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2 Samuel 13

39 verses

TL;DR

Amnon rapes his half‑sister Tamar, leading to his murder by Absalom and the death of David's sons, which shakes the kingdom.

Summary

Amnon, the son of King David, becomes obsessed with his half‑sister Tamar and, with the help of his friend Jonadab, feigns illness to get her alone. He forces himself on her, which angers him deeply and drives him to reject her. Tamar, desolate, is left in Absalom's home, and David learns of the crime, becoming furious. Absalom, resenting Amnon, gathers his sheep‑shearers and commands them to kill Amnon and all of King David's sons, but only Amnon is killed. The king mourns, and Jonadab tries to assure him that only Amnon died, but the tragedy remains. Absalom flees to Geshur, where he stays for three years, and David mourns his son every day.

Outline
  1. Amnon's plotted rape of Tamar and its aftermath
  2. Absalom's vengeance: killing Amnon and the king’s sons
  3. David’s grief, Absalom’s flight to Geshur
Themes
family betrayal and incestviolence versus justiceroyal responsibility and mourning
Keywords
rapevengeancekingbloodjusticemurderfamilyviolencesin
People
DavidAbsalomTamarAmnonJonadabShimeahTalmaiAmmihudKing's sons
Places
IsraelBaalhazorEphraimGeshur
Things
cakesmeatgarmentsashesmulesblood
Key Verses
  • 2 Samuel 13:1: Introduces the tragic background and characters.
  • 2 Samuel 13:14: The moment of violence that initiates the conflict.
  • 2 Samuel 13:28: Absalom’s decisive command to kill Amnon.
  • 2 Samuel 13:31: David’s profound grief reflecting the kingdom’s instability.
  • 2 Samuel 13:32: Jonadab’s attempt to correct the king’s misunderstanding.
Questions
  • What does this narrative reveal about the nature of justice within a royal household?
  • How does the king’s response to the crime reflect his role as a leader?
  • In what ways does family betrayal influence the stability of the kingdom?
  • What ethical lessons can be drawn about handling accusations of sexual violence?
Sentiment

negative
The chapter depicts sexual assault, murder, and deep mourning, indicating a profoundly tragic tone.