of the tragicall newes of Abſolons bloody and cruell fact, David rents his cloathes, lies on the Earth, weeps ſore, and mourned every day. Where we ſee, that parents too great indulgence to their Children, (as Eli's was, and Davids) who ſpare the rod which in time ſhould be uſed, procures much ſorrow and grief to themſelves, and deſtruction of their Children, whom they ſpare and indulge.
13. David alſo not being onelyonly a parent, but a publicke Magiſtrate, and according to his office, not puniſhing inceſt in Amnon, therefore now in Abſolons fact, and in the grief, that he had for Amnon every day, he is juſtly puniſhed by God: Which ſhould admoniſh all Magiſtrates to diſcharge their duty faithfully, and imparcially in their office, it being a like abo…ination before God to puniſh the innocent, and to let the guilty free.
14. Verſ. 32. Where Jo…alab tells David, that Amnon onelyonly was dead, and that by the appointment of Abſolon it had been determined, from the day that he had forced his Siſter Tamar. We ſee, 1. That wicked courſes that are carried on with determination to have them performed▪ (and are not ſudden flaſhes of paſſion, or the like) they are the very light of impiety, and argue a deep rooting, and poſſeſſion by Satan, who ſtill forments what is once determined, till it be accompliſhed; and is a buſy agent to drive on ſuch wicked purpoſes, as we ſee in Judas betraying of our ſaviour, and other his reſtleſſe motions and Jehi…like drivings on to ſinne.
15. Jo…adah alſo by theſe words ſeemes to have had knowledge of this determination of Abſolons, and of the cauſe wherefore; and thus might have made Amnon more wary, and cautelous: but herein he ſhewes the nature of a temporiſing diſſembling courrier, who onelyonly looks to his own ſtanding, not caring what becomes of others Wherein alſo we ſee what it is to lippen, or rely on the friendſhip of any fleſh whatſoever, as Amnon did on this Jonadab, a ſubtile man, and only for himſelf.
16. Verſ. 34. Upon this fact committed. Abſolon fled, towit, from man who onelyonly could kill the body: but he could not flie from blood guiltineſſe, and an accuſing conſcience, nor yet from the hand of Gods juſtice which did reach him hereafter, and who had power both of ſoul, and body to caſt both into hell fire. Wherefore let ſinne…s n…ther flie unto God by repentance and faith; for from him they cannot flie, as David ſhewes, and all other flight they will finde unprofitable.