2 Samuel13

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.

Amnon Desires Tamar

After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

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.”

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 dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.’”

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.”

Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Every man went out from him.

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.

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!”

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.

I, 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.”

However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.

Then Amnon hated her with exceeding 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!”

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.

Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”

She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

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.

Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

David's Wrath and Absalom's Silent Hatred

But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

Absalom Murders Amnon

After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

Absalom came to the king, and said, “See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

The king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.

Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”

The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got up on his mule, and fled.

Absalom Flees to Geshur

While they were on the way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left!”

Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, “Don’t let 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 has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

Now therefore don’t let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.”

But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him.

Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming! It is as your servant said.”

As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.

So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

King David longed to go out to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since 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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2 Samuel13

Amnon Desires Tamar

David's Wrath and Absalom's Silent Hatred

Absalom Murders Amnon

Absalom Flees to Geshur

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