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 anything 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 colors 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 colors 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 Baalhazor, 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.
Chapter 13 of the book of 2 Samuel in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a continuation of the narrative of King David's reign in Israel. This chapter focuses on the tragic events that occur within David's own family, including the rape of his daughter Tamar by her half-brother Amnon and the revenge taken by Tamar's brother Absalom. The main themes of this chapter include the consequences of sin, justice and revenge, and the importance of seeking God's wisdom and guidance in difficult situations. Ultimately, this chapter serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of sin and the importance of seeking forgiveness and redemption.
The chapter begins by introducing Amnon, David's eldest son and heir to the throne. Amnon becomes infatuated with his half-sister Tamar, who is described as beautiful and a virgin. However, Tamar is also the full sister of Absalom, who is Amnon's half-brother. Amnon's love for Tamar turns into an unhealthy obsession, and he becomes physically ill with longing for her.
Amnon's friend Jonadab, who is often seen as a schemer in David's court, suggests a plan for Amnon to get close to Tamar. He tells Amnon to pretend to be sick and ask David to send Tamar to care for him. David agrees, and Tamar dutifully goes to Amnon's house to prepare food for him. However, when she arrives, Amnon seizes her and rapes her.
The aftermath of this horrific event is described in great detail in the Bible. Tamar is left devastated and humiliated, and she tears her royal robe and puts ashes on her head as a sign of mourning. Absalom, Tamar's full brother, is also deeply affected by the rape of his sister. He tells her to keep quiet about what happened and to stay in his house, where she would be safe and cared for.
Amnon, on the other hand, is filled with guilt and disgust for what he has done. He even goes as far as to hate Tamar and orders her to leave his house. This reveals the true nature of Amnon's intentions, as he never truly loved Tamar but only desired her physically.
This part of the chapter highlights the consequences of sin. Amnon's actions not only hurt Tamar but also create a rift in the family and cause emotional turmoil for everyone involved. It also shows the destructive nature of lust and how it can lead to the dehumanization and objectification of others. Amnon's sin ultimately leads to his own downfall and death, as we will see later in the chapter.
After the rape of Tamar, Absalom harbors a deep hatred for Amnon and waits for an opportunity to seek revenge. Two years later, during a feast in Baal-hazor, Absalom invites all of David's sons, including Amnon, to his house. He instructs his servants to kill Amnon when he is drunk and vulnerable. The servants obey Absalom's command, and Amnon is killed.
When the news reaches David, he is devastated and angered. However, Absalom flees to Geshur, where his mother's family is from, to avoid David's wrath. This event marks the beginning of Absalom's rebellion against his father, which will culminate in a civil war and Absalom's death.
This part of the chapter highlights the theme of justice and revenge. Absalom takes matters into his own hands and seeks revenge for the rape of his sister. However, this act of revenge leads to further destruction and division within the family. It also highlights the importance of seeking God's justice instead of taking matters into our own hands. Absalom's actions ultimately lead to his own downfall and serve as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of revenge.
Despite the tragedy and chaos that ensues in his family, David's response is surprisingly passive. He mourns for Amnon and longs for Absalom to return, but he does not take any action to bring Absalom back. This could be seen as a sign of David's weakness and inability to discipline his children. However, it could also be interpreted as David's trust in God's plan and his recognition that he is not in control of his children's actions.
David's response also highlights the importance of seeking God's wisdom and guidance in difficult situations. Instead of acting impulsively and seeking revenge, David chooses to wait and trust in God's plan. This is a valuable lesson for all of us, as it reminds us that God is ultimately in control and that we should seek His guidance and wisdom in all situations.
Overall, chapter 13 of 2 Samuel serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of sin and the importance of seeking forgiveness and redemption. It also highlights the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking God's wisdom and guidance in difficult situations. The events in this chapter also foreshadow the downfall of David's family and the consequences of his own sins, such as his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah.
Furthermore, this chapter also sheds light on the flawed and dysfunctional nature of David's family. Despite being described as a man after God's own heart, David's family is plagued by sin, jealousy, and violence. This serves as a reminder that even those who are close to God are not immune to temptation and sin.
In conclusion, chapter 13 of 2 Samuel is a powerful and cautionary tale that teaches us valuable lessons about the consequences of sin, the destructive nature of revenge, and the importance of seeking God's wisdom and guidance. It also serves as a reminder that no one is immune to temptation and sin, and that we must constantly seek forgiveness and redemption through God's grace.
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