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2 Samuel 13:23

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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.

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}.

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

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

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

2 Samuel 13:23 marks a pivotal moment in the tragic narrative of King David's family, specifically setting the stage for Absalom's calculated revenge against his half-brother, Amnon.

Context

This verse opens "after two full years" following the horrific rape of Tamar by her half-brother Amnon, and Absalom's quiet, simmering rage (see 2 Samuel 13:1-22). During this period, Absalom harbored deep resentment and planned his vengeance, while King David seemingly failed to address Amnon's crime adequately, leading to a breakdown of justice and order within his household. The passage of time underscores Absalom's patience and deliberate plotting rather than a spontaneous outburst of anger.

Key Themes

  • Calculated Revenge: Absalom's two-year silence was not forgiveness but strategic planning. He waited for the opportune moment, using a seemingly innocuous event to gather his intended victim. This highlights the dangerous nature of harbored bitterness and the long-term consequences of revenge.
  • Deception and Treachery: The invitation to the sheepshearing festival appears to be a gesture of familial reconciliation or hospitality, but it masks a sinister intent. Absalom uses a common celebratory custom as a trap, demonstrating his cunning and duplicity in executing his plot against Amnon.
  • Consequences of Unaddressed Sin: David's failure to justly punish Amnon's crime created an environment where Absalom felt compelled to take matters into his own hands. This verse is a direct consequence of the unresolved conflicts and moral failings within the royal family, echoing the prophetic warnings given to David about trouble arising from his own house (2 Samuel 12:10).

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

The mention of "sheepshearers" is culturally significant. Sheepshearing was a major annual event for wealthy landowners in ancient Israel. It was a time of great festivity, feasting, and often considerable revelry, even drunkenness, as seen in other biblical accounts (e.g., 1 Samuel 25:2-11). Such gatherings would involve many people, making it a suitable cover for Absalom's plan to isolate and eliminate Amnon without immediate suspicion. Baalhazor, located near Ephraim, was likely a place where Absalom had an estate or influence, providing a convenient and somewhat remote setting for his scheme.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unresolved conflict and the destructive power of revenge. Absalom's actions illustrate how bitterness, if left unchecked, can fester and lead to carefully orchestrated evil, often cloaked in apparent goodwill. It underscores the importance of addressing wrongs justly and promptly within families and communities, rather than allowing resentment to build. For believers, it highlights the call to forgive and release bitterness, trusting God for justice rather than taking matters into our own hands, as seen in passages urging us not to repay evil for evil (Romans 12:19).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 38:12 (3 votes)

    ¶ 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 (3 votes)

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

  • 1 Samuel 25:4 (3 votes)

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

  • 1 Kings 1:9 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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.