2 SamuelChapitre 13

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Some time later, Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and Amnon son of David fell in love with her.

Amnon was so tormented over his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to him to do anything to her.

Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

He said to him, "Why are you, the king's son, so haggard morning after morning? Won't you tell me?" Amnon answered, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom."

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

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes here in front of me, so that I may eat from her hand."

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare food for him."

So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, where he lay in bed. She took dough, kneaded it, shaped the cakes in his sight, and baked them.

Then she took the pan and served him, but he refused to eat. "Send everyone out of here," Amnon said, and they all left him.

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

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

"No, my brother!" she said. "Do not violate me. Such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not commit this outrage.

And I—where could I carry my disgrace? And you would be like one of the depraved fools in Israel. Speak to the king; he will not keep me from you."

But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she was, he overpowered her and raped her.

Then Amnon was seized with a violent hatred for her; the hatred he felt for her was greater than the love he had felt. "Get up and get out!" he said to her.

"No," she said, "sending me away is a greater wrong than what you have already done to me." But he would not listen to her.

He called the young man who served him and said, "Get this woman out of my sight, and bolt the door behind her."

She was wearing an ornamented robe, for this is how the virgin daughters of the king were dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.

Tamar put ashes on her head, tore the ornamented robe she was wearing, laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went.

Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now, my sister, keep quiet. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman.

When King David heard all about it, he was furious.

But Absalom said nothing to Amnon, good or bad; he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.

Two years later, when Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king's sons.

Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant is shearing sheep. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant?"

"No, my son," the king replied. "We should not all go; we would only be a burden to you." Although Absalom pressed him, he still refused to go, but he gave him his blessing.

Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us." "Why should he go with you?" the king asked.

But Absalom pressed him, so he sent Amnon along with all the king's sons.

Absalom ordered his men, "Watch closely. When Amnon is in high spirits from the wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Have no fear. Have I not given you the order myself? Be strong and courageous."

So Absalom's men did to Amnon exactly as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, each mounted his mule, and fled.

While they were still on the way, this report reached David: "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons; not one of them is left."

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

But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "My lord must not think that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom's fixed purpose from the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.

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

Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man on watch looked up, he saw many people coming along the road behind him, on the side of the hill.

Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons have come. It has happened just as your servant said."

As he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived, weeping loudly. And the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.

Absalom, however, had fled to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And the king mourned for his son day after day.

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

And King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon's death.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 13

Main Theme: Amnon's rape of Tamar and Absalom's revenge killing of Amnon demonstrate the destructive consequences of sin within David's family.

Content: Amnon, David's son, becomes consumed with desire for his half-sister Tamar and rapes her through a cunning plan. Afterwards, he hates her and casts her out in disgrace. Absalom takes his sister in but secretly plans revenge. Two years later, Absalom's servants kill Amnon during a sheep-shearing festival, and Absalom flees to Geshur, where he remains for three years. David mourns, yet longs for Absalom.

Key Words/Images:

The Coat of Many Colors (כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים): Tamar's royal garment, which she tears in pieces, symbolizes her lost honor and innocence.
Nebalah (נְבָלָה) – "folly/shame": Tamar's term for the act shows that this is a serious sin against God's people.
Hatred greater than love: Amnon's sudden hatred toward Tamar reveals that his "love" was selfish desire, not genuine love.
Sheep-shearing festival: The festive occasion becomes the setting for bloody revenge, illustrating how sin breeds more sin.

Contexte historique

Chapter-Specific Context for 2 Samuel 13

Characters

Amnon was David’s firstborn son, born to Ahinoam of Jezreel (2 Sam 3:2). As the eldest son, he held a prominent position in the line of succession to the throne. Tamar was the daughter of David and Maacah, princess from Geshur, and thus Amnon’s half sister. Her name means "palm tree" and was associated with beauty and fruitfulness. Absalom was Tamar’s full brother, also born to Maacah (2 Sam 3:3). Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, is described as "very wise" (חָכָם מְאֹד), but his "wisdom" proves to be cunning manipulation rather than true wisdom.

Talmai, son of Ammihud was king of Geshur and Absalom’s maternal grandfather (v. 37). This explains why Absalom fled specifically there—he had family ties and could expect protection.

Places

Baal-hazor (v. 23) is usually identified with modern Tell Asur, about 25 kilometers north of Jerusalem, near the border of Ephraim’s territory. The place was situated on a hill (1016 meters above sea level) and was well suited for sheep farming. That Absalom held a sheep-shearing feast there indicates that he owned considerable land in this district. Geshur was a small Aramean kingdom east of the Sea of Galilee, in today’s Golan Heights. It lay outside Israelite jurisdiction, making it a safe refuge for Absalom.

Events and Customs

Sheep shearing (גֹזְזִים) was an important annual event in ancient Israel, associated with celebration and festivity (cf. 1 Sam 25:2–8). It was a time when wealth became visible and hospitality was expected. Inviting the royal family to a sheep-shearing feast was a significant gesture that signaled prosperity and honor.

Preparation of special food for the sick (vv. 5–8): The Hebrew word לְבִבוֹת (levivot, "heart cakes") refers to a special type of baked good, possibly heart-shaped or prepared in a particular way to strengthen a sick person. The custom of family members personally preparing food for the sick was widespread and emphasized care and closeness.

The garment described in verse 18 – כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים (ketonet passim) – is the same type of special robe that Joseph wore (Gen 37:3). This was a long-sleeved robe worn by royal virgin daughters, symbolizing both high status and virginity. That Tamar tears this garment dramatically signals the loss of both.

Key Terms

נְבָלָה (nevalah, "outrageous act," v. 12) is a strong expression in Hebrew denoting actions that violate fundamental moral norms in Israel. The word is used especially concerning sexual abuse (cf. Gen 34:7; Judg 19:23–24; 20:6) and implies that the act is an offense not only against the victim but against the entire community.

עִנָּה (innah, "humiliated/raped," vv. 14, 22, 32) is the technical Hebrew term for sexual violation. The law in Deuteronomy 22:28–29 required that a man who raped an unmarried woman must marry her and never be allowed to divorce her. Tamar’s suggestion in verse 13 that Amnon should ask the king for her hand may reflect her attempt to find a solution within this framework—or it could have been a desperate strategy to delay the assault.

שֹׁמֵמָה (shomemah, "desolate/abandoned," v. 20) describes Tamar’s condition after the assault. The word is otherwise used for desolate places and ruins, suggesting that Tamar lived the rest of her life in social isolation, with no possibility of marriage.

Personnages7

David8 Jonadab4 Amnon19 Ammihud1 Tamar (Absalom's sister, David's daughter)11 Shimea2 Talmai1

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Mots-clés7

Amnon — Eldest son of King David, and half-brother to Absalom and Tamar. He commits a cruel act against his half-sister Tamar.
Tamar — Daughter of King David and Maaka, and sister to Absalom. She is subjected to sexual violence by her half-brother Amnon.
Absalom — Son of King David and Maaka, brother to Tamar. He avenges Tamar's honor by killing Amnon.
Jonadab — A relative and advisor of King David. He gives Amnon a malicious counsel that leads to the rape of Tamar.
Vengeance — The action Absalom takes to punish Amnon for his wicked deed against Tamar.
Conflict — The strife between Amnon, Absalom, and their father, King David, resulting from Amnon's actions and Absalom's vengeance.
Reconciliation — The attempt to restore peace and harmony after the conflict among family members.