*2 Samuel 13:1-19
Amnon, King David’s son, driven by lust, hatches a plan to rape his half-sister Tamar.
- Introduction of Amnon and Tamar:
- Amnon, David’s eldest son, becomes infatuated with his half-sister Tamar, the beautiful daughter of David and Maakah.
- Amnon’s desire for Tamar becomes an obsession, causing him to become sick with longing for her.
- Amnon’s Deceptive Plan:
- Amnon confides in his cousin Jonadab, who devises a deceitful plan to help Amnon satisfy his desire for Tamar.
- Jonadab advises Amnon to feign illness and request that Tamar prepare food for him, then to have her feed him the food while he is lying in bed.
- Amnon’s Rape of Tamar:
- Following Jonadab’s scheme, Amnon pretends to be ill, and David sends Tamar to care for him, not suspecting any harm.
- When Tamar arrives with the food, Amnon sends everyone else away and forces Tamar to come into his bedroom, where he rapes her against her will.
- Tamar’s Pleas and Rejection:
- Tamar pleads with Amnon to stop and not to commit such a disgraceful act, reminding him that he would bring shame upon himself and her by his actions.
- Despite Tamar’s pleas and objections, Amnon refuses to listen and proceeds with his assault.
- Amnon’s Hatred for Tamar:
- After violating Tamar, Amnon’s feelings toward her turn to hatred, and he orders her to leave his presence, rejecting her and refusing to acknowledge his wrongdoing.
- Tamar’s Distress:
- Tamar tears her robe in grief and distress, symbolizing her shame and desolation, and puts ashes on her head as a sign of mourning.
- She leaves Amnon’s house weeping bitterly, her spirit broken and her honor defiled by her brother’s cruel actions.
2 Samuel 13:1-19 is a painful story that reminds us of the deep consequences of selfishness, wrongdoing, and ignoring the value of others. It teaches us to treat people with kindness and respect, never using power or manipulation to get what we want. It also shows the importance of speaking up against injustice and supporting those who are hurting. When we choose love, integrity, and accountability, we help create a world where people feel safe and valued.
2 Samuel 13:1-19 (WEB)
13:1 After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. 4 He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?”Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”5 Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ”6 So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 She took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Then every man went out from him. 10 Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother. 11 When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!”12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don’t you do this folly! 13 As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”14 However, he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”16 She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!”But he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”18 She had a garment of various colors on her, for the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her. 19 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head and went her way, crying aloud as she went.