21 Amnon and Tamar

March 28, 2024   /   HARVEST CHAPEL ORANGE COUNTY

After the birth of Solomon, chapter twelve end s with the account of a battle between Israel and the Ammonites.

However, what makes the account interesting, is that as was seen in the prior chapter, David was not leading the troops into battle, but remained at home in Jerusalem:

1 Victory at Rabbah

2 Samuel 12:26-31

David was still showing a reticence to lead the army in battle, but left those duties to Joab, while David remained in his palace in Jerusalem.

In this account, Joab had Israel’s army on the verge of complete victory, but he decided to coerce David into joining the army for the final phase of the battle. Joab did so, by stating that unless David were present, the people would give him (Joab) full credit and might even rename the capitol city after him. Those comments were apparently enough to cause David to decide to join his troops, whereby he led them in the final portion of the battle.

Israel carried away great wealth from the Ammonites, and David then put the Ammonite survivors to forced labor.

2 Misplaced Desire

2 Samuel 13:1-4

Absalom and his sister Tamar were the children of David and his wife Maacah, while Amnon was David’s first-born son, from his wife Ahinoam.

Amnon claimed to “love” his sister, however, it certainly didn’t qualify as love, as biblical defined:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Rather than it being love, Amnon’s actions more accurately could be defined as being lustful, which is defined as “an inordinate misplaced desire for something or someone”.

In verse 2, Amnon was so distressed that he couldn’t fulfill his desire to be with his half-sister Tamar, that he became sick.

Tamar was described as being a “virgin” which meant that she was an unmarried young woman of marriageable age. However, because she was Amnon’s sister, it would have been illegal for them to marry.

Amnon’s close friend Jonadab (who was also his cousin) observed how Amnon was losing weight, and wanted to know why that was the case, since as the king’s son, he would have had the choicest food to eat.

Amnon responded that he was sick because of his unfulfilled love for his sister.

3 Deceit and Sinful Actions

Rather than attempting to dissuade Amnon from his misplaced and sinful desires, Jonadab suggested the deceitful plan by which Amnon might trick his sister into participating in the sinful plan:

2 Samuel 13:5-14

The plan entailed Amnon pretending to be so sick, that David would then go to check on his son. Amnon would then ask his father to have Tamar come to his home and to not only prepare a meal for him, but to feed him as well.

Amazingly, David didn’t see through his son’s deceit, but went along with Amnon’s request.

For her part, Tamar was both obedient and innocent, and therefore also complied.

After Tamar prepared the food, Amnon refused to eat, with others in his home, and had everyone other than Tamar dismissed.

He then demanded that Tamar bring the food to his bedroom, and to feed him there. In verse 11, knowing they were alone, he showed his true intentions:

2 Samuel 13:11

This proved that he really didn’t “love” Tamar, as he took hold of her as he made his lewd request, showing his intent to even exert physical force upon her.

As with David’s adultery and murder, Amnon’s sin shows how easily it is for anyone to become ensnared in sin:

Hebrews 12:1

Tamar told her brother, that what he wanted to do was “disgraceful”. The reason it was disgraceful, was because it was a clear affront against God’s Word:

Leviticus 20:17

The Law also prohibited marriages between half-brothers and sisters:

Leviticus 18:11

Even so, in here desperate attempt to keep Amnon from sexually assaulting her, Tamar suggested that he speak with their father, that possibly David would allow for her to be given to Amnon in marriage.

However, verse 14 shows that Amnon wasn’t dissuaded, and forced himself upon his sister, thus following through with his wicked desires and plan.

4 Varied Emotions

2 Samuel 13:15-2

Amnon proved that his so-called love wasn’t true, as the passage showed that he “hated” Tamar after sexually assaulting her.

Some commentators believe that Amnon was upset that Tamar hadn’t displayed any emotional affection toward him and hadn’t willingly complied with his actions. Therefore, his new emotion toward her was hatred.

Amnon had her removed from the home, whereby Tamar tore her special garment, one which distinguished her as the virgin daughter of the king. She also put ashes upon her head, signifying that she was mourning the loss of her virginity.

Tamar was too embarrassed to immediately go home but went to her brother Absalom’s home where she remained.

When David found out about the incident, verse 21 states that he became “very angry”.

As for Absalom, he didn’t readily show any outward emotions, however that would all soon change.

 

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