Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

2 SAMUEL 13:26KJV
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2 Samuel 13:26 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 13:26 mean?

2 Samuel 13:26 shows Absalom asking his father, King David, to let his brother Amnon join a family gathering, and David questioning why Absalom specifically wants Amnon to go. The verse highlights Absalom’s persistence and David’s suspicion about the request.

Absalom is speaking to King David, his father, after David declines to attend a feast Absalom is hosting. Absalom then asks if Amnon, his brother, can go instead. The context is tense: Amnon had previously wronged Absalom’s sister Tamar, and Absalom’s request is not as innocent as it seems. David’s question hints that he senses something unusual about Absalom’s insistence.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 13:26

  • אָמַר (’āmar, "said"): This word is used twice in the verse, once for Absalom and once for David, showing a direct conversation and highlighting the back-and-forth nature of their exchange.
  • אָח (’āch, "brother"): Absalom refers to Amnon as his "brother," which underlines the family relationship but also the underlying tension, since their relationship is strained by past events.
  • יָלַךְ (yālak, "go"): The verb for "go" appears twice, emphasizing the action Absalom wants Amnon to take and David’s questioning of that action. The repetition draws attention to the significance of Amnon’s potential presence at the gathering.
  • מֶלֶךְ (melekh, "king"): David is referred to as "the king," reminding the reader of his authority and the formal nature of the request, even within a family setting.

Why 2 Samuel 13:26 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Absalom’s request is not casual; it is part of a larger plan, which becomes clear as the story unfolds.
  • David’s hesitation and question show that he senses something is off, adding to the tension and foreshadowing the coming conflict.
  • Understanding the original Hebrew words for "brother" and "go" helps highlight the personal and purposeful nature of Absalom’s request, making the motives behind the scene more apparent.

Where else these words appear

“Amnon” Hebrew H550 · used in 22 verses

  • 2 Samuel 3:2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
  • 2 Samuel 13:8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
  • 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.

“Absalom” Hebrew H53 · used in 92 verses

  • 2 Samuel 3:3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
  • 2 Samuel 15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
  • 2 Samuel 17:18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.