Tamar (Absalom's sister, David's daughter)
David's Daughter Who Was Violated
Tamar was a daughter of King David and the sister of Absalom. She was raped by her half-brother Amnon, an event that led to deep family conflict and eventually Absalom's revenge and rebellion against his father David. Her tragic fate illustrates the destructive consequences of sin within David's royal household.
Famille
Événements clés
Amnon's Desire for Tamar
Amnon, David's firstborn son, fell ill with desire for his half-sister Tamar. His cousin Jonadab devised a cunning plan so that Amnon could have Tamar alone.
1Some time later, Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and Amnon son of David fell in love with her.
וַיְהִ֣י אֽ͏ַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן וּלְאַבְשָׁל֧וֹם בֶּן־דָּוִ֛ד אָח֥וֹת יָפָ֖ה וּשְׁמָ֣הּ תָּמָ֑ר וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֖הָ אַמְנ֥וֹן בֶּן־דָּוִֽד׃
2Amnon 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.
וַיֵּ֨צֶר לְאַמְנ֜וֹן לְהִתְחַלּ֗וֹת בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ תָּמָ֣ר אֲחֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י בְתוּלָ֖ה הִ֑יא וַיִּפָּלֵא֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַמְנ֔וֹן לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָ֖הּ מְאֽוּמָה׃
3Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
וּלְאַמְנ֣וֹן רֵ֗עַ וּשְׁמוֹ֙ יֽוֹנָדָ֔ב בֶּן־שִׁמְעָ֖ה אֲחִ֣י דָוִ֑ד וְי֣וֹנָדָ֔ב אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃
4He 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."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ מַדּ֣וּעַ אַ֠תָּה כָּ֣כָה דַּ֤ל בֶּן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֔קֶר הֲל֖וֹא תַּגִּ֣יד לִ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ אַמְנ֔וֹן אֶת־תָּמָ֗ר אֲח֛וֹת אַבְשָׁלֹ֥ם אָחִ֖י אֲנִ֥י אֹהֵֽב׃
5Jonadab 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.'"
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ יְה֣וֹנָדָ֔ב שְׁכַ֥ב עַל־מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ וְהִתְחָ֑ל וּבָ֧א אָבִ֣יךָ לִרְאוֹתֶ֗ךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֡יו תָּ֣בֹא נָא֩ תָמָ֨ר אֲחוֹתִ֜י וְתַבְרֵ֣נִי לֶ֗חֶם וְעָשְׂתָ֤ה לְעֵינַי֙ אֶת־הַבִּרְיָ֔ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶרְאֶ֔ה וְאָכַלְתִּ֖י מִיָּדָֽהּ׃
Tamar's Rape
Amnon tricked Tamar into coming to his bedroom by pretending he was sick and asking her to prepare food for him. Despite Tamar's pleas and protests, Amnon overpowered her and raped her.
6So 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."
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב אַמְנ֖וֹן וַיִּתְחָ֑ל וַיָּבֹ֨א הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לִרְאֹת֗וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַמְנ֤וֹן אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ תָּֽבוֹא־נָ֞א תָּמָ֣ר אֲחֹתִ֗י וּתְלַבֵּ֤ב לְעֵינַי֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י לְבִב֔וֹת וְאֶבְרֶ֖ה מִיָּדָֽהּ׃
7David sent word to Tamar at the palace: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare food for him."
וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־תָּמָ֖ר הַבַּ֣יְתָה לֵאמֹ֑ר לְכִ֣י נָ֗א בֵּ֚ית אַמְנ֣וֹן אָחִ֔יךְ וַעֲשִׂי־ל֖וֹ הַבִּרְיָֽה׃
8So 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.
וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ תָּמָ֗ר בֵּ֛ית אַמְנ֥וֹן אָחִ֖יהָ וְה֣וּא שֹׁכֵ֑ב וַתִּקַּ֨ח אֶת־הַבָּצֵ֤ק *ותלוש **וַתָּ֙לָשׁ֙ וַתְּלַבֵּ֣ב לְעֵינָ֔יו וַתְּבַשֵּׁ֖ל אֶת־הַלְּבִבֽוֹת׃
9Then she took the pan and served him, but he refused to eat. "Send everyone out of here," Amnon said, and they all left him.
וַתִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־הַמַּשְׂרֵת֙ וַתִּצֹ֣ק לְפָנָ֔יו וַיְמָאֵ֖ן לֶאֱכ֑וֹל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַמְנ֗וֹן הוֹצִ֤יאוּ כָל־אִישׁ֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י וַיֵּצְא֥וּ כָל־אִ֖ישׁ מֵעָלָֽיו׃
10Then 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.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַמְנ֜וֹן אֶל־תָּמָ֗ר הָבִ֤יאִי הַבִּרְיָה֙ הַחֶדֶ֔[c]ר וְאֶבְרֶ֖ה מִיָּדֵ֑ךְ וַתִּקַּ֣ח תָּמָ֗ר אֶת־הַלְּבִבוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔תָה וַתָּבֵ֛א לְאַמְנ֥וֹן אָחִ֖יהָ הֶחָֽדְרָה׃
11But when she brought them to him to eat, he seized her and said, "Come, lie with me, my sister."
וַתַּגֵּ֥שׁ אֵלָ֖יו לֽ͏ֶאֱכֹ֑ל וַיַּֽחֲזֶק־בָּהּ֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֔הּ בּ֛וֹאִי שִׁכְבִ֥י עִמִּ֖י אֲחוֹתִֽי׃
12"No, my brother!" she said. "Do not violate me. Such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not commit this outrage.
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ אַל־אָחִי֙ אַל־תְּעַנֵּ֔נִי כִּ֛י לֹא־יֽ͏ֵעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַֽל־תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה אֶת־הַנְּבָלָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃
13And 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."
וַאֲנִ֗י אָ֤נָה אוֹלִיךְ֙ אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִ֔י וְאַתָּ֗ה תִּהְיֶ֛ה כְּאַחַ֥ד הַנְּבָלִ֖ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּה֙ דַּבֶּר־נָ֣א אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִמְנָעֵ֖נִי מִמֶּֽךָּ׃
14But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she was, he overpowered her and raped her.
וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ בְּקוֹלָ֑הּ וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק מִמֶּ֙נָּה֙ וַיְעַנֶּ֔הָ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב אֹתָֽהּ׃
Amnon Rejects Tamar
After the assault, Amnon's desire turned to hatred, and he drove Tamar away. Tamar tore her special long-sleeved robe and put ashes on her head as a sign of grief and shame.
15Then 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.
וַיִּשְׂנָאֶ֣הָ אַמְנ֗וֹן שִׂנְאָה֙ גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד כִּ֣י גְדוֹלָ֗ה הַשִּׂנְאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׂנֵאָ֔הּ מֵאַהֲבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲהֵבָ֑הּ וַֽיֹּאמֶר־לָ֥הּ אַמְנ֖וֹן ק֥וּמִי לֵֽכִי׃
16"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.
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ אַל־אוֹדֹ֞ת הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את מֵאַחֶ֛רֶת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ עִמִּ֖י לְשַׁלְּחֵ֑נִי וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁמֹ֥עַֽ לָֽהּ׃
17He called the young man who served him and said, "Get this woman out of my sight, and bolt the door behind her."
וַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶֽת־נַעֲרוֹ֙ מְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁלְחוּ־נָ֥א אֶת־זֹ֛את מֵעָלַ֖י הַח֑וּצָה וּנְעֹ֥ל הַדֶּ֖לֶת אַחֲרֶֽיהָ׃
18She 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.
וְעָלֶ֙יהָ֙ כְּתֹ֣נֶת פַּסִּ֔ים כִּי֩ כֵ֨ן תִּלְבַּ֧שְׁןָ בְנוֹת־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ הַבְּתוּלֹ֖ת מְעִילִ֑ים וַיֹּצֵ֨א אוֹתָ֤הּ מְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ הַח֔וּץ וְנָעַ֥ל הַדֶּ֖לֶת אַחֲרֶֽיהָ׃
19Tamar 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.
וַתִּקַּ֨ח תָּמָ֥ר אֵ֙פֶר֙ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וּכְתֹ֧נֶת הַפַּסִּ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָלֶ֖יהָ קָרָ֑עָה וַתָּ֤שֶׂם יָדָהּ֙ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְזָעָֽקָה׃
Absalom Takes Tamar In
Absalom understood what had happened when he saw his sister in mourning. He took her into his house, and Tamar lived there as a lonely woman. Absalom hated Amnon for what he had done.
20Her 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.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלֶ֜יהָ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם אָחִ֗יהָ הַאֲמִינ֣וֹן אָחִיךְ֮ הָיָ֣ה עִמָּךְ֒ וְעַתָּ֞ה אֲחוֹתִ֤י הַחֲרִ֙ישִׁי֙ אָחִ֣יךְ ה֔וּא אַל־תָּשִׁ֥יתִי אֶת־לִבֵּ֖ךְ לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב תָּמָר֙ וְשֹׁ֣מֵמָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אַבְשָׁל֥וֹם אָחִֽיהָ׃
21When King David heard all about it, he was furious.
וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד שָׁמַ֕ע אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּ֥חַר ל֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃
22But Absalom said nothing to Amnon, good or bad; he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.
וְלֹֽא־דִבֶּ֧ר אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם עִם־אַמְנ֖וֹן לְמֵרָ֣ע וְעַד־ט֑וֹב כִּֽי־שָׂנֵ֤א אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶת־אַמְנ֔וֹן עַל־דְּבַר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִנָּ֔ה אֵ֖ת תָּמָ֥ר אֲחֹתֽוֹ׃ פ
Absalom's Revenge on Amnon
After two years, Absalom planned his revenge. During a sheep shearing, he invited all the king's sons and ordered his servants to kill Amnon when he was drunk. The murder was directly motivated by the assault on Tamar.
23Two years later, when Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king's sons.
וַֽיְהִי֙ לִשְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ גֹֽזְזִים֙ לְאַבְשָׁל֔וֹם בְּבַ֥עַל חָצ֖וֹר אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִם־אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיִּקְרָ֥א אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם לְכָל־בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
24Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant is shearing sheep. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant?"
וַיָּבֹ֤א אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־נָ֥א גֹזְזִ֖ים לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ יֵֽלֶךְ־נָ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וַעֲבָדָ֖יו עִם־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃
25"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.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם אַל־בְּנִי֙ אַל־נָ֤א נֵלֵךְ֙ כֻּלָּ֔נוּ וְלֹ֥א נִכְבַּ֖ד עָלֶ֑יךָ וַיִּפְרָץ־בּ֛וֹ וְלֹֽא־אָבָ֥ה לָלֶ֖כֶת וַֽיְבָרֲכֵֽהוּ׃
26Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us." "Why should he go with you?" the king asked.
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם וָלֹ֕א יֵֽלֶךְ־נָ֥א אִתָּ֖נוּ אַמְנ֣וֹן אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֥מָּה יֵלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּֽךְ׃
27But Absalom pressed him, so he sent Amnon along with all the king's sons.
וַיִּפְרָץ־בּ֖וֹ אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אִתּוֹ֙ אֶת־אַמְנ֔וֹן וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
28Absalom 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."
וַיְצַו֩ אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם אֶת־נְעָרָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר רְא֣וּ נָ֠א כְּט֨וֹב לֵב־אַמְנ֤וֹן בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם הַכּ֧וּ אֶת־אַמְנ֛וֹן וַהֲמִתֶּ֥ם אֹת֖וֹ אַל־תִּירָ֑אוּ הֲל֗וֹא כִּ֤י אָֽנֹכִי֙ צִוִּ֣יתִי אֶתְכֶ֔ם חִזְק֖וּ וִהְי֥וּ לִבְנֵי־חָֽיִל׃
29So 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.
וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֞וּ נַעֲרֵ֤י אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ לְאַמְנ֔וֹן כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ ׀ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיִּרְכְּב֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־פִּרְדּ֖וֹ וַיָּנֻֽסוּ׃
David's Passivity
King David was furious when he heard about the assault on Tamar, but he did nothing to punish Amnon. David's inaction contributed to the escalating conflict within the royal family that eventually led to Absalom's rebellion.
21When King David heard all about it, he was furious.
וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד שָׁמַ֕ע אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּ֥חַר ל֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃