Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin. I write code and things but enough about that…

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  • Daily Bible Study

    2 Samuel 13-14; Matthew 24

    DateVersionReading Plan
    May 7, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

    2 Samuel 13-14

    Observation & Interpretation

    These two chapters depict an immense amount of treachery, revenge and deceit that occurred within the Davidic family, demonstrating that even the line of David was not absent the innate depravity of man. David’s firstborn son, Amnon, was of his wife, Ahinoam, and also had a son and daughter, Absalom and Tamar, through his other wife Maacah (13:1). Amnon was infatuated with his half-sister, Tamar, and made himself ill over his inability to do anything to her (13:2). Upon hearing of Amnon’s love for Tamar, Amnon’s crafty friend, Jonadab, devised a plan for Amnon to pretend to be ill so he could lure Tamar into his bed (13:3-5). Amnon carried out the ruse which led to his laying with and violating Tamar despite her pleas to not do this outrageous thing (13:6-14). After laying with her, Amnon hated Tamar with more hatred than he had previously loved her, showing that it was more about infatuation and physical conquest than actual love (13:15). Amnon forced her out of his presence and Tamar lamented deeply, putting ashes on her head and tearing her clothes (13:19). Absalom asked Tamar if she had been with Amnon and told her to hold her peace as Amnon was her brother (13:20).

    For two years, Absalom secretly held his hatred for Amnon until there was opportunity to bring all the sons of David together (13:23-27). With Absalom now in the company of Amnon, Absalom commanded his servants to kill Amnon when he was drunk with wine (13:28). The servants did so, killing Amnon while the rest of David’s sons each mounted his mule and fled (13:29). News came to David of these events, first as a false report that Absalom had struck down all his sons but later Jonadab, David’s nephew, clarified that only Amnon had been killed (13:30-33).

    Absalom fled and Joab knew that David’s heart was for Absalom, so he had a wise woman pretend to be a mourner with a similar story of conflict as Absalom and Amnon (14:2-17). David suspected Joab was the orchestrator of this plot and asked woman if this was so (14: 18-19a). The woman confirmed that it was Job who had commanded her and put all these words in her mouth (14:19). Absalom and David both were living in Jerusalem, but did not speak to each other for two years due to the tension (14:28). Absalom asked Joab to grant him audience with David, expressing his desire for David to decide how his murder of Amnon was to be handled (14:31-31). “Absalom finally met with his father, David, but this one meeting would not heal a wound that had festered for five years (v. 28; 13:38).” (CSB Notes)

    Application

    Amnon’s lustful pursuit of Tamar began a conflict that would ripple through the entire family of David. How much destruction one spark can cause in igniting a raging fire. Reading of this grants us sobering perspective of just how much impact our decisions and actions can make. We have great ability to both build up and to tear down, making prayerful discernment of how we proceed in our dealings with others all the more paramount. May the people of God acknowledge such capacity for good and for ill and earnestly seek the Lord’s guidance, that our speech would be seasoned with salt and our actions aimed at showcasing the glory of the Lord.

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