Day 61: 2 Samuel 13:1–20

“Don’t, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don’t do this horrible thing!” (v. 12).

Sin never fails to bring painful repercussions. We will now see Nathan’s prophecy regarding David’s sin begin to find fulfillment. Turmoil will escalate within the private quarters of the palace, and David’s responses will reveal that he was a far more effective king than father.

If you already know what’s coming, you know Amnon’s actions were inexcusable, but can you imagine the confusing messages David’s children received as they grew up? They had siblings, half siblings, and siblings born to David’s concubines. They grew up in a household saturated by sexual excess and lacking any example of parental restraint. We can’t and must not excuse Amnon, but we can certainly understand.

These verses are replete with tragedy. The focus of this corruption was a beautiful young virgin daughter of the king, Tamar, no doubt awaiting the man she trusted God would one day bring her. Tamar’s brother was Absalom, and their half brother was named Amnon. Amnon was infatuated with Tamar. I believe he was used to getting whatever he wanted, with the result that he became obsessed with the one thing he could not have—his half sister.

The events in chapter 13 are scandalous even by today’s standards and as painful as the horrid descriptions of rapes we read in a big city newspaper. Amnon wanted Tamar. On the advice of his shrewd cousin Jonadab, Amnon pretended to be sick. He asked his father David to send Tamar to care for him. Then he raped her.

Those who have experienced the trauma of rape know the injury doesn’t end with the event. The actions and reactions of others multiply the pain. In this case, Amnon quickly added to the hurt: “Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her” (v. 15).

The tragic irony of Tamar’s dress also touches my heart (v. 19). The richly ornamented robe was her cloak of dignity and honor. She ripped the fabric of her robe as surely as Amnon had ripped the fabric of her honor. His crime against her was heinous. And her loss, incalculable.