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Genesis 38:1,2
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose namewas Hirah…

Judges 14:20
But Samson's wife wasgiven to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Judges 14:20
But Samson's wife wasgiven to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Shimeah

2 Samuel 13:32
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord supposethat they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

1 Samuel 16:9
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

Shimeah

2 Samuel 14:2,19,20
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead: …

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Jeremiah 4:22
For my peopleis foolish, they have not known me; theyare sottish children, and they have none understanding: theyare wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

the son of David’s brother Shimeah
Jonadab is identified as the son of Shimeah, David's brother, making him a member of the royal family. This familial connection highlights the interconnectedness of the royal household and the potential for internal strife. The mention of Shimeah roots Jonadab within the broader family dynamics of David's lineage, which is marked by both loyalty and rivalry. This context is crucial for understanding the influence Jonadab wields and the trust placed in him by Amnon.

Jonadab was a very shrewd man
The description of Jonadab as "shrewd" indicates his cunning and strategic thinking. In biblical terms, shrewdness can have both positive and negative connotations, often depending on the outcome of one's actions. Here, it foreshadows Jonadab's role in advising Amnon in a morally questionable manner. This characteristic aligns with other biblical figures who use their intelligence for manipulation, such as the serpent inGenesis 3. Jonadab's shrewdness is pivotal in the narrative, as it leads to the tragic events that follow, highlighting the potential dangers of misused wisdom.

• Scripture presents Amnon, David’s eldest son, as a man already “tormented” by lust for his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1-2). The very next sentence introduces his “friend.”

• Friendship is a gift, yet this scene warns how the wrong companion can steer a heart in sinful directions.Proverbs 13:20 cautions, “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed”.

• Notice Amnon’s vulnerability: rather than seeking counsel from his father or a godly advisor, he turns to someone who will validate his desires. Compare1 Kings 12:8, where Rehoboam’s peers coax him into folly.

• This moment invites reflection on the voices we allow near our decisions. As1 Corinthians 15:33 reminds, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’”.

• Jonadab is family—Amnon’s cousin—giving him automatic access and influence within the royal household. Family ties can be a blessing, yet they do not guarantee spiritual wisdom; Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph’s brothers all prove this (Genesis 4; 25; 37).

• The verse quietly highlights the tangled dynamics inside David’s polygamous family. Multiple wives produced half-siblings whose relationships were complicated, setting the stage for rivalry and tragedy (cf.Deuteronomy 17:17’s warning to kings).

• Even for us, shared blood or long history should never substitute for discernment. Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50).

• “Shrewd” points to sharp insight and tactical skill. Scripture can portray shrewdness positively (Proverbs 12:16) or negatively (Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field”). In Jonadab’s case, the context shows a crafty mind unhindered by moral restraint.

• Jonadab quickly devises a scheme for Amnon to satisfy his lust (2 Samuel 13:4-5). His counsel is intelligent yet wicked—earthly “wisdom” described inJames 3:15 as “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

• Jesus urged His disciples to be “shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Jonadab illustrates what shrewdness looks like when innocence is absent.

• Lessons:

– Talent divorced from truth becomes dangerous.

– Advice should be weighed not merely by brilliance but by righteousness (Psalm 1:1;Proverbs 27:17).

– God grants insight to build up, never to manipulate or harm.

The single verse sketches a cautionary triangle: Amnon’s vulnerable heart, Jonadab’s cunning counsel, and the close family bond that grants influence. Friendship, family, and intellect are good gifts, yet each must be governed by God’s truth. When any operate outside His boundaries, tragedy follows—as the rest of2 Samuel 13 sadly confirms. Choose companions wisely, test every counsel by Scripture, and seek shrewdness wedded to innocence, not separated from it.