2 Samuel 13

Chapter Overview

What happens in 2 Samuel 13

The consequences of David's sin begin to unfold in his own family. David's son Amnon assaults his half-sister Tamar. Two years later, Absalom takes revenge by having Amnon killed, then flees the country.

Scripture

Amnon's Wicked Plan

Study note

Amnon, David's oldest son, became obsessed with his half-sister Tamar, who was Absalom's full sister. Amnon's cousin Jonadab was a crafty man who suggested a deceptive plan. He told Amnon to pretend to be sick and ask David to send Tamar to cook for him. This devious scheme exploited David's trust and put Tamar in a vulnerable position.

1 Here is what happened next. Absalom, one of David's sons, had a beautiful sister named Tamar. Amnon, another of David's sons, became obsessed with her. 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.

2 Amnon was so consumed by desire for his half-sister Tamar that it made him sick. Since she was an unmarried young woman, he felt helpless to do anything about it. 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.

3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was extremely clever. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

4 Jonadab asked him, "Why do you, a prince, look so miserable day after day? Tell me what is going on." Amnon admitted, "I am obsessed with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

5 Jonadab told him, "Go to bed and fake being sick. When your father visits you, ask him, 'Please have my sister Tamar come and prepare food for me. Let her cook it where I can see her and serve it to me herself.'" And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

Amnon Assaults Tamar

Study note

David sent Tamar to care for Amnon, not suspecting anything. After she made food for him, Amnon sent everyone else out of the room and then grabbed Tamar. She begged him not to assault her, calling it a terrible disgrace in Israel. She even suggested he ask the king for permission to marry her. But Amnon would not listen and forced himself on her. Then his obsession turned to hatred even stronger than his earlier desire. He cruelly sent her away. Tamar tore the beautiful robe she wore as a virgin princess, put ashes on her head, and wept loudly as she left.

6 Amnon went to bed and pretended to be ill. When the king came to check on him, Amnon said, "Please send my sister Tamar to bake a couple of cakes right here in front of me so I can eat them from her hand." So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

7 David sent a message to Tamar at the palace: "Go to your brother Amnon's house and prepare some food for him." Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

8 Tamar went to Amnon's house where he was lying in bed. She took some dough, kneaded it, shaped the cakes while he watched, and baked them. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

9 She set the pan of cakes in front of him, but he refused to eat. Instead he ordered, "Everyone get out!" Once the room was empty, And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

10 Amnon told Tamar, "Bring the food into my bedroom so you can serve me by hand." She carried the cakes to him in his bedroom. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11 As she held them out for him to eat, Amnon seized her and demanded, "Come sleep with me, sister." And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

12 "No, brother!" she cried. "Do not force me! Something like this must never happen in Israel! Do not commit this terrible act!" And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

13 "Think about me -- where could I ever go with my shame? And think about yourself -- you would be disgraced like the worst fools in Israel. Please, talk to the king. He will let you marry me." And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

14 But Amnon would not listen. Being stronger than her, he overpowered her and assaulted her. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

15 Immediately afterward, Amnon was filled with intense hatred toward Tamar -- hatred even stronger than the desire he had felt. He snapped at her, "Get up and leave!" Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

16 Tamar protested, "No -- throwing me out is an even greater wrong than what you already did to me!" But he paid no attention. And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

17 He called his personal servant and barked, "Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door behind her!" Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

18 Tamar was wearing the beautifully decorated long robe that royal princesses wore. The servant shoved her out and locked the door. And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 Tamar poured ashes on her head and ripped the beautiful robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and stumbled away, weeping loudly. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

Absalom's Anger and Revenge

Study note

Absalom took Tamar into his home and told her to keep quiet about what happened. David was furious when he heard the news but did nothing to punish Amnon. Absalom said nothing to Amnon either, but silently hated him. Two full years later, Absalom planned his revenge. He invited all the king's sons to a sheep-shearing festival. When Amnon was drunk and happy, Absalom's servants killed him on Absalom's orders. The other princes fled in panic.

20 Her brother Absalom asked, "Has Amnon done something to you? Keep quiet about it for now, sister. He is your brother. Do not let it destroy you." So Tamar lived the rest of her days in Absalom's house, isolated and devastated. And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

21 When King David found out about everything that had happened, he was furious. But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

22 Absalom never said a single word to Amnon about it, good or bad. But deep inside, Absalom burned with hatred toward Amnon for assaulting his sister Tamar. And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 Two whole years went by. Then Absalom organized a sheep-shearing celebration at Baal-hazor near Ephraim's border. He invited all the king's sons. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24 Absalom went to the king and said, "I am hosting a sheep-shearing feast. Would the king and his officials please honor me by coming?" And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

25 The king answered, "No, my son, if all of us went it would be too much of a burden on you." Absalom pressed him, but David declined, though he did give Absalom his blessing. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then Absalom tried another approach: "Well, at least let my brother Amnon come with us." The king asked, "Why would Amnon need to go?" Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

27 But Absalom kept asking. At last David let Amnon and all the other princes go. But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28 Absalom secretly instructed his servants: "Keep an eye on Amnon. When he is good and drunk and in high spirits, wait for my signal. Then kill him. Do not be scared -- I am taking full responsibility. Be bold and fearless." Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

29 Absalom's servants carried out his orders and killed Amnon. The rest of the king's sons leaped onto their mules and escaped. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

David Mourns and Absalom Flees

Study note

A false report first reached David that Absalom had killed all the king's sons. David tore his clothes in anguish. But Jonadab corrected the report, explaining that only Amnon was dead, because Absalom had planned this since the day Amnon assaulted Tamar. When the surviving princes arrived, everyone wept bitterly. Absalom fled to his grandfather, King Talmai of Geshur, where he stayed for three years. Over time, David's grief for Amnon faded, and he began to long to see Absalom again.

30 While they were still on the road, an exaggerated report reached David: "Absalom has slaughtered every one of the king's sons! Not one survived!" And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

31 The king jumped to his feet, ripped his robes, and threw himself face-down on the floor. All his attendants standing nearby tore their clothes too. Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

32 Jonadab, David's nephew, spoke up: "My lord should not think that all the princes have been killed. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has been planning this revenge ever since Amnon violated his sister Tamar." And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 "So please, my lord the king, do not believe the rumor that all your sons are dead. It was only Amnon." Now therefore let not 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.

34 Meanwhile, Absalom had escaped. A lookout on the city wall spotted a large crowd traveling down the road from the hillside. But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

35 Jonadab told the king, "See? Your sons are coming, just as I told you." And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

36 The moment he finished speaking, the king's sons burst in, sobbing loudly. The king and all his servants broke down and wept bitterly too. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.

37 Absalom ran away to King Talmai son of Ammihud in Geshur. David grieved over Amnon's death every day. But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 After fleeing to Geshur, Absalom remained there for three full years. So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 King David's anger slowly faded. He began to miss Absalom deeply. By now he had come to accept that Amnon was gone. And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

Key Themes

Themes in 2 Samuel 13

The devastating consequences of sin rippling through familiesThe failure of passive leadership and parentingThe destructive cycle of violence and revengeThe vulnerability of the powerless

Apply This Today

Living 2 Samuel 13

David's failure to discipline Amnon and protect Tamar set off a chain reaction of violence. When we avoid confronting wrongdoing in our families or communities, we do not keep the peace; we allow injustice to fester until it explodes in even worse ways.

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