Amnon, David's son, feigns sickness to lure his half-sister Tamar into his chamber, where he forces her. Immediately after, Amnon's hatred for Tamar becomes intense, and he casts her out, leaving her desolate. Two years later, Absalom, Tamar's full brother, avenges her by orchestrating Amnon's murder at a sheep-shearing feast, then flees to Geshur.
And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
And I, whither shall I carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wilt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
And she said unto him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is worse than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
And she had a garment of divers colors upon her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; take not this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side behind him.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
Study Notes for 2 Samuel 13
Verse 1
This chapter recounts the tragic fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy that 'evil' would arise against David from his own household (2 Sam. 12:11). Amnon, the crown prince, and Tamar, the daughter of David and Maacah, were half-siblings.
Verse 2
Amnon’s 'sickness' was rooted entirely in his obsessive, unfulfilled lust. Tamar’s status as a virgin (verse 18) made the act Amnon contemplated a capital offense under Mosaic Law, as it required public display of virginity (Deut. 22:13-21).
Verse 3
Jonadab is described as 'very subtil' (or shrewd/crafty). He acts as the evil counselor, using his intelligence not for wisdom but to facilitate a crime, mirroring the role of the serpent in Genesis.
Verse 5
The plot relies on exploiting David’s parental love and trust. Amnon manufactured a scenario that required intimate, private care from Tamar, which was customary when a family member was ill.
Verse 12
Tamar appeals to Amnon based on legal, moral, and familial grounds. She states that 'no such thing ought to be done in Israel,' emphasizing that the act is a violation of covenant standards and a great 'folly' (a term for grave moral or religious offense).
Verse 13
Tamar offers a desperate, if legally questionable, alternative: marriage. Her plea was aimed at avoiding the permanent, irremediable shame that rape brought upon a woman in that society.
Verse 14
Amnon’s action is defined by force, not love. This brutal act is the first major internal tragedy that fulfills the 'sword' that would never depart from David’s house (2 Sam. 12:10).
Verse 15
The transition from obsessive lust to extreme hatred is a stark psychological commentary on selfish desire. Amnon’s hatred was greater than his prior lust, revealing that his motivation was purely self-gratification, not affection.
Verse 16
Tamar recognizes that the public dismissal and forced removal (treating her like a common prostitute) amplified her disgrace, confirming to the household that she was defiled and rejected.
Verse 18
The 'garment of divers colours' (an ornate, long-sleeved robe) was a sign of a king’s daughter and confirmed her status as a virgin. Tearing it in v. 19 was a public symbol of her violated purity and shame.
Verse 21
David was 'very wroth' but took no punitive action against Amnon. This failure to administer justice, likely compounded by Amnon being the crown prince, allowed Absalom’s resentment to harden into a demand for vengeance.
Verse 22
Absalom’s silence is ominous; he neither spoke 'good nor bad.' This calculated quietness allowed him to nurse his hatred for two years, demonstrating a premeditated, deep-seated plan for revenge rather than a rash emotional response.
Verse 23
The two-year interval shows Absalom’s meticulous planning. The sheepshearing festival was a traditional time of feasting, drinking, and abandonment of solemnity, making it an optimal setting for murder.
Verse 26
Absalom’s insistence that Amnon attend confirms that the entire feast was a carefully orchestrated trap specifically designed to isolate and execute Amnon.
Verse 28
Absalom commands his servants to commit the murder while Amnon is drunk. This reveals Absalom’s ruthless leadership and his willingness to use subordinates to carry out his acts of vengeance, much like David used Joab to kill Uriah.
Verse 32
Jonadab, the cunning counselor, now uses his shrewdness to clarify the facts (only Amnon died). He demonstrates he had foreseen this outcome since the day of Tamar's assault, confirming the clear motivation behind Absalom’s actions.
Verse 37
Absalom fled to Geshur, a foreign kingdom ruled by his maternal grandfather, Talmai. This provided him with secure political asylum outside of David’s immediate jurisdiction.
Verse 39
David’s eventual comfort concerning Amnon’s death allowed his heart to turn toward Absalom. This longing reveals the agonizing conflict between David’s role as king (administering justice) and his role as a father (seeking reconciliation).
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