Jonadab

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 1. Shimeah's son, David's nephew; "very subtle," worming out the secrets of the heir apparent, Amnon his cousin, to gain favor. Pretending "friendship," he insinuated that a "king's son" ought to gratify his passions without scruple, and not make himself lean by restraining them; and gave the hellish advice whereby that wicked prince incestuously forced his half sister Tamar. Then, when Absalom had in revenge killed Amnon, and the king was heartbroken at the exaggerated story that all the king's sons were slain, Jonadab practiced the same sycophancy to David; not a word does he breathe of his own abominable share in the matter; no sorrow has he for Amnon whose professed "friend" he was, but whose ruin he hurried; "by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar"; "Amnon only is dead, Amnon only is dead"; "let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart" (2 Samuel 13). Evil communication is fatal; the friendship of the wicked is hollow, for it is based on selfishness ( Psalms 12:2;  Psalms 141:4-5), and when regard for self comes in collision with regard for a friend, the latter will be set aside for the former; see  1 Kings 22:30;  1 Kings 22:32.

 2. (See  JEHONADAB.)

Smith's Bible Dictionary

 Jon'adab.  (whom Jehovah impels).

1. Son of Shimeah and nephew of David. (B.C. 1033). He is described as "very subtle."  2 Samuel 13:3. His age naturally made him, the friend of his cousin, Amnon, heir to the throne.  2 Samuel 13:3. He gave him the fatal advice, for ensnaring his sister, Tamar.  2 Samuel 13:5-6. Again, when, in a later stage of the same tragedy, Amnon was murdered by Absalom, and the exaggerated report reached David, that all the princes were slaughtered, Jonadab was already aware of the real state of the case.  2 Samuel 13:32-33.

2.  Jeremiah 35:6;  Jeremiah 35:8;  Jeremiah 35:10;  Jeremiah 35:14;  Jeremiah 35:16;  Jeremiah 35:18-19.  See Jehonadab .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A SON OF Shimeah, the cunning and unprincipled nephew of David, and friend of Amnon,  2 Samuel 13:3-5 . Yet he seems to have been long aware of the purpose of Absalom to avenge his sister's dishonor upon Amnon, and very coolly excused the assassination of his friend,  2 Samuel 13:32-35 .

2. A son of Rechab, a Kenite, descended from Hobab the brother of Moses. He was at the head of the Rechabites in the time of Jehu, and seems to have given them a command to abstain from wine,  2 Kings 10:15   1 Chronicles 2:55   Jeremiah 35:6-10 . See Rechabites .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

 Jonadab ( jŏ n'a-dăb),  whom Jehovah impels. 1. The son of Shimeah, and nephew of David. "He seems to have been one of those characters who, in the midst of great or royal families, pride themselves and are renowned for being acquainted with the secrets of the whole circle in which they move." —Stanley. He advised the outrage of Tamar.  2 Samuel 13:3 to  2 Samuel 5:2. The form, oft-repeated, in  Jeremiah 35:1-19 for  Jehonadab, which see.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The son of Shimeah, David's brother ( 2 Samuel 13:3 ). He was "a very subtil man."

 Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

 Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Jonadab'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/j/jonadab.html. 1897.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Shimeah and nephew of David: he subtly led his cousin Amnon into sin.  2 Samuel 13:3,5,32,35 .

2. Son of Rechab the founder of the Rechabites. Jehu took him with him to see his zeal for the Lord. He also is called JEHONADAB. 2 Kings 10:15,23;  Jeremiah 35:6-19 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 13:1 2 Samuel 13:32-33 2 Jeremiah 35:1Jehonadab

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The son of Rechab,; (  Jeremiah 35:6) derived from Nadab, a prince.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

JONADAB. See Jehonadab.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Jon´adab (God-impelled).

A nephew of David, a crafty person, whose counsel suggested to his cousin Amnion the means by which he accomplished his abominable design upon his half-sister Tamar .

A son or descendant of Rechab, the progenitor of those nomadic Rechabites, who held themselves bound by a vow to abstain from wine, and never to relinquish the nomadic life. The principle on which the tribe acted may be considered elsewhere [RECHABITES]. Jonadab was at the head of this tribe at the time when Jehu received his commission to exterminate the house of Ahab, and is supposed to have added to its ancient austerities the inhibition of wine. He was held in great respect among the Israelites generally: and Jehu, alive to the importance of obtaining the countenance and sanction of such a man to his proceedings, took him up in his chariot, when on his road to Samaria to complete the work he had begun at Jezreel. The terms of the colloquy which took place on this occasion are rather remarkable. Perceiving Jonadab, he saluted him, and called out, 'Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?' Jonadab answered, 'It is.' Then said Jehu, 'If it be, give me thine hand.' And he gave him his hand, and was taken up into the chariot, Jehu inviting him to 'Come and see my zeal for the Lord' . It would seem that the Rechabites were a branch of the Kenites, over another branch of whom Heber was chief in the time of Deborah and Barak : and as it is expressly said that Jonadab went out to meet Jehu, it seems probable that the people of Samaria, alarmed at the menacing letter which they had received from Jehu, had induced Jonadab to go to meet and appease him on the road. His venerated character, his rank as the head of a tribe, and his neutral position, well qualified him for this mission; and it was quite as much the interest of Jonadab to conciliate the new dynasty, in whose founder he beheld the minister of the divine decrees, as it was that of Jehu to obtain his concurrence and support in proceedings which he could not but know were likely to render him odious to the people.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

a shortened form of the name Jehonadab, for which it is used indifferently in the Hebrew as applied to either of two men in certain passages; but these have not been accurately represented in the A.V. which applies the briefer form indeed to either, but the full form to but one in three of these passages. (See Jehonadab).

 1. The son of Shimeah and nephew of David (A.V. correctly in  2 Samuel 13:3 twice, 32, 35; incorrectly in  2 Samuel 13:5, where the Hebrew has Jehonadab).

 2. The Rechabite ( Jeremiah 35:6;  Jeremiah 35:10;  Jeremiah 35:19; incorrectly in  Jeremiah 35:8;  Jeremiah 35:14;  Jeremiah 35:16;  Jeremiah 35:18).