What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 13:5? Jonadab told him “Jonadab told him…” (2 Samuel 13:5a) • Jonadab, introduced in 13:3 as “a very shrewd man,” embodies the danger of ungodly counsel. • Proverbs 12:26 warns, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Amnon’s tragedy begins not with his own idea but with a friend’s suggestion. • 1 Corinthians 15:33 echoes the principle: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill “…‘Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill.’” (13:5b) • Deception is Jonadab’s first tactic. Genesis 27:35 shows another family torn by deceit when Jacob steals Esau’s blessing. • Psalm 101:7 declares, “No one who practices deceit will dwell in My house; no one who speaks lies will stand in My presence.” Jonadab’s plan already stands opposed to God’s character. • Pretending sickness exploits the sympathy of others, a direct violation of Exodus 20:16’s command not to bear false witness. When your father comes to see you “…‘When your father comes to see you…’” (13:5c) • David’s expected visit reflects the compassion of a father (cf. 2 Samuel 12:16, where he pleads for his infant son). • Jonadab counts on David’s tender heart, twisting a father’s natural concern into a tool for sin. • Romans 16:18 cautions that smooth talk can deceive “the hearts of the naïve,” reminding us to test every appeal—even tender ones—by God’s standards. Say to him “…‘say to him…’” (13:5d) • Jonadab scripts Amnon’s words, underscoring how sin often follows a well-planned narrative (cf. Acts 5:3, where Ananias and Sapphira conspire). • Matthew 12:34 teaches that “the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart.” Accepting Jonadab’s script reveals Amnon’s willingness to sin. Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat “…‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat.’” (13:5e) • The request sounds harmless, yet beneath it lies Amnon’s lust (13:2). James 1:14-15 shows desire conceiving sin and birthing death. • Calling Tamar “my sister” heightens the horror; Leviticus 18:9 strictly forbids sexual relations with a sister. • Sin’s first step often masquerades as innocence—an “ordinary” favor that conceals evil intent (Proverbs 7:18-21). Let her prepare it in my sight “…‘Let her prepare it in my sight…’” (13:5f) • Amnon wants to prolong the encounter, feeding his imagination. Job 31:1 underscores the need for self-control: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” • Mark 9:47 urges drastic measures against stumbling; Amnon chooses the opposite, arranging full exposure to temptation. So I may watch her and eat it from her hand “…‘so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’” (13:5g) • Physical closeness is the goal, paving the way for the assault in 13:11-14. • 2 Timothy 2:22 commands, “Flee from youthful passions,” yet Amnon engineers circumstances to indulge them. • The verse illustrates Proverbs 30:20: sin can cloak itself in routine actions (“eat”) while plotting grave wickedness. summary 2 Samuel 13:5 reveals a calculated blueprint for sin: ungodly counsel, deliberate deception, manipulation of family affection, and willful exposure to temptation. Each phrase unpacks how unchecked desire, fueled by bad company, progresses toward devastating action. The verse warns us to reject deceitful advice, guard our hearts, and measure every plan against God’s unchanging Word. |
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