2 Samuel 13:21

KJV

¶ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

KJV (with Strong's)

But when king {H4428} David {H1732} heard {H8085} of all these things {H1697}, he was very {H3966} wroth {H2734}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When King David heard about all these things, he became very angry.

Berean Standard Bible

When King David heard all this, he was furious.

American Standard Version

But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Upon hearing the horrific news of his son Amnon's rape of his daughter Tamar, King David's immediate reaction is described as intense anger. This verse serves as a crucial turning point, highlighting David's emotional response to a profound family tragedy and moral outrage, yet conspicuously lacking any record of immediate, decisive action or judicial intervention. This failure to administer justice sets the stage for a tragic cascade of events, including Absalom's calculated revenge and subsequent rebellion, ultimately fulfilling earlier divine prophecies concerning the consequences of sin within David's household.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed at a pivotal juncture in the narrative of David's family. The preceding verses (2 Samuel 13:1-19) meticulously detail Amnon's manipulative plot, his brutal violation of Tamar, and her subsequent desolation. Tamar's brother, Absalom, takes her into his home (2 Samuel 13:20), indicating his immediate awareness and silent, brooding anger. David's "very wroth" reaction in verse 21, while seemingly strong, is immediately contrasted by the textual silence regarding any punitive action against Amnon. This inaction, or delayed action, is the narrative hinge that propels the story forward into Absalom's two-year simmering hatred (2 Samuel 13:22), culminating in Amnon's murder (2 Samuel 13:28-29) and Absalom's eventual rebellion against David. The narrative deliberately emphasizes the king's emotional state without portraying the expected royal justice, making this verse a stark commentary on David's faltering leadership within his own home.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the king was the supreme legal authority, responsible for upholding justice and enforcing the law, especially in cases of severe crime like rape, which was a capital offense under Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 22:25-27). The defilement of a virgin, particularly a princess, was an egregious affront to family honor and royal authority. The victim, Tamar, was left in a state of profound shame and unmarriageability, a fate worse than death in that culture. David's failure to act decisively against Amnon, his firstborn son and heir apparent, would have been seen as a dereliction of his kingly duty and a grave weakness. Such inaction could erode public trust and invite further lawlessness, as indeed it did, leading to Absalom's usurpation of the king's judicial role (2 Samuel 15:2-6). The cultural expectation was for swift and severe justice to restore order and honor.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within 2 Samuel and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **parental inaction and its devastating consequences**. David's failure to discipline Amnon directly leads to Absalom's vengeance and the subsequent fragmentation of the royal family, echoing the earlier prophetic warnings from Nathan in [2 Samuel 12:10-12](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10-12 - Nathan's Prophecy of the Sword and Public Shame"), where the "sword" would never depart from David's house, and his wives would be publicly shamed. Secondly, it highlights the **destructive nature of unchecked sin**, demonstrating how Amnon's lust and violence unleashed a cascade of suffering, division, and bloodshed within David's most intimate circle. Thirdly, the theme of **justice delayed and denied** is prominent, as David's passive response to such a heinous crime fuels Absalom's rage and quest for personal retribution, illustrating the profound dangers when righteous anger is not followed by righteous action. This ultimately contributes to the broader narrative of the decline of David's house and the challenges of his reign.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wroth (Hebrew, _charah_):** The Hebrew verb חָרָה (_charah_) literally means "to burn" or "to glow," often used to describe a fierce, burning anger. It conveys a deep, intense, and consuming emotion, not merely mild annoyance. When applied to David, it suggests a profound internal displeasure that likely stemmed from the horror of the act, the shame it brought upon his royal family, and perhaps a sense of personal failure or helplessness.
* **Very (Hebrew, _me'od_):** The adverb מְאֹד (_me'od_) means "very," "exceedingly," or "greatly." Its addition intensifies the meaning of _charah_, emphasizing the extreme degree of David's anger. This was not a fleeting irritation but a deeply felt, powerful rage. The text's brevity in describing David's reaction, coupled with this intense descriptor, heightens the dramatic tension between his emotion and his subsequent lack of recorded action.
* **Heard (Hebrew, _shama'_):** The verb שָׁמַע (_shama'_) means "to hear," "to listen," or "to understand." The phrase "when king David heard of all these things" indicates that the news reached him as a report, rather than him witnessing the event directly. This implies a period of time elapsed between the act and David's reception of the information, allowing for the full weight of the tragedy and its implications to settle upon him before his anger is noted.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But when king David heard of all these things":** This clause establishes the context for David's reaction. "All these things" encompasses the entire sordid affair: Amnon's manipulative scheme, his violent rape of Tamar, her subsequent desolation and public disgrace, and Absalom's taking her into his care. David, as king, would have been informed of such a grave incident involving his children. The use of "But" (וְאֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה, _v'et-kol-elleh_) signals a shift in focus from the immediate aftermath of the rape to David's personal response, setting up a crucial turning point in the narrative.
* **"he was very wroth":** This is the core statement of the verse, describing David's emotional state. As analyzed above, "very wroth" signifies a deep, burning anger. This anger would have been righteous indignation at the injustice, the violation of his daughter, and the public shame brought upon his family. However, the text's silence on any immediate action following this intense anger is profoundly significant. It highlights a critical flaw in David's leadership and parenting at this moment, creating a stark contrast between his powerful emotion and his apparent paralysis in administering justice, which ultimately had dire consequences for his family and kingdom.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Understatement** is perhaps the most striking, as the text's concise description of David's "very wroth" reaction belies the immense gravity of the situation and the expected royal response. For a king, especially one like David, to merely be angry without immediate, decisive action in the face of such a heinous crime involving his own children, is a profound narrative silence that speaks volumes. This **Contrast** between intense emotion and apparent inaction serves to highlight David's moral failing and foreshadows the tragic events to come. Furthermore, the verse acts as a crucial moment of **Foreshadowing**, signaling that while David's anger is noted, it is insufficient to prevent the escalating cycle of violence and retribution within his family. The lack of royal justice here directly sets the stage for Absalom's eventual vengeance and rebellion, fulfilling the earlier prophetic warnings about the "sword" never departing from David's house.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
David's reaction in 2 Samuel 13:21, marked by intense anger but a notable absence of immediate judicial action, underscores a profound theological principle: righteous emotion must be coupled with righteous action, especially for those in positions of authority. The narrative implicitly critiques David's failure to uphold justice within his own household, demonstrating that even a "man after God's own heart" can falter, leading to devastating consequences. This failure highlights the pervasive nature of sin and its ripple effects, not only in the perpetrator but also in the family and community when it is not properly addressed. It serves as a stark reminder of the weighty responsibility of leadership, whether in a family, church, or nation, to administer justice, protect the vulnerable, and maintain moral order, for inaction can be as destructive as direct transgression.

* [Proverbs 13:24](/proverbs/13-24 "Proverbs 13:24 - Discipline and Love")
* [Deuteronomy 19:18-19](/deuteronomy/19-18 "Deuteronomy 19:18-19 - False Witness and Justice")
* [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
King David's response in 2 Samuel 13:21 offers a poignant and challenging lesson for all, especially those in positions of authority—parents, leaders, and mentors. While David's anger was a natural and righteous reaction to a horrific injustice, the text's silence on any immediate disciplinary or judicial action against Amnon is deafening. This illustrates a critical truth: it is not enough to feel righteous indignation; true integrity and leadership demand that such emotion be channeled into decisive, just, and appropriate action. Unaddressed sin, particularly within one's sphere of influence, does not simply fade away; it festers, corrupts, and often escalates, leading to greater sorrow and destruction, as evidenced by the subsequent tragic events in David's family. This account compels us to examine our own responses to injustice and sin, urging us to move beyond mere emotional reaction to responsible, courageous, and timely intervention, ensuring that justice is pursued and the vulnerable are protected.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we balance righteous anger with appropriate, decisive action in the face of injustice, both in our personal lives and in our communities?**
* **What are the potential long-term consequences of failing to address sin or injustice within our own spheres of influence, whether as parents, leaders, or friends?**
* **In what ways might we, like David, allow personal complexities, fear of confrontation, or a desire to avoid discomfort to hinder us from upholding justice and administering necessary discipline?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't David act immediately to punish Amnon, given his intense anger?**

Answer: The biblical text does not explicitly state David's reasons for inaction, but several factors can be inferred. Firstly, Amnon was David's firstborn son and heir apparent, making any punitive action a deeply complex and politically sensitive matter. David may have been hesitant to execute or disinherit his eldest son, especially given the potential for succession crises. Secondly, David's own past sins, particularly his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11), might have compromised his moral authority and made him feel disqualified or hypocritical in administering justice to his son. Nathan's prophecy in [2 Samuel 12:10](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10 - The Sword Will Not Depart From Your House") explicitly stated that "the sword shall never depart from your house," suggesting that divine judgment was already at work within his family, perhaps leading to a sense of fatalism or helplessness on David's part. Finally, David, despite his strengths, often demonstrated a certain passivity in dealing with his children's moral failings, as seen later with Adonijah (1 Kings 1:6). This combination of personal guilt, political complexity, and perhaps a parental weakness, led to a tragic paralysis of justice.

**What was the cultural significance of Tamar's defilement and David's failure to avenge it?**

Answer: In ancient Israelite society, a woman's honor and marriageability were intrinsically tied to her virginity. Tamar's defilement by Amnon was not merely a personal tragedy but a profound violation of her dignity, her family's honor, and a direct affront to the king's authority. A defiled woman was often considered unmarriageable and socially outcast, leading to a life of shame and isolation, as Tamar experienced (2 Samuel 13:20). David's failure to administer justice for such a heinous crime had immense cultural significance. It signaled a breakdown in royal authority and a failure to protect the most vulnerable members of his own household. This inaction would have been perceived as a profound weakness, undermining the king's role as the ultimate dispenser of justice. It also directly fueled Absalom's rage, as he felt compelled to take justice into his own hands when his father would not, leading to further bloodshed and ultimately Absalom's rebellion against David's throne.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's intense anger coupled with his tragic inaction in 2 Samuel 13:21 stands in stark contrast to the perfect character and decisive action of Jesus Christ, the true King and ultimate Son of David. While David, a flawed earthly king, was "very wroth" but failed to administer justice, Jesus perfectly embodies righteous anger that always leads to righteous action. He is the one who, seeing the injustice and brokenness of the world, did not merely feel indignation but actively intervened. Unlike David, who allowed sin to fester within his own family, Jesus took the full weight of sin upon himself, becoming the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His wrath against sin is always holy and just, leading not to paralysis, but to the ultimate act of redemption on the cross, where he decisively conquered sin, death, and injustice (Colossians 2:13-15). Jesus is the sympathetic High Priest who was tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), and unlike David, He perfectly upholds the law and administers divine justice, not through human weakness but through divine power and love. He is the King who will return, not just "wroth," but as the [Righteous Judge](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11 - The Rider on the White Horse"), to establish perfect justice and bring an end to all sin and suffering, a stark and glorious fulfillment that David could never achieve.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.