A Jonadab Connection In The Absalom Conspiracy? -- By: Andrew E. Hill

Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 30:4 (Dec 1987)
Article: A Jonadab Connection In The Absalom Conspiracy?
Author: Andrew E. Hill


A Jonadab Connection In The Absalom Conspiracy?

Andrew E. Hill*

Jonadab the son of David’s brother Shimeah (Shammah, 1 Sam 16:9; 17:13) appears in the OT record only in chap. 13 of the Succession Narrative, that much-praised piece of ancient Israelite historiography documenting Solomon’s installation on the Davidic throne.1 His role in the Amnon-Tamar-Absalom triangle has long puzzled Biblical commentators, and that for two reasons: (1) because of the ill-fated advice he gave to the crown prince Amnon (2 Sam 13:3–5), and (2) on account of his uncanny foreknowledge of the events surrounding Absalom’s vengeful murder of Amnon (13:32–35). This note seeks to elucidate Jonadab’s role in the narrative by affording an explanation for his advice to Amnon and subsequent behavior in the royal court on the basis of all known pertinent data, Biblical or otherwise.

Jonadab is an acknowledged “friend” (rēaʿ) of Amnon (13:3). While it is possible that he was a close personal friend of Amnon since he was a cousin, it seems more likely that the word here connotes a special office or association with the royal family (especially in light of his role as a counselor in David’s cabinet; cf. 13:32–35). During Solomon’s reign, Zabud son of Nathan has the title of priest and “king’s friend” (rēʿeh hammelek, I Kgs 4:5). It may well be that with Jonadab (and others?) this cabinet post has its rudimentary beginnings in the Davidic monarchy.

Even more significant, Jonadab is called a “wise” man (ḥākām, 2 Sam 13:3). The majority of translators take this to mean “crafty” or “shrewd” due to the criminal nature of his advice to Amnon.2 Yet S. R. Driver noted that “subtil”

*Andrew Hill is assistant professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College in Illinois.

“is scarcely a fair paraphrase: the text says that Jonadab was wise.”3 He concludes that had the writer intended to convey a meaning of”shrewd” or “crafty” he would have used ʾārôm or anothe...

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