The Downward Spiral

As is mentioned in some of the other comments on this passage, it is interesting that the name of God is absent from this chapter. The only guidance given comes from a "crafty" or "shrewd" man named Jonadab. God is not sought as counsel and David is a coward of a father, allowing a downward spiral of events to occur.

The Downward Spiral:
1. Amnon is "frustrated to the point of illness"- surely a father should be engaged enough to recognize this.
2. The suggestion of Jonadab clearly violates God's law: Lev. 18:11 or any part of Deut. 22:13f. No one is counseling according to God's law...
3. Amnon lust turns to hate towards his sister. She is a visual sign of his depravity; of his sin. Even wicked men can hate their sin, they just project it onto others.
4. Tamar's only justice comes from a brother that acts as a vigilante. David fails horribly as a father by not loving his children with DISCIPLINE! Fatherly discipline is a display of love.
5. Absalom kills Amnon. If I don't talk to you for two years and then invite you to come with me as I take a lot of large scissors into the desert-- don't come. Did Amnon not consider this?
6. Jonadab pops up at the end of the story and pretends to be an innocent bystander. He incited this from the beginning.
7. David is clearly a weak father at this point and refuses to take action, even when most of the harm has already been done: he's lost a son, had his daughter disgraced for life, and another son has turned to murder in order to provide justice. Maybe now is the time for a father who "walks with God" to step in. But instead David simply "longed" to go to his son, but never did.

In my opinion, this is a sad spiral of a family that has no fatherly counsel. God is not mentioned because David never brings godly counsel into the family conversations. He never intervenes. It was David's responsibility to Amnon, but his silence allows Jonadab a voice. Jonadab quickly gives horrible advice.

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