2 Samuel 13

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 13

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.

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 any thing to her.

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

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.

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.

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.

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; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded [it], and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Amnon, David's son, feigns sickness to lure his half-sister Tamar into his chamber, where he forces her. Immediately after, Amnon's hatred for Tamar becomes intense, and he casts her out, leaving her desolate. Two years later, Absalom, Tamar's full brother, avenges her by orchestrating Amnon's murder at a sheep-shearing feast, then flees to Geshur.

Medium Summary

Amnon, King David's son, became infatuated with his half-sister Tamar and feigned illness on the advice of his subtle cousin Jonadab. David sent Tamar to Amnon's house to prepare food for him privately. Amnon then forced Tamar, despite her pleas and warnings against such folly in Israel. Immediately after, Amnon's intense hatred for her led him to cast her out, causing her great distress and public shame. Tamar's brother Absalom took her into his home, silently harboring deep resentment towards Amnon. Two years later, Absalom invited all the king's sons to a sheep-shearing feast and commanded his servants to kill Amnon when he was merry with wine. Upon hearing a false report that all his sons were dead, David grieved, but Jonadab clarified that only Amnon had been slain. Absalom then fled to Geshur, remaining there for three years, while David mourned Amnon but eventually longed for Absalom.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with Amnon, King David's son, developing an intense and vexing desire for his half-sister Tamar, who was Absalom's full sister and a virgin. Amnon's subtle cousin, Jonadab, advised him to feign sickness and request that Tamar come to his chamber to prepare food for him in his sight, so he could eat from her hand. David, unaware of the malicious intent, sent Tamar to Amnon's house. Tamar dutifully prepared cakes for Amnon, but after she brought them into his private chamber, he seized her and demanded she lie with him. Tamar pleaded with him, explaining the great shame and folly of such an act in Israel and even suggesting he speak to the king for a lawful union, but Amnon, being stronger, forced her. Immediately following the act, Amnon's hatred for Tamar became exceedingly greater than his previous desire, and he brutally commanded her to leave. Tamar protested that this expulsion was a greater evil than the initial transgression, but Amnon refused to listen and had his servant cast her out and bolt the door. Tamar, wearing a virgin's garment, publicly displayed her distress by tearing her robe, putting ashes on her head, and crying aloud. Her brother Absalom found her, discerned what had happened, and took her into his house, where she remained desolate. King David, upon hearing of the incident, was very wroth but took no immediate action against Amnon. Absalom, however, harbored a deep, silent hatred for Amnon for two full years. At the end of this period, Absalom hosted a sheep-shearing feast and pressed David to allow all the king's sons, including Amnon, to attend. Absalom then secretly commanded his servants to kill Amnon when he was drunk, which they executed. The other sons fled, and a false report reached David that all his sons were dead, causing him great grief. Jonadab, however, assured David that only Amnon was dead, explaining that Absalom had planned this revenge since the day Tamar was forced. The other sons eventually returned, confirming Amnon's death and weeping with David. Absalom fled to Talmai, king of Geshur, his maternal grandfather, and remained there for three years, while David mourned Amnon but eventually longed for Absalom's return.

Core Concepts

  • Incestuous DesireAmnon, David's son, develops an overwhelming and illicit desire for his half-sister Tamar, leading him to feign illness and devise a scheme to be alone with her.
  • Deception and TreacheryJonadab, Amnon's subtle cousin, provides cunning counsel that facilitates Amnon's scheme to isolate Tamar. Amnon then uses this deception to achieve his wicked intent.
  • Sexual Violence and ShameAmnon forces Tamar despite her pleas, resulting in her profound shame and desolation. Her public display of grief, by tearing her garment and putting ashes on her head, underscores her distress.
  • Fratricidal RevengeAbsalom, Tamar's full brother, harbors a deep, silent hatred for two years, culminating in his calculated plan to murder Amnon at a festive gathering to avenge his sister.
  • Royal Inaction and GriefKing David is very wroth upon hearing of Tamar's defilement but takes no immediate action against Amnon. Later, he experiences intense grief and mourning upon learning of Amnon's death.
  • Consequences of SinThe chapter illustrates the severe and far-reaching consequences of illicit desires and unaddressed injustices within the royal family, leading to sexual violence, hatred, murder, and exile.
  • Exile and LongingAbsalom flees to Geshur for three years after murdering Amnon. Despite the tragic events, King David eventually finds comfort concerning Amnon's death and longs for Absalom's return.