2 Samuel 13:21

“But when King David heard of all these things, etc.] Of Amnon’s ravishing Tamar, and turning her out of doors in that inhuman manner he did, and of her distress upon it: he was very wroth; with Amnon; but we read not of any reproof he gave him, nor of any punishment inflicted on him by him. Abarbinel thinks the reason why he was not punished was because his sin was not cognizable by a court of judicature, nor was punishable by any way, or with any kind of death inflicted by the sanhedrim, as stoning, burning, etc. nor even by scourging, because there were no witnesses; but the punishment of it was cutting off, i.e. by the hand of God. The Jews say f222 a law was made on this, that virgins or…”

“The Septuagint adds, what is a good explanation, “but he did not vex the spirit of Amnon his son, because he loved him, because he was his first-born.” This want of justice in David’s conduct, and favoritism to Amnon, probably rankled in Absalom’s heart, and was the first seed of his after rebellion. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Wroth - With Amnon: whom yet he did not punish, at least so severely as he should either from the consciousness of his own guilt in the like kind; or, from that foolish indulgence which he often shewed to his children. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 13:22”

“13:21 King David . . . was very angry: But he apparently never punished Amnon—as in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version, which add that it was because he loved Amnon. Another possibility is that as an adulterer himself (see 11:1–12:24), David considered himself in no position to punish his son’s sexual sin. A third possibility is that David thought this was God’s “eye for an eye” punishment for his own sexual indiscretion.”

“he was very wroth: The Septuagint and Vulgate add, και ουκ ελυπησε το πνευμα Αμνων του υιου αυτου, οτι ηγαπα αυτον, οτι πρωτοτοκος αυτου ην. et noluit contristare spiritum Amnon filii sui, quoniam diligebat eum, quia primogenituj erat ei. "But he would not grieve the soul of Amnon his son, for he loved him because he was his first-born." The same addition is found in Josephus; and it is probable that it once formed a part of the Hebrew Text. Sa2 3:28, Sa2 3:29, Sa2 12:5, Sa2 12:10; Gen 34:7; Sa1 2:22-25, Sa1 2:29; Psa 101:8 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 13:22”