2 Samuel 13:23

KJV

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it came to pass after two full {H3117} years {H8141}, that Absalom {H53} had sheepshearers {H1494} in Baalhazor {H1178}, which is beside Ephraim {H669}: and Absalom {H53} invited {H7121} all the king's {H4428} sons {H1121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Two years later, when Avshalom had sheep-shearers in Ba'al-Hatzor, near Efrayim, Avshalom invited all the king's sons.

Berean Standard Bible

Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king.

American Standard Version

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
After two full years of simmering resentment following the rape of his sister Tamar by their half-brother Amnon, 2 Samuel 13:23 marks the calculated moment Absalom initiates his long-planned revenge. This verse sets the stage for a tragic turn in David's household, revealing Absalom's patient and deceptive plotting as he prepares a seemingly innocent festive gathering—a sheepshearing event—to which he invites all the king's sons, specifically targeting Amnon for assassination. It underscores the dangerous consequences of unaddressed sin and the destructive power of harbored bitterness within a family.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a critical turning point in the tragic narrative of David's family, immediately following the horrific account of Amnon's rape of Tamar and Absalom's silent, seething rage (2 Samuel 13:1-22). The two-year gap mentioned here is not a period of reconciliation or healing, but rather a testament to Absalom's deliberate and cold-blooded planning. It directly precedes the execution of Absalom's vengeful plot against Amnon, culminating in Amnon's murder and Absalom's subsequent flight (2 Samuel 13:24-39). This passage is part of a larger section detailing the domestic troubles and moral decay within David's house, fulfilling the prophecy of judgment pronounced by Nathan in [2 Samuel 12:10](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10 - Nathan's Prophecy of Trouble in David's House"). The narrative meticulously builds suspense, showing Absalom's patience and cunning as he orchestrates his revenge.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Sheepshearing was a significant annual event in ancient Israel, comparable to a harvest festival. It was a time of great celebration, feasting, and often revelry, involving large gatherings of family, servants, and guests. Such events could last for several days and were known for their hospitality and abundance, sometimes leading to drunkenness, as seen in the story of Nabal's feast in [1 Samuel 25:2-11](/1_samuel/25-2 "1 Samuel 25:2-11 - Nabal's Sheepshearing Feast"). Absalom's choice of a sheepshearing festival in Baalhazor, a location likely on his own estate near Ephraim, provided both a plausible reason for gathering the royal sons and a somewhat remote setting conducive to his sinister plan. This cultural backdrop highlights Absalom's cunning in using a customary festive occasion as a veil for his murderous intentions, making his invitation appear innocuous while masking a deadly trap.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within 2 Samuel and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it exemplifies the destructive **consequences of unaddressed sin** and the breakdown of justice within David's household, echoing the divine judgment pronounced upon David for his own sins in [2 Samuel 12:10-12](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10-12 - The Sword Will Never Depart from David's House"). David's failure to punish Amnon adequately creates a vacuum of justice that Absalom feels compelled to fill with his own vengeance. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **calculated revenge and deception**. Absalom's two years of silence are not forgiveness but a period of meticulous planning, demonstrating the insidious nature of harbored bitterness. The seemingly innocent invitation to a celebratory event serves as a treacherous trap, showcasing Absalom's duplicity. Finally, the verse underscores the **fragility of royal succession and family dynamics** within David's kingdom, where internal strife and moral failings threaten to unravel the very fabric of the monarchy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"two full years" (שְׁנָתַיִם תְּמִימֹת, _shnatayim temimot'_):** This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and unhurried nature of Absalom's plotting. The Hebrew word _temimot_ (full, complete) suggests that the time was not merely elapsed but fully utilized for a specific purpose. This extended period highlights Absalom's patient, calculating resolve, contrasting sharply with Amnon's impulsive act. It underscores that his revenge was not a spontaneous outburst but a carefully orchestrated plan, allowing his anger to fester into a cold, determined malice.
* **"sheepshearers" (גֹּזְזִים, _gozezîm'_):** The term refers to the workers engaged in the annual shearing of sheep. As noted in the context, sheepshearing festivals were major social and economic events, typically accompanied by feasting and celebration. Absalom's choice of this occasion is highly significant; it provides a culturally acceptable and seemingly innocent reason to gather the royal family, especially Amnon, without arousing suspicion. It serves as a perfect cover for his sinister intentions, demonstrating his cunning use of social custom for a deadly purpose.
* **"invited" (וַיִּקְרָא, _vayyiqra'_):** This verb, meaning "to call" or "to invite," appears innocuous on the surface, implying hospitality and familial gathering. However, in this context, it carries a chilling undertone of manipulation and entrapment. Absalom's invitation is not a gesture of reconciliation or genuine fellowship but a calculated lure to bring his intended victim into a vulnerable position. The specific mention of "all the king's sons" further emphasizes the breadth of his deceptive hospitality, making the trap appear more natural and less targeted.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it came to pass after two full years,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the passage of a significant amount of time since the rape of Tamar. The "two full years" are not a period of healing or forgetting, but rather a deliberate interval during which Absalom's anger has solidified into a cold, calculated plan for revenge, highlighting his patience and methodical approach.
* **"that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim:"**: This clause sets the scene for the impending tragedy. It describes the occasion—a sheepshearing festival, a time of feasting and revelry—and its location. Baalhazor, near Ephraim, was likely Absalom's own estate, providing him with control over the environment and a degree of remoteness, making it an ideal setting for his plot to unfold without immediate detection or intervention.
* **"and Absalom invited all the king's sons."**: This final clause reveals Absalom's deceptive strategy. The invitation, seemingly a gesture of familial goodwill for a festive occasion, is in fact a carefully laid trap. By inviting "all the king's sons," Absalom creates an appearance of general hospitality, masking his specific intention to isolate and eliminate Amnon, the primary target of his long-held vengeance.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs several literary devices to build tension and reveal character. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the "two full years" of silence following Tamar's rape strongly hint at a brewing storm, indicating that Absalom's quietude is not forgiveness but a prelude to a violent act. The mundane yet festive setting of the sheepshearing event, juxtaposed with Absalom's sinister intentions, creates a powerful sense of **irony**. What should be a joyous family gathering becomes the stage for a fratricide. Furthermore, the narrative builds **suspense** by revealing Absalom's patient preparation without immediately disclosing his full plan, leaving the reader to anticipate the inevitable tragic outcome of his harbored bitterness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Samuel 13:23 is a stark reminder of the devastating ripple effects of sin and the perils of unaddressed injustice. David's failure to act decisively and justly in the aftermath of Amnon's crime created a moral vacuum that Absalom felt compelled to fill with his own brand of vengeance. This verse underscores the theological truth that sin, left unpunished or unrepented, often begets further sin and violence, fulfilling the prophetic warning that "the sword shall never depart from your house" ([2 Samuel 12:10](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10 - Nathan's Prophecy of Trouble in David's House")). Absalom's calculated revenge, cloaked in deceptive hospitality, stands in stark contrast to God's call for justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It highlights the destructive nature of bitterness and the human tendency to seek personal retribution rather than trusting in divine justice or pursuing restorative paths.

* [Proverbs 26:24-26](/proverbs/26-24 "Proverbs 26:24-26 - Deceptive Words and Hidden Malice")
* [Romans 12:17-19](/romans/12-17 "Romans 12:17-19 - Do Not Avenge Yourselves")
* [Hebrews 12:14-15](/hebrews/12-14 "Hebrews 12:14-15 - Pursue Peace and Holiness; Beware of Bitterness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a profound cautionary tale for individuals, families, and communities. Absalom's two years of silent plotting demonstrate the corrosive power of unaddressed bitterness and the danger of allowing resentment to fester. When wrongs are not confronted justly or when forgiveness is withheld, the seeds of future conflict and destructive actions are sown. For us, this passage is a powerful call to deal with sin and conflict promptly, openly, and justly, rather than allowing anger or a desire for revenge to consume us. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for any harbored resentment, urging us to seek reconciliation, offer forgiveness, and trust in God's ultimate justice, rather than taking matters into our own hands. It reminds us that true peace comes not from vengeance, but from living in accordance with God's righteous ways, even when faced with deep personal hurt.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in my life or relationships might I be harboring resentment or a desire for revenge, similar to Absalom's two-year wait?**
* **How does David's inaction in addressing Amnon's sin highlight the importance of swift and just responses to wrongdoing within our families or communities?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to use seemingly innocent or positive occasions to achieve a hidden, negative agenda?**
* **How can I actively pursue forgiveness and reconciliation in situations where I have been wronged, rather than allowing bitterness to take root?**

### FAQ
**Why did Absalom wait "two full years" before acting?**

Answer: Absalom's two-year waiting period was not a sign of forgetting or forgiving Amnon's heinous crime against Tamar, but rather a deliberate and calculated strategy. This extended silence allowed the initial shock and outrage to subside, making his subsequent invitation to the sheepshearing festival appear more natural and less suspicious. It also gave him ample time to meticulously plan the assassination, ensuring he could execute his revenge at an opportune moment and in a setting where he had control. This patience underscores his cunning and the depth of his vengeful resolve, transforming a spontaneous desire for retribution into a cold, premeditated act. It also highlights King David's failure to address the injustice, which allowed Absalom's bitterness to fester and grow.

**What was the significance of the "sheepshearers" event?**

Answer: The sheepshearing festival was a major annual event in ancient Israel, marking the end of the shearing season. It was a time of great celebration, feasting, and often revelry, similar to a harvest festival. Wealthy landowners would host lavish banquets, inviting family, friends, and workers. Absalom chose this event precisely because its festive and communal nature provided a perfect cover for his sinister plot. It offered a plausible, innocent reason to gather all the king's sons, including Amnon, in a remote location (Baalhazor, near Ephraim) where Absalom had control and could execute his plan without immediate suspicion or intervention. This cultural context underscores Absalom's deceptive brilliance in using a joyous occasion as a deadly trap.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic narrative of 2 Samuel 13:23, with Absalom's calculated revenge, stands in stark contrast to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While Absalom patiently plotted murder, using a festive occasion as a deceptive trap, Christ patiently endured suffering, using his own life as a sacrifice for the redemption of humanity. Absalom's actions highlight the destructive power of human vengeance and the cycle of violence that results from unaddressed sin, a cycle that ultimately led to the cross. Jesus, the true Son of David, did not come to exact revenge for the wrongs committed against Him or His Father, but rather to offer forgiveness and reconciliation. He is the ultimate "Lamb of God" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) who willingly laid down His life, not at a sheepshearing festival of earthly revelry, but on Calvary, to take away the sin of the world. Unlike Absalom, who brought division and death, Christ's patient endurance and self-sacrifice bring life, peace, and true justice, breaking the cycle of vengeance and offering a path to genuine reconciliation with God and one another ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Own Love"), [Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19-20 - Reconciliation Through Christ's Blood")).

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.

Cross-References

Genesis 38:12

¶ And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Genesis 38:13

And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

1 Samuel 25:4

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

1 Kings 1:9

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which [is] by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

2 Kings 3:4

And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.

1 Kings 1:19

And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

1 Samuel 25:36

¶ And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart [was] merry within him, for he [was] very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.