提要
從十三章起的一連串悲劇是上帝對大衛與拔示巴犯罪的審判。大衛開始遭受許多家庭內部的問題，後來導致以色列民對他的叛變。
第一個悲劇發生在暗嫩身上。暗嫩是大衛由耶斯列人亞希暖所生的長子（3：2），他邪惡的設計強暴同父異母的妹妹他瑪。雖然暗嫩聲稱他愛他瑪（13：4），但從暗嫩對他瑪的虐待和嚴厲的話中，很明顯的可以看出那只是一種未經克制的肉慾而已（13：14~17）。暗嫩的罪行毀了他瑪的一生（13：20），因為從今以後沒有人會娶他瑪為妻了。他瑪也不可能嫁給暗嫩，因為摩西的律法嚴格禁止兄妹通婚（利18：9）。他瑪和她的親哥哥押沙龍都是大衛從基述王達買的女兒瑪迦所生（3：3）。押沙龍給他父親充分的時間施罰暗嫩。但大衛沒有採取任何處分，於是押沙龍決定自己下手。大衛在執行公義及管教兒女的事上軟弱膽怯，給他的餘生帶來許多麻煩及心碎的事件。
押沙龍對暗嫩默默的懷恨在心，但他沒有對任何人表露出打算復仇的跡象，所以大衛只遲移了一下，就准許暗嫩去參加押沙龍的剪羊毛宴會。押沙龍於是趁機殺了他同父異母的哥哥，同時也殺了王位的繼承人，然後逃到他母親的祖國基述避難，在那裡停留了三年（13：38）。在以色列，沒有逃城為謀殺者預備，他們只該處以死刑（民35：21）。
大衛為暗嫩之死哀傷，但他除了將押沙龍驅逐出境，並沒有對押沙龍採取任何公開的刑罰。不過，很明顯的，如同約押所見，這些蕭牆之禍使得大衛非常絕望。約押想用一個計策使大衛和遠離他的兒子押沙龍復和。約押這麼做可能是為了討好大衛，也使押沙龍欠他一個人情。約押於是利用一位老婦人向大衛投訴她的境遇，希望大衛對老婦人編造的問題能作憐憫的判決。約押覺得大衛會因此瞭解，如果他不施憐憫，像上帝一樣，讓押沙龍回國，那麼他也是錯待了以色列百姓。
約押的計畫成功了。押沙龍返回耶路撒冷，同時也得著所有百姓的喜愛和友誼。不過大衛為了執行正義，並不接見押沙龍。過了兩年，押沙龍再也無法忍受父親的冷落，他堅持自己要不然被寬恕，要不就被處罰（14：32）。押沙龍終於再次得到約押的注意，他要求約押為他安排見王。約押的說項也再度成功，大衛終於完全寬恕了他的兒子。但押沙龍的動機並不純正，因為他早已圖謀叛變。雖然押沙龍外貌俊美，有以色列第一美男子之譽（14：25），但他的心並不討那位只看人內心的上帝喜悅（撒上16：7）。
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Overview
Chapter thirteen begins the unfolding of the judgment of God upon David in a series of tragedies which show the results and punishment for his sin with Bathsheba, in fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy (12:10-12). David began to suffer from many domestic problems which later led to civil strife and rebellion against him.
The first tragedy was with Amnon, the first-born son of David by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess (3:2), who wickedly schemed the rape of his half sister Tamar. Although he said he loved her (13:4), it was obvious from his abusive treatment of her and his harsh words that it was only unbridled lust (13:14-17). His sinful act destroyed Tamar's life (13:20), since no one would henceforth want her as a wife. It was impossible for her to marry Amnon, since it was strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses for half brothers and sisters to marry (Leviticus 18:9).
Tamar and her full brother Absalom were both children of David by Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Gesher (3:3). Absalom gave his father ample time to punish Amnon. When no punishment came, he resolved to take the matter into his own hands. David's weakness in administering justice and disciplining his children caused him much trouble and heartbreak from this time until the end of his life.
For two years, Absalom silently harboured hatred in his heart and yet showed no sign to anyone of his desire for revenge; so David relunctantly permitted Amnon to go to Absalom's sheep shearing party. Absalom took vengeance on his half brother in a deliberate, premediated murder, thus killing the heir to the throne, he then fled for refuge to his maternal grandfathe rin Geshur, where he remained for three years (13:38). In Israel, there were no cities of refuge for this type of crime; it demanded the death penalty (Numbers 35:21).
David mourned Amnon's death but once again did not take any overt action against his son Absalom other than keeping him banished. However, it was apparent, as Joab perceived, that all this turmoil in his family brought David much despair (14:1). Joab attempted a scheme to reconcile him to his estranged son Absalom. He probably did this in order to be favoured by David and to obligate Abasalom to him. By employing a woman to act out a part, Joab hoped that David would judge mercifully in his decision about her pretended problem. He felt David would then realize that he also would be wronging the people if he did not show mercy, as God does, and bring Absalom back from banishment (14:13-14).
Joab's plan worked. Absalom returned to Jerusalem where he gained the favour and friendship of all people. David, however, in a weak attempt to execute justice, would not see Absalom. After two years had passed, Absalom could not tolerate the situation with his father any longer. He insisted that he either be pardoned and restored to favour or be punished (14:32). Once he finally got Joab's attention, Absalom asked him to arrange an audience with the king. Again Joab's intercession was successful and David fully pardoned his son, but Absalom's motives were not pure, for he was already planning a rebellion. Though he was outwardly very pleasing to look at and praised for being the most handsome man in the kingdom (14:25), his heart was not pleasing to God, who only looks upon the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
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