Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Now Absalom had commanded his servants,.... Before he and his guests were set down to the entertainment:

saying, mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; as he was determined to make him if possible, and as he supposed he would be, knowing his inclination to drink:

and when I say unto you, smite Amnon, then kill him; smite him that he die, and be sure he is dead before you leave him:

fear not, have not I commanded you? who am your lord, the king's son, and will then be heir to the crown; fear not, I will protect you; let all the blame be laid to me, if any; I will be answerable for it, you have nothing to do but to obey my commands:

be courageous, and be valiant; show yourselves to be men of courage and valour, not fearing the king's sons, or any in company, or what will be the consequences of it; do your business effectually, and leave all with me; it is very reasonably supposed that Absalom had not only in view to revenge the rape of his sister, but to get himself next heir to the crown.

Geneva Study Bible

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not ^m I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

(m) Such is the pride of the wicked masters, that in all their wicked commandments they think to be obeyed.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

2 Samuel 13:28-36. Amnon is slain.

Absalom had commanded his servants, saying  …  when Amnon‘s heart is merry with wine  …  kill him, fear not — On a preconcerted signal from their master, the servants, rushing upon Amnon, slew him at the table, while the rest of the brothers, horror-struck, and apprehending a general massacre, fled in affrighted haste to Jerusalem.

Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Absalom then commanded his servants to put Amnon to death without fear, as he had commanded, as soon as his heart should become merry with wine and he (Absalom) should tell them to smite him. The arrangement of the meal is passed over as being quite subdrdinate to the main purpose of the narrative; and the clause added by the lxx at the close of 2 Samuel 13:27, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἈβεσσαλὼϚ πότον κατὰ τὸν τοῦ βασιλέως, is nothing more than an explanatory gloss, formed according to 1 Samuel 25:36. The words “Have not I commanded you?” implied that Absalom would take the responsibility upon himself.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

Merry — When he least suspects, and will be most unable to prevent the evil.

I — I who am the king's son, and, when Amnon is gone, his heir: who therefore shall easily obtain pardon for you, and will liberally reward you.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 13:28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

Ver. 28. Now Absalom had commanded his servants.] His assassins, whom some conceive to have been Geshurites of his mother’s country, ready to flee thither with him, as 2 Samuel 13:37.

When Amnon’s heart is merry with wine.] See on 2 Samuel 13:13.

And when I say unto you, Smite Amnon.] So cowardly he was that he durst not do it himself, saith Pellican.

Then kill him, fear not.] This bloody command he uttered in plainer terms than did Tarlton, bishop of Winchester, when he gave order for the death of King Edward in these words unpointed, and therefore of doubtful interpretation, Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est.

Have not I commanded you?] Am not I the next heir to the crown? and so shall be able both to secure you and reward you.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

When Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; when he least suspects, and will be most unable to prevent the evil.

Have not I commanded you; I who am the king’s son, and, when Amnon is gone, his heir; who therefore shall easily obtain pardon for you, and will liberally reward you?

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

28.Have not I commanded you — No guilt will be on you, for I take all the responsibility on myself; only obey you my orders.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

It is I: the blame will fall on me; I will rescue all from danger. These servants were probably infidels, of Gessur, and fled with their master. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

valiant = sons of valour.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

When Amnon's heart is merry with wine ... kill him, fear not. On a preconcerted signal from their master, the servants, rushing upon Amnon, assassinated him at the table, while the rest of the brothers, horror-struck, and apprehending a general massacre, fled in frightened haste to Jerusalem.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

commanded

11:15; Exodus 1:16,17; 1 Samuel 22:17,18; Acts 5:29

heart is merry

11:13; Genesis 9:21; 19:32-35; Judges 19:6,9,22; Ruth 3:7; 1 Samuel 25:36-38; 1 Kings 20:16; Esther 1:10; Psalms 104:15; Ecclesiastes 9:7; 10:19; Daniel 5:2-6,30; Nahum 1:10; Luke 21:34

fear not

Numbers 22:16,17; 1 Samuel 28:10,13

have not I

or, Will you not, since I have, etc.

Joshua 1:9

valiant

Heb. sons of valour.

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:41 - then;  Exodus 1:18 - Why have;  Leviticus 19:18 - not avenge;  Numbers 35:20 - if he thrust;  Deuteronomy 27:24 - General;  Joshua 8:8 - I have;  Judges 16:25 - their hearts;  1 Samuel 18:22 - servants;  1 Samuel 30:16 - eating;  2 Samuel 3:33 - as a fool dieth;  2 Samuel 12:10 - the sword;  2 Samuel 12:11 - I will raise;  2 Samuel 14:30 - go and set;  2 Samuel 15:10 - spies;  2 Samuel 23:5 - Although;  1 Kings 16:9 - drinking;  1 Kings 20:12 - drinking;  Job 1:18 - eating;  Proverbs 18:19 - brother;  Proverbs 20:1 - General;  Proverbs 23:29 - Who hath woe;  Proverbs 23:34 - thou;  Ecclesiastes 7:4 - the heart;  Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger;  Isaiah 5:14 - he that rejoiceth;  Isaiah 21:4 - the night;  Ezekiel 22:11 - his sister;  Hosea 7:6 - they;  Amos 8:10 - I will turn;  Luke 12:20 - God;  1 Peter 4:3 - excess