What does 2 Samuel 13:14 mean?
ESV: But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.
NIV: But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.
NASB: However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and slept with her.
CSB: But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he disgraced her by raping her.
NLT: But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her.
KJV: Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
NKJV: However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.
Verse Commentary:
Amnon has wanted Tamar for a long time. He doesn't care that he is her half-brother, so his desire is incestuous. He doesn't care that she doesn't want to have sex with him. He doesn't care that she would be shamed forever, forced to a hidden life with no husband or family. He doesn't care that he would become infamous for wickedness. He's not even interested in looking for a legal way to get what he wanted (2 Samuel 13:12–13). He wants her, so he takes her.
Human sin leads to irrational attitudes. Often, we want something illicit, but once we have it, it becomes repulsive. The wanting and the getting excite us, but "having" the thing and being held accountable we want to avoid. Amnon rapes Tamar and promptly kicks her out (2 Samuel 13:15–17). He seems to look at her with exactly the shame she predicted (2 Samuel 13:12 – 13) despite being the one who defiled her.
For all the consequences Tamar warned of, Amnon will have a much bigger problem. She goes to her full brother, Absalom. Their father, David, is angry but does nothing noteworthy. Absalom will wait with vengeance on his mind. His sister's honor is his own honor. Just as Amnon got close to Tamar by using their father (2 Samuel 13:6–14), Absalom will have David send Amnon for a celebration, then kill him (2 Samuel 13:23–29).
Neither Amnon nor Absalom know that they complete their plans only because God has removed His protection over David. In punishment for sinning against Uriah and Bathsheba, God told David the sword will never leave his house, that evil will rise from David's house and take his wives in public (2 Samuel 12:10–12). This is the first stroke of the sword. The others will fall when Absalom rebels against David, drives him out of Jerusalem, and takes David's concubines on the roof (2 Samuel 16:20–22).
Verse Context:
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Chapter Summary:
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).
Chapter Context:
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).
Book Summary:
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.
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