2 Samuel 13

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 13 of 24

1 And afterward it happened that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, and her name was Tamar. And Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 And Amnon was distressed, even to becoming sick, because of his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and it was hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.

3 And Amnon had a friend, and his name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother. And Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

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Chapter Summary

Amnon loves Tamar and pretends to be ill and he rapes her. Absalom comforts her. At a sheepshearing he kills Amnon. Absalom flees to Talmai at Geshur.

Key Hebrew Words

אָהֵב love H157 · TWOT 29
שָׂנֵא hate H8130 · TWOT 2272
עָנָה violate, humble H6031 · TWOT 1652
בְּתוּלָה virgin H1330 · TWOT 295a
נְבָלָה outrage, folly H5039 · TWOT 1285b
אָבַל mourn H56 · TWOT 6

People & Context

Amnon

David's firstborn who lusts for Tamar, feigns illness, violates her, then is killed at Absalom's feast.

Tamar

Absalom's beautiful sister, raped by Amnon and left desolate in her brother's house.

Absalom

David's son who shelters Tamar, has Amnon killed in revenge, then flees to Geshur.

David

The king, deceived into sending Tamar to Amnon; angered by the crime and mourns over the report.

Jonadab

Shimeah's son, David's shrewd nephew who schemes Amnon's plot and later reassures the king.

Talmai

King of Geshur, son of Ammihud, to whom Absalom flees for three years.

Timeline

Amnon Lusts for Tamar

Amnon, David's son, falls deeply in love with his half-sister Tamar, becoming physically ill because she is a virgin and inaccessible.

2 Samuel 13:1-2
Jonadab's Scheme

Amnon's shrewd friend Jonadab advises him to pretend to be sick and ask King David to send Tamar to prepare food for him in his sight.

2 Samuel 13:3-5
Tamar Sent to Amnon

Amnon feigns illness; David sends Tamar to Amnon's house where she prepares and bakes cakes for him.

2 Samuel 13:6-8

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