2 SAMUEL LESSON 14

     We will begin this lesson in II Samuel 13:1 "And it came to pass
after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose
name [was] Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her."

     Tamar was the daughter of Maacah. David had married Maacah, while
he was in Hebron. Absalom and Tamar were full brother and sister. They
had the same mother and the same father. David was their father. Amnon
was half-brother to Tamar. His father was David, but his mother was
Ahinoam of Jezreel. Amnon was David's first son. One bad thing about
having more than one wife is there are many children. Some of them not
very closely related, but living in the same house. It appears that,
Amnon fell in love with his half-sister, Tamar.

     II Samuel 13:2 "And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his
sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for
him to do any thing to her."

     Amnon must have been older than Tamar. He was the oldest of
David's children. I would assume that Tamar is somewhere around 15 or
16. Amnon wanted to sleep with his sister, but she was in the women's
quarters with her mother, and he could not get her out of there. He,
also, knew that he would be in terrible trouble, if he raped her. The
sad thing is that he was not thinking of her good, but his desires. He
thought about it so much, he was sick.

     II Samuel 13:3 "But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab,
the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtil
man."

     Jonadab was David's nephew. "Subtil" here means clever, wise or
cunning. Amnon did not go to an elder for advice. He went to someone
his own age. This is a mistake.

     II Samuel 13:4 "And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the
king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon
said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

     The girls were kept very secluded in those days, so Jonadab,
probably, had never seen her. Amnon explains that she is whole brother
to Absalom. His love {lust} for Tamar had him not wanting to eat, and
he was very thin. Jonadab did not understand why a king's son would be
so thin, until he heard Amnon" story.

     II Samuel 13:5 "And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy
bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee,
say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat,
and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see [it], and eat [it] at
her hand."

     The daughters lived in a separated place with their mothers. They
did not, generally, come in direct contact with the young men. The
older sons seemed to have separate quarters of their own in the
palace. This pretense that he is sick, is to get Tamar away from her
mother, and into his private quarters. The terrible thing is he uses
his father, David, to help him with his plot.

     II Samuel 13:6  "So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and
when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray
thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my
sight, that I may eat at her hand."

     We see that, Amnon took the advice, and David did come to see
about him, thinking he was truly sick. He said to David, exactly what
his friend had told him to.

     II Samuel 13:7 "Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to
thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat."

     David did not suspicion that anything was wrong. He did just as
Amnon had asked. The word of the father was like law, so Tamar did as
she was told.

     II Samuel 13:8 "So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and
he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded [it], and made cakes
in his sight, and did bake the cakes."  II Samuel 13:9 "And she took a
pan, and poured [them] out before him; but he refused to eat. And
Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from
him."

     The trick has worked, and Tamar is in his house. She is obeying
David, fixing a meal for her brother. He could not rape her in front
of witnesses, so he sent everyone out but her.

     II Samuel 13:10 "And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into
the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes
which she had made, and brought [them] into the chamber to Amnon her
brother." II Samuel 13:11 "And when she had brought [them] unto him to
eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my
sister."

     Now, the truth is out. He was not hungry for food, he wanted to
sleep with her.

     II Samuel 13:12 "And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not
force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou
this folly."

     Hebrew women were very careful to keep their reputation
unspotted. Adultery was punishable by death. Worse than adultery is
incest. This is the very sin he wants to commit here. This is one of
the blackest marks on our society today. Incest is practiced in over
1/4 of the homes. God has strictly forbidden this type of relationship
with members of one's own family. To force her, would be rape. That,
also, is punishable by death. This would bring disgrace on David's
family.

     II Samuel 13:13 "And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and
as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now
therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold
me from thee."

     Tamar is trying to talk him out of committing so deplorable a
sin. She reminds him that his reputation, as well as her own will be
ruined, if he does this. Her last advice is that, if he is in love
with her, go tell David, the king, and he will let them marry. The
Levitical law forbid such marriages, however. Leviticus 18:9 "The
nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of
thy mother, [whether she be] born at home, or born abroad, [even]
their nakedness thou shalt not uncover."

     II Samuel 13:14 "Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice:
but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her."

     His feelings toward her were lust, and not true love. Love does
not violate someone else. There is no good that could come from him
raping his sister. This is some of the violence that came to the house
of David in punishment for his sin.

     II Samuel 13:15  "Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the
hatred wherewith he hated her [was] greater than the love wherewith he
had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone."

     As we said above, he had never loved her. He lusted for her body.
The deed done, this would be replaced by hate. Every time he looked at
her he would be reminded of the terrible sin he had committed. He no
longer desires her, so he tries to send her away.

     II Samuel 13:16 "And she said unto him, [There is] no cause: this
evil in sending me away [is] greater than the other that thou didst
unto me. But he would not hearken unto her."  II Samuel 13:17 "Then he
called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this
[woman] out from me, and bolt the door after her."

     He has humiliated her. His sending her away is saying, that this
was all her fault. He has no compassion for her feelings at all. At
least he could marry her and save her good name. In addition to
committing the sin of rape, he had also lied. He told her that he
loved her, when in fact he had no regard at all for her. She was a
thing to be used and thrown away. The worst thing of all is having the
other men to throw her out.

     II Samuel 13:18 "And [she had] a garment of divers colours upon
her: for with such robes were the king's daughters [that were] virgins
apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door
after her."

     The servant would have known that this was a daughter of the
king, because of the colorful garment. This is the actions of a very
selfish man. He did not want to share in the shame he caused her.

     II Samuel 13:19  "And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her
garment of divers colours that [was] on her, and laid her hand on her
head, and went on crying."

     We see that Tamar did not try to hide the shame. The throwing of
the ashes on her head, showed that she was mourning for her lost
virginity. The tearing of the clothes, that the virgins wore, showed
that she was no more a virgin.

     II Samuel 13:20 "And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath
Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister:
he [is] thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate
in her brother Absalom's house."

     Absalom comforted his sister. He stopped her from causing a big
commotion over this terrible thing. He was in hopes that David would
take care of this, being her father. It appears that, Tamar remained
in Absalom's quarters, to keep down trouble and the gossip spreading.
We will find later, that Absalom did not forget this humiliation of
his sister by Amnon. Whatever Amnon gets, he deserves for so terrible
a sin.

     II Samuel 13:21  "But when king David heard of all these things,
he was very wroth."

     He was angry, but what did he do? At the least, Amnon should have
been cut of from his people. Probably, the reason David did not punish
Amnon, is the fact that he had sinned so greatly himself.

     II Samuel 13:22 "And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither
good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his
sister Tamar."

     Absalom was waiting for the right time. He did not do anything
immediately, but would later. He hated Amnon for his disgrace of his
sister. It appears that, Absalom did not push David to punish Amnon,
thinking he would find a time to do it himself.

     II Samuel 13:23  "And it came to pass after two full years, that
Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which [is] beside Ephraim:
and Absalom invited all the king's sons."

     We learned in another lesson, that this particular time was a
time of parties and rejoicing. The two years that Absalom waited was
to find just the right time to get even with Amnon for disgracing his
sister. This was about 8 miles out of Jerusalem, and would not have
been far for the king's sons to come.

     II Samuel 13:24 "And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold
now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and
his servants go with thy servant."  II Samuel 13:25 "And the king said
to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable
unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed
him."
     David would not go to the party himself, but he would allow his
sons to go, and celebrate with Absalom. David gave him a large gift of
some kind. That is what is meant by the blessing.

     II Samuel 13:26 "Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my
brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go
with thee?"

     David, probably, sensed the hate that Absalom had for Amnon. That
is why he asked, why he should go?

     II Samuel 13:27 "But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and
all the king's sons go with him."

     This was a time for the young sons of David to celebrate and he
relented and let Amnon, and in fact, all the sons go.

     II Samuel 13:28 "Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying,
Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto
you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you?
be courageous, and be valiant."

     Absalom has been waiting for just this moment for two years. He
has planned it with great detail. He had already explained to his
servants to wait, until Amnon is drunk, and then kill him. Absalom
will take the blame after it is over. Perhaps, he would not be able to
get as close as Absalom's servants could.

     II Samuel 13:29  "And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as
Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man
gat him up upon his mule, and fled."

     We see that the very thing that Absalom had commanded his
servants to do, they did. In those days, you could tell who the king's
sons were, because they all had a mule to ride. Amnon is dead, and all
of the other sons mount their mules, and hurry away. They left in such
a hurry, thinking they might be the next one killed.

     II Samuel 13:30  "And it came to pass, while they were in the
way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the
king's sons, and there is not one of them left."  II Samuel 13:31 "
Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and
all his servants stood by with their clothes rent."

     The sons had not made it back to David, but news came that all of
David's other sons had been killed by Absalom. David prayed this was
not true. He went into deep mourning immediately, and all of his
servants with him. He tore his clothes, and lay face down before God,
praying this news is not true.

     II Samuel 13:32 "And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother,
answered and said, Let not my lord suppose [that] they have slain all
the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the
appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he
forced his sister Tamar." II Samuel 13:33 "Now therefore let not my
lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the
king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead."

     This is the same Jonadab, that helped Amnon trick Tamar to his
house. He knew that the rape of Tamar had never been paid for, and
that her brother Absalom has done that now. His hate was not for all
of the brothers, it was just for one who disgraced his sister.
Jonadab, probably, did not know of the plot, but he was aware of the
details of the sin that Amnon committed. He, probably, had realized
the hate that Absalom had let build up inside for his brother Amnon.

     II Samuel 13:34 "But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept
the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much
people by the way of the hill side behind him."

     Absalom was afraid for his own life, because he killed Amnon. He
fled to his grandfather for protection. These are the mules carrying
the sons of David coming.

     II Samuel 13:35 "And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the
king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is."

     Jonadab did not volunteer the fact that the whole plot of Amnon's
was his idea. He does speak here, that David's other sons are coming.
He knew that he was right, that Absalom had killed no one by Amnon.

     II Samuel 13:36 "And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an
end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up
their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very
sore."

     The weeping was in mourning for Amnon, but it is plain that David
realizes, this too, is punishment for him killing Uriah, and taking
his wife. The sword is, indeed, present in the life of David, within
his own home. They all wept for the loss of Amnon.

     II Samuel 13:37  "But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son
of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every
day."

     Talmai was the father of Absalom's mother. This would be a safe
place. David knew in his heart that, again, he had made a mistake. If
he had punished Amnon properly, he would still be alive, and Absalom
would not be a fugitive from his own father.

     II Samuel 13:38 "So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was
there three years." II Samuel 13:39 "And [the soul of] king David
longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning
Amnon, seeing he was dead."

     David understood why Absalom had done this thing. After Absalom
was gone three years, David longed to see him, because he loved him.
David blames himself, not Absalom, for the death of Amnon.
                        2 Samuel 14 Questions


1.  What was the name of the sister of Absalom?
2.  Who does verse 1 say, loved her?
3.  What relation was Tamar to Amnon?
4.  How badly does verse 2 say, Amnon wanted Tamar?
5.  Why did he not have access to Tamar?
6.  He is not thinking of her good, but his ___________.
7.  What was the name of Amnon's friend?
8.  What advice did he give Amnon?
9.  Who actually sent for Tamar to come to Amnon's quarters?
10. What was she supposed to be in Amnon's house for?
11. When he asked her to come lie with him, what answer did she give
    him?
12. Incest is practiced in over _______ of the homes in America.
13. Adultery, or rape, was punishable by __________.
14. Quote Leviticus chapter 18 verse 9.
15. What did she tell him to do, if he truly loved her?
16. His feelings toward her were _________, not true love.
17. After he had raped her, how did his feelings change?
18. What did she say was a greater sin, than what he had done?
19. What did he do in reply to that?
20. How were the king's virgin daughters dressed?
21. What did the servant do to her?
22. How did Tamar mourn?
23. Who found her, and told her to not regard the thing?
24. How did David react, when he heard of what happened?
25. Absalom hated ___________.
26. What went on at sheepshearing time?
27. Did David go with Absalom?
28. Who did David let go with Absalom to celebrate?
29. What had Absalom told his servants to do, when Amnon got drunk?
30. What bad news came to David about his sons?
31. Who told David, that it was just Amnon who was dead?
32. What did David's sons ride?
33. Where did Absalom go for safety?