2 Samuel 13:12-39

12 “No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not violate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!

13 Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

14 But Amnon refused to listen to her, and being stronger, he violated her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”

16 “No,” she replied, “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!” But he refused to listen to her.

17 Instead, he called to his attendant and said, “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her!”

18 So Amnon’s attendant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a robe of many colors, ^[a] because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying aloud.

20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.

21 When King David heard all this, he was furious. ^[b]

22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.

Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king.

24 And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?”

25 “No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.

26 “If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.

27 But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons. ^[c]

28 Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”

29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.

30 While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!”

31 Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.

33 So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, ^[d] along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.” ^[e]

35 So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! It is just as your servant said.”

36 And as he finished speaking, the sons of the king came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.

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

38 After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years.

39 And King David ^[f] longed to go to Absalom, ^[g] for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.

2 Samuel 13:12-39 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 13

This chapter relates some of the evils that were to arise out of David's house, and which were similar to the evils committed by him; the deflowering of his daughter, and the murder of his eldest son: the story is this; Amnon falls in love with Tamar, his sister, and grew thin upon it, which being observed by a friend of his, inquires the reason of it, which having got out of him, forms a scheme for obtaining his desire, and which succeeded; for by it he had the opportunity of ravishing his sister, 2Sa 13:1-14; the consequences of which were extreme hatred of her, hurrying her out of doors, lamentation and mourning on her part, grief to David, and enmity in the heart of Absalom to Amnon, which put him upon meditating his death, 2Sa 13:15-22; and which was brought about after this manner. Absalom had a sheep shearing, to which he invited the king and all his sons, and to which they all came excepting the king, 2Sa 13:23-27; when Absalom gave orders to his servants to observe Amnon when he was merry, and at his word smite him and kill him, as they did, 2Sa 13:28,29; tidings of which soon came to the ears of David, and these aggravated, that all the king's sons were killed, which threw the king into an agony; but Jonadab endeavoured to pacify him, by assuring him that only Amnon was dead, the truth of which soon appeared by the coming of the king's sons, 2Sa 13:30-36; but Absalom fled to Geshur, where he remained three years, when David's heart began to be towards him, and to long for him, who was to bring more evil against him, 2Sa 13:37-39.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or a robe with long sleeves; see also Genesis 37:3.
• [b]. DSS and LXX include But he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn.
• [c]. LXX and Vulgate include And Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.
• [d]. Or behind him
• [e]. LXX; Hebrew does not include And the watchman....
• [f]. MT; DSS and LXX And the spirit of the king
• [g]. Or ceased to go out after Absalom