MPV Commentary

Amnon Is Slain.

Absalom had instructed his servants to kill Amnon when he was drunk and celebrating. The servants were told not to be afraid, as they would receive a signal from their master before acting. On that prearranged cue, the servants rushed at Amnon while he was still seated at the table, and they killed him.

The rest of the brothers were shocked and terrified by this sudden violence, fearing it might escalate into a full-blown massacre. In panic, they quickly fled to Jerusalem on their mules. Mules had become a popular mode of transportation among the wealthy, including King David himself, who owned a state mule (1 Kings 1:33). The Syrian mules were renowned for their strength and agility.

News reached King David that Absalom had slaughtered all his sons. In the chaos following this heinous crime, an exaggerated report spread quickly through the palace, plunging everyone into deep grief and despair. However, Jonadab's information and the arrival of the other princes soon revealed the true extent of the tragedy.