Absalom's Revenge and Flight

20 and Absalom her brother saith unto her, 'Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? and now, my sister, keep silent, he 'is' thy brother; set not thy heart to this thing;' and Tamar dwelleth—but desolate—in the house of Absalom her brother.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:20

Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:1-20

(Read 2 Samuel 13:1-20)

From henceforward David was followed with one trouble after another. Adultery and murder were David's sins, the like sins among his children were the beginnings of his punishment: he was too indulgent to his children. Thus David might trace the sins of his children to his own misconduct, which must have made the anguish of the chastisement worse. Let no one ever expect good treatment from those who are capable of attempting their seduction; but it is better to suffer the greatest wrong than to commit the least sin.