2 Samuel 13:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Absalom, David 's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David 's son, loved her.

NIV: In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.

NASB: Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David was in love with her.

CSB: Some time passed. David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David’s son Amnon was infatuated with her.

NLT: Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her.

KJV: And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

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

One of the Lord's consequences for David's sins of adultery and murder was that David's house would always be marked by the sword of violence (2 Samuel 12:10). This chapter describes the specific ways in which that judgment against David is fulfilled.

It begins with the one-sided attraction of a man, Amnon, for a beautiful woman who happens to be his half-sister. He can't get her alone until his clever cousin devises a plan. Amnon will pretend to be even sicker than he already feels. He'll convince their father, King David, to send Tamar to give him food. If Amnon can then clear the room, he'll be able to do what he wants to Tamar (2 Samuel 13:3–5). Sadly, the plan works. This leads to humiliation, murder, and eventually a rebellion against David.

Amnon is David's oldest son. David married Amnon's mother, Ahinoam, the Jezreelite, before he became king of Judah (1 Samuel 25:43). Absalom is David's third son; his and Tamar's mother is Maacah, the daughter of the king of Geshur. Both sons were born in Hebron, after David became king of Judah. Tamar appears to be David's only daughter among David's wives' 19 sons (1 Chronicles 3:9).

Second Samuel 13:1–6 relates how David's son Amnon initiates God's curse. Amnon lusts after his half-sister Tamar, but can't access her because she's an un-betrothed virgin. Amnon follows a cousin's scheme to get her alone. He pretends to be sick and asks his father to send Tamar to care for him. This leads to assault and (2 Samuel 13:14) plots for revenge (2 Samuel 13:22).

In this chapter, God's curse that the sword will strike David's house (2 Samuel 12:10) begins to emerge. David's firstborn son Amnon lusts over half-sister Tamar. Tamar fights back, but Amnon first rapes her and then rejects her. David is angry but does nothing. Two years later, Tamar's full brother Absalom murders Amnon. Three years after that, Absalom returns and becomes the enemy in David's house who takes his wives in public (2 Samuel 12:11–12; 15:1–16; 16:21–23).

This begins fulfillment of some of God's curses against David (2 Samuel 12:10), and sets the scene for others (2 Samuel 12:11–12). David's oldest son, Amnon, rapes his own half-sister, Tamar. Her full brother Absalom murders Amnon, starting a five-year campaign of vengeance against David. By the end, two of David's sons will be dead, his daughter will be desolate, and David will be deeply humbled (2 Samuel 14—19).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.