2 Samuel 13:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

NIV: Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

NASB: But Amnon was so frustrated on account of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed too difficult to Amnon to do anything to her.

CSB: Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.

NLT: Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her.

KJV: And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

NKJV: Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.

David's son Amnon wants his half-sister Tamar. The text uses terms translated as "love" (2 Samuel 13:1), but it's really an erotic obsession. Amnon isn't held back by the Mosaic law. He doesn't care that the Law forbids both incest between half-siblings as well as rape and demands strong penalties (Leviticus 18:9; Deuteronomy 22:28–29). Nor does he care that taking her would dishonor her, her brother, their father, and himself.

He's held back by the fact that Tamar is a virgin. She's not a child: she has reached puberty. But she isn't yet engaged. Because she's in this state, Amnon can't do anything to her; somehow, he has no access to her. She may be somewhat sequestered from the public. Or, since one of her primary identifiers is "Absalom's sister," it's possible Absalom is protecting her. In that culture, even today, brothers take their sisters' sexual purity personally, sometimes even more so than their father. This was certainly the case when Dinah was raped by a prince. Her father, Jacob, did nothing, but her brothers Simeon and Levi destroyed the entire city (Genesis 34).

Though both Tamar and Amnon are children of David, they have separate mothers and live in separate homes. Amnon's unfulfilled lust has made him physically ill because he knows he can't possibly act on it. All Amnon needs is to get Tamar in private. His cousin Jonadab has a plan (2 Samuel 13:3–5).

"Tormented" is from the Hebrew for "tied up" and "burdened." Amnon's obsession has bound him like ropes. "Virgin" can mean a young woman in general, but the meaning is clear: she's a young woman who has never had sex and who isn't engaged or married.

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.