1 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 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 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4 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 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.
6 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 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
8 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 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 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 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 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 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 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
15 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 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 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 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 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.
20 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 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 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 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 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 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 pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 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 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.
30 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 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32 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 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 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 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36 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 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

1And it came to passe after this, that Absalom the sonne of Dauid had a faire sister, whose name was Tamar: and Amnon the sonne of Dauid loued her.

2And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sicke for his sister Tamar: for she was a virgine, and Amnon thought it hard for him to doe any thing to her.

3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Ionadab, the sonne of Shimeah, Dauids brother: and Ionadab was a very subtill man.

4And he saide vnto him, Why art thou, being the Kings sonne, leane from day to day? Wilt thou not tel me? and Amnon said vnto him, I loue Tamar my brother Absaloms sister.

5And Ionadab said vnto him, Lay thee downe on thy bed, and make thy selfe sicke: and when thy father commeth to see thee, say vnto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and giue me meat, and dresse the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eate it at her hand.

6 So Amnon lay downe, and made himselfe sicke: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said vnto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, & make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

7Then Dauid sent home to Tamar, saying, Goe now to thy brother Amnons house, and dresse him meat.

8So Tamar went to her brother Amnons house (and hee was laide downe) and she tooke flowre, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

9And she tooke a pan, and powred them out before him, but hee refused to eate: and Amnon said, Haue out all men from mee: And they went out euery man from him.

10And Amnon saide vnto Tamar, Bring the meate into the chamber, that I may eate of thine hand. And Tamar tooke the cakes which shee had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11And when shee had brought them vnto him to eate, hee tooke hold of her, and said vnto her, Come lye with mee, my sister.

12And she answered him, Nay, my brother, doe not force me: for no such thing ought to bee done in Israel; doe not thou this folly.

13And I, whither shall I cause my shame to goe? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fooles in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, speake vnto the king, for he will not withhold me from thee.

14Howbeit hee would not hearken vnto her voice, but being stronger then shee, forced her, and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred wherwith he hated her, was greater then the loue wherewith hee had loued her: And Amnon said vnto her, Arise, be gone.

16And she said vnto him, There is no cause: this euill in sending me away, is greater then the other that thou diddest vnto me: But he would not hearken vnto her.

17Then hee called his seruant that ministred vnto him, and said, Put now this woman out from mee, and bolt the doore after her.

18And shee had a garment of diuers colours vpon her: for with such robes were the Kings daughters, that were virgins, apparelled. Then his seruant brought her out, and bolted the doore after her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of diuers colours that was on her, and layde her hand on her head, and went on, crying.

20And Absalom her brother sayde vnto her, Hath Amnon thy brother beene with thee? But holde nowe thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother, regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absaloms house.

21 But when King Dauid heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

22And Absalom spake vnto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 And it came to passe after two full yeeres, that Absalom had sheepeshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom inuited all the kings sonnes.

24And Absalom came to the King, and said, Behold now, thy seruant hath sheepe-shearers, Let the King, I beseech thee, and his seruants, goe with thy seruant.

25And the King sayde to Absalom, Nay, my sonne, let vs not all now goe, lest we be chargeable vnto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not goe, but blessed him.

26Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon goe with vs. And the King said vnto him, Why should he goe with thee?

27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the kings sonnes goe with him.

28 Now Absalom had commanded his seruants, saying, Marke yee now when Amnons heart is merrie with wine, and when I say vnto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, feare not: haue not I commanded you? be couragious, and be valiant.

29And the seruants of Absalom did vnto Amnon as Absalom had commanded: then all the Kings sonnes arose, and euery man gate him vp vpon his mule, and fled.

30 And it came to passe while they were in the way, that tidings came to Dauid, saying, Absalom hath slaine all the Kings sonnes, and there is not one of them left.

31Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth: and all his seruants stoode by with their clothes rent.

32And Ionadab the sonne of Shimeah Dauids brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they haue slaine all the yong men the Kings sonnes; for Amnon onely is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath beene determined, from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33Now therefore let not my lord the King take the thing to his heart, to thinke that all the Kings sonnes are dead: for Amnon onely is dead.

34But Absalom fled: and the yong man that kept the watch, lift vp his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

35And Ionadab said vnto the king, Behold, the kings sonnes come: as thy seruant said, so it is.

36And it came to passe assoone as hee had made an ende of speaking, that behold, the kings sonnes came, and lift vp their voice, and wept; and the King also and all his seruants wept very sore.

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the sonne of Ammihud king of Geshur: and Dauid mourned for his sonne euery day.

38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three yeeres.

39And the soule of king Dauid longed to goe foorth vnto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

I == 2nd Sam 3:2-3 ; 1st Chr 3:9

 

 

 

III == 1st Sam 16:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Gen 18:6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Gen 45:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XI == Gen 39:12

 

XII == Gen 34:7 ; Lev 18:9 , 11 ; 20:17 ; Judg 19:23 ; 20:6

 

XIII == Lev 18:9 , 11

 

XIV == Deut 22:25 ; 2nd Sam 12:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVIII == Gen 37:3 ; Judg 5:30 ; Ps 45:14

 

 

XIX == Josh 7:6 ; 2nd Sam 1:2 ; Job 2:12 ; Jer 2:37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == Gen 24:50 ; 31:24 ; Lev 19:17-18

XXIII == Gen 38:12-13 ; 1st Sam 25:4 , 36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVIII == Judg 19:6 , 9 , 22 ; Ruth 3:7 ; 1st Sam 25:36 ; Esth 1:10 ; Ps 104:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXI == 2nd Sam 1:11 ; 12:16

XXXII == 2nd Sam 13:3

 

 

 

 

 

XXXIII == 2nd Sam 19:19

 

XXXIV == 2nd Sam 13:38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXVII == 2nd Sam 3:3

 

XXXVIII == 2nd Sam 14:23 , 32 ; 15:8

XXXIX == Gen 38:12 ; Ps 84:2

 

 

 

 

1 Some time later the following incident occurred. David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David's son Amnon loved her.

2 He was in such straits over his sister Tamar that he became sick; since she was a virgin, Amnon thought it impossible to carry out his designs toward her.

3 Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, who was very clever.

4 He asked him, "Prince, why are you so dejected morning after morning? Why not tell me?" So Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

5 Then Jonadab replied, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to visit you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and encourage me to take food. If she prepares something appetizing in my presence, for me to see, I will eat it from her hand.'"

6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to visit him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and prepare some fried cakes before my eyes, that I may take nourishment from her hand."

7 David then sent home a message to Tamar, "Please go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some nourishment for him."

8 Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was in bed. Taking dough and kneading it, she twisted it into cakes before his eyes and fried the cakes.

9 Then she took the pan and set out the cakes before him. But Amnon would not eat; he said, "Have everyone leave me." When they had all left him,

10 Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the nourishment into the bedroom, that I may have it from your hand." So Tamar picked up the cakes she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom.

11 But when she brought them to him to eat, he seized her and said to her, "Come! Lie with me, my sister!"

12 But she answered him, "No my brother! Do not shame me! That is an intolerable crime in Israel. Do not commit this insensate deed.

13 Where would I take my shame? And you would be a discredited man in Israel. So please, speak to the king; he will not keep me from you."

14 Not heeding her plea, he overpowered her; he shamed her and had relations with her.

15 Then Amnon conceived an intense hatred for her, which far surpassed the love he had had for her. "Get up and leave," he said to her.

16 She replied, "No, brother, because to drive me out would be far worse than the first injury you have done me." He would not listen to her,

17 but called the youth who was his attendant and said, "Put her outside, away from me, and bar the door after her."

18 Now she had on a long tunic, for that is how maiden princesses dressed in olden days. When his attendant put her out and barred the door after her,

19 Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long tunic in which she was clothed. Then, putting her hands to her head, she went away crying loudly.

20 Her brother Absalom said to her: "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be still now, my sister; he is your brother. Do not take this affair to heart." But Tamar remained grief-stricken and forlorn in the house of her brother Absalom.

21 King David, who got word of the whole affair, became very angry. He did not, however, spark the resentment of his son Amnon, whom he favored because he was his first-born.

22 Absalom, moreover, said nothing at all to Amnon, although he hated him for having shamed his sister Tamar.

23 After a period of two years, Absalom had shearers in Baalhazor near Ephraim, and he invited all the princes.

24 Absalom went to the king and said: "Your servant is having shearers. Please, your majesty, come with all your retainers to your servant."

25 But the King said to Absalom, "No, my son, all of us should not go lest we be a burden to you." And though Absalom urged him, he refused to go and began to bid him good-bye.

26 Absalom then said, "If you will not come yourself, please let my brother Amnon come to us." The king asked him, "Why should he go to you?"

27 At Absalom's urging, however, he sent Amnon and all the other princes with him. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for royalty.

28 But he had instructed his servants: "Now watch! When Amnon is merry with wine and I say to you, 'Kill Amnon,' put him to death. Do not be afraid, for it is I who order you to do it. Be resolute and act manfully."

29 When the servants did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded, all the other princes rose, mounted their mules, and fled.

30 While they were still on the road, a report reached David that Absalom had killed all the princes and that not one of them had survived.

31 The king stood up, rent his garments, and then lay on the ground. All his servants standing by him also rent their garments.

32 But Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, spoke up: "Let not my lord think that all the young princes have been killed! Amnon alone is dead, for Absalom was determined on this ever since Amnon shamed his sister Tamar.

33 So let not my lord the king put faith in the report that all the princes are dead. Amnon alone is dead."

34 Meanwhile, Absalom had taken flight. Then the servant on watch looked about and saw a large group coming down the slope from the direction of Bahurim. He came in and reported this, telling the king that he had seen some men coming down the mountainside from the direction of Bahurim.

35 So Jonadab said to the king: "There! The princes have come. It is as your servant said."

36 No sooner had he finished speaking than the princes came in, weeping aloud. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 But Absalom, who had taken flight, went to Talmai, son of Ammihud, king of Geshur,

38 and stayed in Geshur for three years.

39 The king continued during all that time to mourn over his son; but his longing reached out for Absalom as he became reconciled to the death of Amnon.

 

v 1-5. David’s son Amnon became lustful for his beautiful half sister, but restrained himself until his cousin Jonadab gave him a deceptive scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 6-14. The scheme worked, as Amnon succeeded in getting Tamar to come bake cakes in his presence. After ordering all others out, when she came to his so called sick bed, he overcame and raped her. Her protest that the king might arrange a marriage would have been unlawful, but she no doubt had hopes this would at least provide escape. He ignored her protests that it was sinful, that she would be shamed and he would be looked down upon as a fool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 15-18. His hatred proved he had not love but lust for her. All young women should keep this in mind when they are pressured to succumb to the desires of men.  He hated her for her innocence in the face of his corruption. Having her shamefully cast out as though she was to blame seemed worse to her than the sinful deed.

 

 

 

 

 

v 19,20. Tamar’s beauty was a factor in Amnon’s lust, and she mars that beauty as she  displays extreme grief and tears in returning to her home in her brother Absalom’s house. His question concerning Amnon may indicate he knew something about Amnon’s lack of morals which she did not.

 

v 21,22. David was a poor father for not bringing some type of discipline upon Amnon. He actually should have been cut off from his people, Lev. 20:17, but perhaps David’s own sin kept him from doing justice. Discipline may have prevented Absalom’s quiet, escalating revenge.

v 23-27. Absalom seethed for two years, a “root of bitterness”, Heb. 12:15, before performing this deception of gathering all the kings sons so he could target Amnon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 28,29. The servants were probably reluctant to commit murder, especially when the man was handicapped by drink, so had to be commanded as well as encouraged by Absalom to do so. Having Amnon, the oldest son, slain in front of the other brothers may have been an intimidation to allow Absalom to be the successor of David.

v 30-36. Bad tidings travels fast, and David heard incorrectly that Absalom had killed all the kings sons. Jonadab probably knew, or had a pretty good idea what was going on, and if he had reported it to the king, Amnon’s death might have been avoided. This was a trying time for the whole family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V 37-39. Absalom lived in exile with Talmai, his maternal grandfather, for three years. David had told Nathan that the man in his parable, 12:6, should pay fourfold, and David has begun to pay for his sin. Bathsheba’s son died, Amnon has been killed, Absalom will be, 18:14, and finally Adonijah’s execution, 1 Kings 2:25.