Jonadab

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Jonadab, the son of Shimeah

A very crafty man and a friend of Amnon, David's son. It's uncertain whether Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, is the same person as Jonathan the son of Shimei or his brother.

Jonadab gives Amnon advice on how to get closer to Tamar

He asked his friend Amnon, "O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" Amnon told him he loved Tamar, Absalom's sister. So Jonadab suggested, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to ear, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.'" Amnon took his advice.

Two full years later, Jonadab was with the king when news came that Absalom had killed all the king's sons. Jonadab said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead."

The watch saw many people coming up from the road by the side of the mountain. Jonadab said, "Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about." As soon as he finished speaking, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept with the king and all his servants.

(2 Samuel 13)

Did he mean for all this to happen?

He seems like a confidant of Amnon, and he suggested a way to bring Tamar to him. He seemed to suggest a way to bring her directly to his bed, even. Unless there is a difference between the bed he lay ill in and the chamber he took hold of Tamar in? Is it strange to send her directly to his house, especially to his bed? Was it fathomable that Amnon would rape her? He was visibly sexually frustrated, but, as Tamar said, such a thing is not done in Israel.

As Tamar said, why didn't he suggest the obvious route of asking for her as a wife? Would that be too long to wait? Was he not worrying about marriage yet and just providing Amnon an excuse to see her more often? What goal was he intending for Amnon here? To compromise Tamar and send her to him in private? To let him enjoy her yummy cooking and watch her serve him? Just to at all spend more time together?

Regardless, his advice failed, if he meant it as a friend. Amnon is worse off for trying. He had a very great hatred, greater than the love with which he had loved her. What was his intention with this advice? Was he sending her to be violated? Was he trying to make Tamar seem more within reach and let him spend time with someone he likes? Was he idly taking opportunities to start some excitement or drama, even if it's reckless or foolish?

He seemed aware that Absalom would kill Amnon some day. Did he warn his friend? Did he quietly watch as everything unfolded? Did he do anything at all with this knowledge besides comfort David? And did he even comfort David?

(Some points from Jonadab Son of Shimeah: A Figure Wrapped in Controversy by Orly Keren and Hagit Taragan for Kaye Academic College of Education, Beer-Sheva, Israel @ http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1010-99192021000300003)

How is he related to David?

Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother.

Shimeah was David's older brother, Jesse's third son; he is also referred to as Shammah (1 Sam 16:9), Shime'i (2 Sam 21:21) and Shime'a (1 Chron 2:13). Thus, Jonadab is a first cousin to Amnon, Tamar and Absalom. There is some uncertainty about his name, too-cf. Jonadab (2 Sam 13:3), Jehonadab (13:5), or J[eh]onatan (2 Sam 21:21; 1 Chron 20:7). Although all three names refer to a son of David's brother, we do not know whether Jonadab and Jonathan are the same person or siblings

(Jonadab Son of Shimeah: A Figure Wrapped in Controversy by Orly Keren and Hagit Taragan for Kaye Academic College of Education, Beer-Sheva, Israel @ http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1010-99192021000300003)