2 Samuel 13

Some time after this, David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. David's son Amnon fell in love with her.

1And 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.

NoteDavid had children by several wives, so his sons were often only half brothers. Tamar was Absalom's full sister (both were children of Maacah) and Amnon's half sister. Amnon was David's eldest son and so the expected heir to the throne.

2Amnon was so upset over his half sister Tamar that he made himself sick. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

2And 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 anything to her.

NoteAn unmarried daughter of the king lived in the women's quarters of the household and was watched over by her family; being alone with her was not something an outsider, even a half brother, could arrange. "Virgin" here carries that whole situation, not just the physical fact.

3But Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very clever man.

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

NoteJonadab was David's nephew, and so a first cousin to Amnon, Absalom and Tamar. The King James word "subtil" meant shrewd and calculating; it did not yet mean merely delicate or fine.

4He said to Amnon, "Why do you, the king's son, look so worn down day after day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

4And 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.

5Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and act sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her fix the food where I can watch, so I can eat it from her hand.'"

5And 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.

NoteFeeding a sick person by hand from food a relative had prepared was ordinary family care, which is what makes the request sound harmless to David.

6So Amnon lay down and acted 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 where I can watch, so I can eat from her hand."

6So 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.

NoteThe Hebrew word for these cakes appears only in this story. It comes from a root connected with the word for "heart," so it may mean heart-shaped cakes, or food thought to restore a sick man's strength. No one now knows exactly what they were.

7Then David sent word home to Tamar: "Go now to your brother Amnon's house and fix him some food."

7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.

8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes while he watched, and baked them.

8So 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.

9Then she took the pan and poured them out in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, "Send everyone away from me." So every man went out.

9And 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.

NoteA royal son's rooms would have had attendants standing in them at all times; dismissing them all was itself a striking order.

10Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, so I can eat from your hand." Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon.

10And 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.

11But when she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed hold of her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister."

11And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

12She answered him, "No, my brother! Do not force me. Such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing.

12And 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.

Note"Such a thing is not done in Israel" was a set phrase for an act the whole community would regard as intolerable. The word behind "disgraceful thing" (nebalah) does not mean foolishness in the sense of silliness; it means deliberate, shameless outrage, and was used especially of sexual violence.

13And I, where could I take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Please speak to the king. He will not keep me from you."

13And 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.

NoteA woman who had been raped could not normally expect to marry, so her "shame" would have followed her for life. Tamar's suggestion that David could give her to Amnon is puzzling, since Israelite law forbids marriage between half brother and sister; readers have argued ever since about whether older custom allowed it, whether a king could set it aside, or whether Tamar is simply saying anything that might stop him.

14But he would not listen to her. Since he was stronger than she was, he forced her and raped her.

14Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

NoteThe verb translated "forced" means to humiliate or violate; it is the standard biblical term for rape.

15Then Amnon hated her with a terrible hatred. The hatred he now felt for her was greater than the love he had felt before. Amnon said to her, "Get up. Get out."

15Then 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.

16She said to him, "No! Sending me away is a greater wrong than the one you have already done to me." But he would not listen to her.

16And 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.

NoteThe opening words of Tamar's reply are damaged in the Hebrew and cannot be translated with confidence; "No!" or "There is no cause" are guesses. Her point is clear even so: to throw her out compounds the crime, because a man who violated an unmarried woman was at least expected to keep and support her.

17Instead he called the servant who waited on him and said, "Throw this woman out of here, and bolt the door behind her."

17Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

NoteAmnon does not use her name. The Hebrew is literally "this one", a dismissive way of referring to a person. The servant is a young male attendant of the household.

18She was wearing a long robe of many colors, because that is what the king's unmarried daughters wore. So his servant put her outside and bolted the door behind her.

18And 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.

NoteThe Hebrew phrase (ketonet passim) is the same one used of Joseph's famous coat. Its exact sense is uncertain: either a long robe reaching to wrists and ankles, or one decorated with colored strips. Either way it was a costly garment that marked out its wearer, here as an unmarried daughter of the king.

19Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe of many colors she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, crying out loud as she went.

19And 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.

NoteThree recognized signs of grief: ashes on the head, a torn garment, and hands placed on the head, a gesture of mourning shown in ancient Near Eastern art. She tears the very robe that marked her former status.

20Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Keep quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this to heart." So Tamar lived alone, a ruined woman, in her brother Absalom's house.

20And 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.

NoteThe word behind "a ruined woman" (shomemah) is used of land laid waste. It describes a woman who will not now marry or bear children and who lives on in a male relative's household.

21When King David heard about all this, he was very angry.

21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

NoteAncient Greek manuscripts and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran add a further sentence here: that David did not punish Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn. The traditional Hebrew text used by the King James translators does not have it.

22And Absalom said nothing at all to his brother Amnon, good or bad, because Absalom hated Amnon for forcing his sister Tamar.

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

Note"Neither good nor bad" is an idiom meaning he said nothing to him at all, on any subject. Silence of this kind between men of the same household signaled a complete breach.

23Two full years later, Absalom had men shearing his sheep at Baal-hazor, near Ephraim, and he invited all the king's sons.

23And 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.

NoteSheepshearing was the year's payday for a flock owner and was celebrated with a large feast and heavy drinking, to which the owner invited guests. It gave Absalom a normal-sounding reason to gather the royal family away from Jerusalem.

24Absalom came to the king and said, "Your servant has men shearing sheep. Please, let the king and his officials come along with me."

24And 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.

25The king said to Absalom, "No, my son. We should not all go, or we would be a burden to you." Absalom kept urging him, but the king would not go; he only gave him his blessing.

25And 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.

NoteA king traveled with his officials and servants, so hosting a royal visit meant feeding a small crowd. David's refusal is the polite one expected of a guest.

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

26Then 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?

27But Absalom kept urging him, so the king let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28Now Absalom had given orders to his servants: "Watch for when Amnon's heart is happy with wine. When I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not ordered you? Be strong and brave."

28Now 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.

Note"His heart is happy with wine" describes the point in a feast when a man is well drunk and off his guard.

29Absalom's servants did to Amnon just what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's other sons jumped up, each one got on his mule, and they fled.

29And 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.

NoteMules were the mount of the royal family in this period; riding the king's mule was a mark of royal standing. Ordinary people walked or rode donkeys.

30While they were still on the road, news reached David: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons. Not one of them is left."

30And 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.

31Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. All his servants stood beside him with their clothes torn.

31Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

NoteTearing one's clothes and lying on the bare ground were the standard public acts of mourning for the dead.

32But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, spoke up: "My lord should not think they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has been set on this since the day Amnon forced his sister Tamar.

32And 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.

33So now, my lord the king, do not take it to heart and think that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."

33Now 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.

34Meanwhile Absalom fled. The young man on watch looked up and saw many people coming along the road on the hillside behind him.

34But 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.

NoteThe watchman stood on the city wall or a gate tower. The Hebrew of the last phrase is obscure, literally "by the road behind him"; the ancient Greek version reads "from the road of Horonaim" and adds the watchman's report to the king, which the Hebrew text does not have.

35Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons are coming. It is just as your servant said."

35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

36As soon as he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived, and they cried out loud and wept. The king and all his servants also wept very hard.

36And 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.

37Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

NoteGeshur was a small Aramaean kingdom east of the Sea of Galilee, outside David's territory. Talmai was Absalom's own grandfather: David had married Talmai's daughter Maacah, Absalom's mother. Absalom therefore fled to blood relatives beyond the reach of Israelite justice.

38So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and he stayed there three years.

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

39And King David longed to go out to Absalom, because he had gotten over the death of Amnon.

39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

NoteThe Hebrew of this verse is difficult and its sense disputed. It may mean that David longed to go out to Absalom, or, reading the verb differently: that his anger toward Absalom subsided. Either way, the reason given is that he had finished grieving for Amnon.