2 Samuel 13:1

It came to pass. The series of narratives that follow (chs. 13 to 21) is an account of misfortunes that overtook David after his sin. Chronicles makes no mention of these calamities, as that record also fails to mention David’s sin. After his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, David was a changed man. He had lost much of his former confidence in himself; nor was he longer complete master of his realm. The people no longer had implicit confidence, and thus were slow to listen to his admonitions concerning the rewards of righteousness or the evils of transgression. When he saw others do the things for which he had set the example, it was difficult to reprove them. His own sons refused to obey him and no longer respected his counsel. Where before he had been strong and courageous, he now became weak and hesitant. A sense of shame constantly hung over him. The following chapters portray the course of events that in part, at least, were consequent upon David’s transgression.

A fair sister. Literally, “a beautiful sister.” Absalom and his sister Tamar were the children of Maacah, who was the daughter of the king of Geshur, and the birth of Absalom took place while David reigned at Hebron (2 Samuel 3:3). Amnon was David’s firstborn, the son of “Ahinoam the Jezreelitess” (2 Samuel 3:2). Since it appears that these sons were now in their young manhood, the events here related must have taken place about the middle of David’s reign of 40 years.