Footnotes

1. 2 Samuel 12:11 This sentence was fulfilled in the agony brought on David by his lawless children: Amnon’s scandalous behavior with his half sister Tamar (13:14) and his consequent murder by his brother Absalom (13:28, 29); Absalom’s escape to a foreign land (13:38) and his return after three years; Absalom without recognition by David for two more years (14:28); Absalom’s deliberate, rebellious attempt to win the hearts of the people and supplant his father (15:6); David’s flight from Jerusalem, with the mass of the people against him (15:14), the terrible battle in the forest of Ephraim, won by David’s forces, with Absalom killed in flight (18:6ff.). David’s agony of heart is echoed repeatedly in the history of these tragedies II Sam. 13:1-19:8 and in some of his psalms. Even when the great king was dying, his son Adonijah was attempting to usurp the throne, and was later executed as a traitor (II Kings 1:5; 2:25).