28. Smite Amnon. At this time David’s second son, Chileab ( 3:3), was possibly already dead, for we hear nothing of him in the record. If so, the death of Amnon would thus make Absalom the next in line for the throne (see 3:2, 3). Perhaps Absalom’s servants thought that his orders for the death of Amnon were aimed at securing his own succession to the throne.