1
After this it came to pass that Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon son of David fell in love with her.
2
Amnon was so troubled that he made himself ill because of Tamar his sister, for she was a virgin, and in Amnon’s eyes it seemed impossible to do anything to her.
3
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
4
He said to Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so downcast morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”
5
Then Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food to eat. When she prepares the food before my eyes, so that I may see it, then I will eat it from her hand.’”
6
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes before my eyes, so that I may eat from her hand.”
7
Then David sent word to Tamar at her house, saying, “Go to the house of Amnon your brother, and prepare food for him.”
8
So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down; and the young woman took dough, kneaded it, and made cakes before his eyes, and baked the cakes.
9
Then she took the pan and set it out before Amnon, but he would not eat. Amnon said, “Send everyone out from me.” So everyone went out from him.
10
Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room, so that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them to Amnon her brother into the inner room.
11
When she brought them to him to eat, he seized her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12
But she said to him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing.
13
And as for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be regarded as a fool in Israel. Now therefore, speak to the king, for he will not refuse to give me to you.”
14
But he would not listen to her words, and since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.
15
Then a very great hatred arose in Amnon toward the young woman, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her before. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, be gone!”
16
Then the young woman said to him, “No, my brother, for to send me away is a greater wrong than what you have done to me now.” But Amnon would not listen to her.
17
He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”
18
Now the young woman was wearing a richly ornamented robe; for so the king’s virgin daughters were clothed in long robes. Then his servant put her out and bolted the door after her.
19
And Tamar put ashes on her head, tore the richly ornamented robe that she was wearing, laid her hand on her head, and went away crying aloud.
20
Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now then, my sister, keep silent; he is your brother. Do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, alone.
21
When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22
And Absalom spoke neither good nor bad to Amnon, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.
23
After two full years, Absalom had sheep-shearers at Baal-Hazor, near Ephraim. And Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24
Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Your servant has sheep-shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25
But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be a burden to you.” So Absalom urged him, but he would not go; he only blessed him.
26
Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” But the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27
Yet when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28
Then Absalom commanded his men, saying, “Watch! When Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike down Amnon,’ then you shall kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and show yourselves as valiant men!”
29
The men of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, each mounted his mule, and fled.
30
While they were still on the way, word came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them has escaped.”
31
Then the king arose, tore his garments, and lay on the floor; and all his servants who stood by him tore their garments.
32
But Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose that all the young men, the king’s sons, have been killed. For Amnon alone is dead, because this has been determined by Absalom from the day that he violated Tamar his sister.
33
Now therefore let not my lord the king take this matter to heart, thinking that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead.”
34
Absalom fled. And the watchman lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a great crowd was coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill country.
35
Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons are coming! It is just as your servant said.”
36
And as soon as he had finished speaking, the king’s sons came in. They lifted up their voice and wept. And the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37
But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day.
38
So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and he lived there three years.
39
And the king longed to go out to Absalom, for he had been comforted concerning the death of Amnon.
💔🗡️🔥 Summary 2 Samuel 13
The Tragedy of Amnon and Tamar and the Beginning of Absalom’s Fall
2 Samuel 13 records a great tragedy in David’s family that began with uncontrolled desire, the absence of justice, and nursed resentment. This chapter becomes the starting point of a chain of ruin in David’s household that would later end in Absalom’s rebellion.
📌 1. Amnon’s desire for Tamar (verses 1–5)
- Amnon set his desire on Tamar, his half-sister
- Tamar was a virgin, and Amnon felt it was impossible to have her
- With Jonadab’s advice, Amnon pretended to be sick
- David, unsuspecting, sent Tamar to attend to Amnon
🎯 Desire left unchecked will seek excuses and use deceit.
📌 2. Tamar’s violation (verses 6–14)
- When they were alone, Amnon ordered everyone out
- He forced Tamar to lie with him
- Tamar refused and pleaded:
- Recalling the law of Israel
Begging that Amnon speak to the king
- Amnon would not listen and raped Tamar
🎯 Sexual violence is not love, but a cruel abuse of power.
📌 3. Tamar Humiliated and Silenced (verses 15–20)
- After raping her, Amnon hated Tamar
- He drove Tamar out with contempt
- Tamar tore the robe of the king’s daughter and put ashes on her head
- Absalom took Tamar into his house
- Tamar lived in silence and ruin
- David was very angry, but did not punish Amnon
🎯 When evil is left without justice, the victim is forced to bear the wound alone.
📌 4. Absalom’s Revenge and the Killing of Amnon (verses 21–29)
- Absalom said nothing to Amnon
- He kept his anger for two years
- At the sheep-shearing feast, Absalom ordered his servants to kill Amnon
- Amnon died, and the king’s sons fled
🎯 Stored-up revenge will turn into violence if truth is not upheld.
📌 5. Absalom’s Flight and David’s Grief (verses 30–39)
- David at first thought all his sons had been killed
- He finally learned that only Amnon had died
- Absalom fled to Geshur, to Talmai the king of Geshur
Talmai was the grandfather of Absalom and Tamar
- Absalom stayed there three years
- David continued to mourn and long for Absalom
🎯 Love without justice and justice without repentance both bring ruin.
📖 Main Lesson
- Uncontrolled lust destroys oneself and others
- Evil within the family must be dealt with justly
- Allowing sin to go unchecked gives rise to resentment and violence
- A wound that is not healed will demand revenge
- A silent leader opens the door to greater destruction
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament Light)
Matthew 5:28
Lust begins in the heart before it becomes an action
Romans 12:19
Vengeance belongs to God, not to man
Ephesians 5:3
Sexual abuse is wholly rejected by God
Hebrews 12:15
A bitter root left unchecked will defile many
🕊️ Key Quotations
“But he would not listen to her, and he forced her.” – 2 Samuel 13:14
“Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred.” – 2 Samuel 13:15
“Tamar lived as a desolate woman in Absalom’s house.” – 2 Samuel 13:20
“Absalom killed Amnon because he had violated Tamar.” – 2 Samuel 13:32
