And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

2 SAMUEL 13:32KJV
Know the Bible

2 Samuel 13:32 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 13:32 mean?

In 2 Samuel 13:32, Jonadab tells King David that the report of all his sons being killed is wrong: only Amnon has died. Jonadab also presents Amnon’s death as the result of a plan Absalom formed after Amnon sexually assaulted Tamar, Absalom’s sister.

Jonadab is David’s nephew, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. His words respond to the alarming report in the previous verse. By connecting Amnon’s death to the assault on Tamar, Jonadab identifies a motive for Absalom’s action.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 13:32

  • “appointment” — פֶּה (peh): The word commonly means “mouth” and can refer to someone’s spoken command. Here the phrase points to Absalom’s direction of the killing.
  • “determined” — שׂוּם (sum): This word can mean “set” or “put in place.” In this verse, it conveys that the matter had been settled beforehand.
  • “forced” — עָנָה (ʿanah): The word can carry the sense of humiliating or violating someone. Here it refers to Amnon’s sexual assault on Tamar, described earlier in the chapter.

Why 2 Samuel 13:32 matters

  • Jonadab’s knowledge makes his answer significant. Earlier, he had advised Amnon on how to get Tamar alone, helping set up the assault (2 Samuel 13:3–5).
  • The verse presents Absalom’s action as deliberate rather than a sudden quarrel. Jonadab traces the decision back to “the day that he forced his sister Tamar.”
  • Absalom carried out his plan through others. At the feast, he ordered his servants to kill Amnon when he gave the signal (2 Samuel 13:28–29).

Where else these words appear

“Shimeah” Hebrew H8093 · used in 2 verses

  • 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.

“Jonadab” Hebrew H3122 · used in 6 verses

  • 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.
  • 2 Samuel 13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
  • Jeremiah 35:10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.

“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 13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

“Tamar” Hebrew H8559 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 38:6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
  • 2 Samuel 13:4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
  • 2 Samuel 13:20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.