2 Samuel 13-15

The Facts (Chapter number: Verse)

2 Samuel 13 - David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David's son Amnon fell in love with her. Amnon was so tormented he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. But Amnon's friend Jonadab was very crafty and asked Amnon what was wrong. Amnon told him of his love for his sister Tamar. Jonadab told Amnon that he should feign illness and when his father comes to ask him to bring Tamar to him, so she may prepare food in his sight and feed him from her hands. So Amnon feigned illness and asked the king to bring Tamar to him to make him food and feed him. David sent for Tamar and told her to go to Amnon's house and prepare him food. Tamar went to Amnon's house where he was laying down and made him cakes in his sight. WHen she gave the cakes to Amnon he refused to eat and told everyone else to leave him. Amnon told Tamar to bring the food into his chamber. But when she brought him the food Amnon took hold of her. "Come lie with me, my sister." Tamar replied, "No my brother, do not force me for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do anything so vile! As for me, where could I carry my shame> As for you, you would be as one of the scoundrels in Israel. Now therefore, I beg you, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you." But Amnon would not listen and her forced her and lay with her.

Afterward Amnon was seized with a great loathing for her, a loathing that was even greater than his previous lust. Amnon told her to get out. Tamar said that sending her away was even worse than what he had just done to her. But he called his young man to send her out, which he did and bolted the door behind her. Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the robe she was wearing, she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud. Her brother Absalom asked her if Amnon had been with her. Her told her to be quiet, that Amnon was her brother and to not take what he did to heart. So Tamar remained a desolate women in Absalom's house. When David heard he became very angry but did not punish Amnon, for he loved him. But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amonon because he had raped his sister Tamar.
13:32 - Absalom has Amnon killed, and this had been determined by Absalom from the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

2 Samuel 14 - Joab son of Zerulah perceived that king David's mind was on Absalom. so he sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her to go to David and pretend to be a mourner, to put on mourning garments and to not anoint herself with oil. She needed to behave like a woman who had been mourning many days for the dead. He told her what to say when she went to the king.

The woman went to David and told him that her husband had died, and after that her two sons had fought and one had struck the other, killing him. Now her only son and the only heir to the family is going to be killed by the family to pay for the brother he killed. She asked David to help her in this matter. David told her he would give orders concerning her, and if anyone says anything to her to bring them to him and they shall touch her no longer. She asked David to keep the Lord their God in mind, so the avenger of blood will kill no more and her son will be spared. David told her that as the Lord lives no one shall touch a hair on her son's head. he woman is pleased with this, glad that the king has listened to her, saying the lord her king is like an angel of God, discerning good and evil. Then David asks her if Joab had anything to do with this. And the women told her that yes, Joab sent her to David and told him what to say.

15:16 - The king left followed by his whole household, except ten concubines whom he left behind to look after the house.

My Comments

Yeah, Chapter 14 was really confusing the first time I read through it. I had no clue what this random women had to do with anything that was going on. But after reading it again I realized Joab was tricking David into forgiving his own son. I see what you did there, Bible.

Just in case you were getting bored here's another wonderful rape story to amuse us, the audience. This time incest rape. Double trouble. But there's not much new to it other than that. Amnon rapes Tamar, Amnon basically gets to continue living his life as normal and Tamar is left to live as a "desolate" woman in her brother's house her whole life since she is now ruined and is not longer good for marrying. David can't even get himself to be angry about Amnon raping his sister. Apparently David loved Amnon so much more than his daughter Tamar. And then when Absalom, the only one who hates Amnon after all this, does something about it (go Absalom!) David gets upset at Absalom for avenging Tamar. David is so upset he has to be tricked into forgiving Absalom. I mean holy shit, people get killed for doing ANYTHING in the Bible. If you commit adultery, killed. Steal something, killed. Pick up sticks on the Sabbath, killed. Rape your own sister, apparently killing is not the appropriate action to take.

Just kinda dumb. At least Absalom had sense enough to hate Amnon after Tamar's rape. I don't think I'm ever going to like David.

Tomorrow: 2 Samuel 16-18