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2 Samuel 13

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2 Samuel 13 Overview

Amnon, David’s son, becomes obsessed with his half-sister Tamar. With Jonadab’s crafty advice he pretends to be sick, isolates Tamar, and rapes her despite her resistance. Afterward his desire turns to hatred and he casts her out. David is angry but takes no recorded judicial action, while Absalom quietly waits two years and then arranges Amnon’s death before fleeing.

2 SamuelBook

13Chapter

39Verses

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Before you read 2 Samuel 13

Coming from

Chapter 12 announced that the sword would not depart from David’s house and that evil would arise against him from within his own family.

In this chapter

The first major household catastrophe unfolds through sexual violence, failed parental justice, revenge, and murder among David’s children.

Leads into

Chapter 14 follows Absalom in exile and shows Joab arranging his return to Jerusalem through the wise woman of Tekoah, although reconciliation with David remains incomplete.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter is deliberately painful and should be read without softening what happens to Tamar. She resists, reasons, names the act as folly, and is forcibly violated. Her statement urging Amnon to speak to the king should be understood within a desperate attempt to stop the assault; Leviticus 18:9 and 20:17 prohibit sexual relations between half-siblings, so the narrative does not establish such a marriage as lawful. David’s anger without effective action leaves a vacuum Absalom fills with private revenge.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Sexual desire becomes destructive when it treats another person as an object to possess rather than a person to honor.

Truth 2

Tamar’s resistance makes the violence unmistakable; responsibility belongs to Amnon, not to the woman he traps and assaults.

Truth 3

David’s failure to administer recorded justice contributes to the growth of resentment and vigilante revenge within his house.

Truth 4

Absalom’s revenge against Amnon answers one evil with another and deepens the family collapse Nathan foretold.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Leviticus 18:9 and 20:17 prohibit sexual relations between a brother and sister or half-sister, giving the legal background to Tamar’s situation.

Connection 2

2 Samuel 12:10–12 had just announced ongoing violence and humiliation within David’s house; chapter 13 begins the visible fulfillment of that judgment.

Connection 3

Deuteronomy 22 contains laws protecting sexual integrity and addressing sexual violence, underscoring that Amnon’s force is not a private romantic failure but serious wrongdoing.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not describe the assault as consensual because Tamar speaks about marriage while trying to stop Amnon. The text explicitly says he would not hearken and forced her.

Keep this clear 2

Do not blame Tamar for being in Amnon’s room; she comes because David himself sends her to care for a supposedly sick brother.

Keep this clear 3

Absalom’s killing of Amnon should not be treated as righteous justice merely because Amnon deserved punishment. Absalom acts privately after two years of concealed vengeance rather than through lawful judgment.

Read 2 Samuel 13 watching for…

How Jonadab helps create the opportunity for Amnon.

Every way Tamar resists and argues against the act.

The sudden change from Amnon’s desire to hatred.

Tamar’s signs of grief after the assault.

David’s reaction—and the absence of further recorded action by him.

How long Absalom waits before carrying out revenge.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-14Amnon deceives and forces Tamar 15-22Amnon casts Tamar out, and Absalom hates him 23-29Absalom arranges Amnon’s death 30-39David mourns, and Absalom flees to Geshur

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

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.

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.

Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

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.

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.

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.

But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

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.

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.

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?

But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

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.

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.

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.

Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

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.

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.

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.

And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

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.

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

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2 Samuel 13:2

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