Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 13:29

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled.

29. did unto Amnon, &c.] Though the princes were attended by a numerous retinue ( 2Sa 13:34), the blow was struck so suddenly and unexpectedly, that no resistance was possible, and Absalom escaped without difficulty.

upon his mule ] Mules were generally used for riding at this time by persons of distinction, as Absalom (ch. 2Sa 18:9), David, and Solomon (1Ki 1:33; 1Ki 1:38).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Upon his mule – So in 1Ki 1:33, 1Ki 1:38 the mule is the royal animal on which David himself rides. In 2Sa 18:9 Absalom rides upon a mule.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Mules were in use amongst the Israelites. See 1Ki 1:33. For though they might not promote such mixed kinds of procreation, Lev 19:19, yet they might use creatures so engendered.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

29. every man gat him up upon hismuleThis had become the favorite equipage of the great. KingDavid himself had a state mule (1Ki1:33). The Syrian mules are, in activity, strength, andcapabilities, still far superior to ours.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded,…. They smote him, and killed him, when he gave the word:

then all the king’s sons arose; from the feast, imagining they were all designed to be slain:

and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled; creatures much used in Judea instead of horses, which, though they might not be bred, might be used o.

o Vid. Misn. Celaim, c. 8. sect. 1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The servants did as he commanded, whereupon the other king’s sons all fled upon their mules. – 2Sa 13:30. But whilst they were on the road, the report of what Absalom had done reached the ears of the king, and, as generally happens in such cases, with very great exaggeration: “Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.”

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(29) As Absalom had commanded.It was quite customary for the servants of a prince to obey his orders without question, leaving the entire responsibility to rest with him. In this case, if Chileab (or Daniel) was already dead, as seems probable, Absalom stood next in the succession to Amnon, and, however it may have been with himself, his retainers may have looked upon this as a preparatory step towards the throne. The blow was too sudden and unexpected to allow of interference by the other princes.

Upon his mule.Although David had reserved a number of horses from the spoil of his Syrian victories (2Sa. 8:4), the mule was still ridden by persons of distinction (2Sa. 18:9; 1Ki. 1:33; 1Ki. 1:38). The breeding of mules was forbidden in the Law (Lev. 19:19), but they were brought in by commerce (1Ki. 10:25).

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

29. All the king’s sons arose In greatest terror and alarm, not knowing the designed extent of this foul play.

Mule This is the first mention of mules in Scripture, for , translated mules in Gen 36:24, undoubtedly means warm springs, as the Vulgate there renders it. The law prohibited the Hebrews to “gender cattle with a diverse kind,” (Lev 19:19,) and so they probably first came into possession of mules by importation. Compare Eze 27:14. It seems from Scripture notices of these animals that only kings and great men used them.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Sa 13:29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

Ver. 29. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon, &c. ] So bitter is the end of sinful pleasures. Cavete a Melampygo. Amnon died in his sin, which is worse than to die in a ditch. Be not wicked too much: why shouldst thou die before thy time, Ecc 7:17 i.e., when it were better to do anything than die? Luther, when he heard of a horrid murder, fetched a deep sigh, and said Heu quam furit Satan et impellit homines securos ad horrenda flagitia quae corpus et animam perdunt! Oh, how doth Satan rage, and drive secure people into flagitious practices, that destroy body and soul together!

And every man gat him upon his mule, and fled. ] Fled for his life: as fearing haply lest themselves also should be in like manner massacred: as the sons of the great Turk are, that the elder brother may not have a co-rival in the kingdom.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

as = according as.

mule. First occurrence. Not Gen 36:24. See note there.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

servants: 1Sa 22:18, 1Sa 22:19, 1Ki 21:11-13, 2Ki 1:9-12, Pro 29:12, Mic 7:3

gat him up: Heb. rode

mule: 2Sa 18:9, Gen 36:24, Lev 19:19, 1Ki 1:33

Reciprocal: Gen 27:41 – then Num 35:20 – if he thrust 1Sa 18:22 – servants 2Sa 3:33 – as a fool dieth 2Sa 12:10 – the sword 2Sa 12:11 – I will raise 2Sa 14:30 – go and set 1Ki 16:9 – drinking 1Ch 3:1 – Amnon Isa 5:14 – he that rejoiceth Isa 21:4 – the night Eze 22:11 – his sister Hos 7:6 – they Luk 12:20 – God 2Co 9:14 – long

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge