Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Jonadab was a very subtle man - And most diabolic advice did he give to his cousin. We talk of the simplicity and excellence of primitive times! "Say not thou what is the cause that the former days were better than these." Take them altogether, we may thank God that they are past, and pray him that they may never return.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Shimeah - Called Shamma (marginal reference), was Jesse‘s third son.

Subtil - literally, wise. The word is generally used in a good sense, but here, and in Job 5:13, it means crafty.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

But Amnon had a friend,.... Though in the issue his friendship proved his ruin:

whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; so that they were own cousins, the same with Shammah, 1 Samuel 16:9,

and Jonadab was a very subtle man; a very penetrating man into the dispositions of men, and could judge by their countenances what they were, and the affections of their minds, and had a talent in forming schemes; he was wise to do evil and was wickedly cunning.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Jonadab, the son of Shimeah — or Shammah (1 Samuel 16:9). By the counsel and contrivance of this scheming cousin a plan was devised for obtaining an unrestricted interview with the object of his attachment.

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

(3) But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

What an awful thing it is to have, in what the world calls a friend, the worst of all enemies. Here is a subtle, ill-designing man, acting as an agent for Satan, and covering it under the mask of friendship. Reader! there is a friend I would earnestly recommend to you whose very wounds are faithful, who loveth at all times, and sticketh closer than a brother. Who can this be but Jesus? Concerning other friends I recommend nothing, unless it be caution in the choice of them. But if you make Jesus your friend, he will insure your choice in all others. See Proverbs 17:17; Pro_27:6.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtil man.

Ver. 3. But Amnon had a friend.] A friend no friend; a carnal friend, but a spiritual enemy, who advised, for the recovery of his body, the ruin of his soul. Such a false friend to Antiochus was Erasistratus, the physician, who, finding him lovesick, persuaded his father Seleucus to part with his wife Stratonice to him, for the saving of his life.

And Jonadab was a very subtle man.] Ingeniose nequam, witty, but wicked; and therefore a fit tool for the devil to work with. Good natural parts abused prove to be as press money to impiety, - auctoramentum maioris infidelitatis, as one well phraseth it, - and their wisdom culpae suasoria, as Ambrose speaketh. Augustine, writing to such another as this Jonadab, telleth him that the devil desired to be tricked up by him. (a)

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Shimeah, called also Shammah, 1 Samuel 16:9.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3.A friend’ a very subtile man — “One of those characters,” says Stanley, “who in great houses pride themselves on being acquainted and on dealing with all the secrets of the family.” Compare his acts and words in 2 Samuel 13:32-35.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Samuel 13:3. Amnon had a friend — Say rather an enemy; for surely he proved himself to be such in a high degree, by the evil counsel he gave, issuing in Amnon’s utter ruin of soul, as is too probable, as well as body. “He plainly perceived that Amnon’s disease was some strong desire ungratified; and insinuated to him that he who was the king’s son might give a loose to his desires, and despise the restraint of ordinary men! How vile was this advice! and how lamentable it is that the heirs of royalty, whose virtue is of much more consequence than that of meaner men, should yet be under more temptation to taint it from the poison of infectious flatterers.” — Delaney.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

A very wise man. That is, a crafty and subtle man: for the counsel he gave on this occasion shews that his wisdom was but carnal and worldly. (Challoner) --- Jonadab seems to be styled Jonathan, chap. xxi. 21. (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Shimeah = Shammah (1 Samuel 16:9).

subtil = wise.

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

Jonadab, the son of Shimeah - or Shammah (1 Samuel 16:9), who was one of David's brothers. Although none of them were promoted to places of honour and emolument under government, probably from the feelings of alienation that subsisted between the king and his brethren, David seems to have acted in a kindly spirit toward their children; and the case of Jonadab is one of several known instances in which he had these young relatives about his court. By the counsel and contrivance of this scheming cousin a plan was devised for obtaining an unrestricted interview with the object of his attachment.

My brother Absalom's sister. In Eastern countries, where polygamy prevails, the girls are considered to be under the special care and protection of their uterine brother, who is the guardian of their interests and their honour, even more than their father himself (see the notes at Genesis 34:6-25).

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Jonadab, the son of Shimeah.—In 1 Samuel 16:9, Shimeah is called Shammah, and appears there as the third son of Jesse. He had another son, Jonathan, mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:21, as the conqueror of one of the giants. The word subtil is used simply to indicate sagacity and wisdom, whether rightly or wrongly exercised.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

a friend

Genesis 38:1,20; Judges 14:20; Esther 5:10,14; 6:13; Proverbs 19:6

Shimeah

32; 1 Samuel 16:9

Shimeah

subtil man.

14:2,19,20; Genesis 3:1; Jeremiah 4:22; 1 Corinthians 3:19; James 3:15