Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Amnon rapes his sister Tamar. Absalom kills Amnon and flees from David.
II. Photo
Amnon rapes his sister: “Amnon said to Tamar, ‘Bring the food inside and feed me.’ Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them to her brother inside. But when she served them to him, he caught hold of her and said to her, ‘Come lie with me, sister.’” (vv. 10-11)
III. Important Verses
2: Amnon was so distraught because of his [half-]sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
3-5: Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimah; Jonadab was a very clever man. He asked him, “Why are you so dejected, O prince, morning after morning? Tell me!” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom!” Jonadab said to him, “Lie down in your bed and pretend you are sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in front of me, so that I may look on, and let her serve it to me.’”
10-14: Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food inside and feed me.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them to her brother inside. But when she served them to him, he caught hold of her and said to her, “Come lie with me, sister.” But she said to him, “Don’t, brother. Don’t force me. Such things are not done in Israel! Don’t do such a vile thing! Where will I carry my shame? And you, you will be like any of the scoundrels in Israel! Please, speak to the king; he will not refuse me to you.” But he would not listen to her; he overpowered her and lay with her by force.
15-16: Then Amnon felt a very great loathing for her; indeed, his loathing for her was greater than the passion he had felt for her. And Amnon said to her, “Get out!” She pleaded with him, “Please don’t commit this wrong; to send me away would be even worse than the first wrong you committed against me.” But he would not listen to her.
37: Absalom had fled, and he came to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [King David] mourned over his son a long time.
IV. Outline
1-2. Amnon’s lust for Tamar
3-5. Jonadab devises a plan for Amnon to rape Tamar
6-14. Amnon rapes Tamar
15-18. Amnon dismisses the unwilling Tamar
19-22. Absalom tells Tamar to keep quiet; David finds out
23-27. Absalom convinces David to send the princes to his party
28-29. Absalom’s attendant kills Amnon
30-33. David is told the news
34-36. David and the princes weep
37-39. Absalom flees to Geshur
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Anderson, A. A. “2 Samuel” Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 11 (Waco Texas: Wordbooks, 1989).
Campbell, Antony F. “2 Samuel” The Forms of the Old Testament Literature, vol 8 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eedrdmans, 2005).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
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