2 Samuel 13:26
“Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?””
What does 2 Samuel 13:26 mean?
Absalom is asking his father King David to allow Amnon, his half-brother, to join him and the king's other sons on a trip. David's hesitation in response—"Why should he go with you?"—shows the king's protective instinct, perhaps sensing something is wrong or simply unsure of Absalom's intentions. This moment comes just after Amnon has committed a terrible wrong against their sister Tamar. The tension underlying David's question reflects a family fractured by betrayal and harm, where trust has broken down. What seems like a simple request about who goes on an outing carries the weight of deep family pain. David's wariness, though he'll ultimately give in, hints at his awareness that something is amiss, even if he doesn't fully grasp how serious the consequences will become.