Bible Commentaries

Amnon falls in love with his half-sister Tamar, and feigns himself sick, and requests her to attend him, 2 Samuel 13:1-6. David sends her to him, and he violates her, 2 Samuel 13:7-14. He then hates her, and expels her from his house, 2 Samuel 13:15-17, She rends her garments, puts ashes on her head, and goes forth weeping, 2 Samuel 13:18, 2 Samuel 13:19. She is met by Absalom her brother, who, understanding her case, determines the death of Amnon, 2 Samuel 13:20-22. Two years after, he invites all his brothers to a sheep-shearing, when he orders his servants to murder Amnon, 2 Samuel 13:23-29. Tidings come to David that Absalom has slain all the king's sons, which fill him with the bitterest distress, 2 Samuel 13:30, 2 Samuel 13:31. The rest soon arrive, and he finds that Amnon only is killed, 2 Samuel 13:32-36. Absalom flees to Talmai, king of Geshur, where he remains three years, 2 Samuel 13:37, 2 Samuel 13:38. David longs after Absalom, having become reconciled to the death of Amnon, 2 Samuel 13:39.

Whose name was Tamar - Tamar was the daughter of David and Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur, and the uterine sister of Absalom. Amnon was David's eldest son by Ahinoam. She was therefore sister to Amnon only by the father's side, i.e., half-sister; but whole sister to Absalom.

Amnon was so vexed - for she was a virgin - It has been well remarked that "the passion of love is nowhere so wasting and vexatious, as where it is unlawful. A quick sense of guilt, especially where it is enormous, as in the present instance, strikes the soul with horror; and the impossibility of an innocent gratification loads that horror with desperation: a conflict too cruel and too dreadful for human bearing." - Delaney.

Jonadab was a very subtle man - And most diabolic advice did he give to his cousin. We talk of the simplicity and excellence of primitive times! "Say not thou what is the cause that the former days were better than these." Take them altogether, we may thank God that they are past, and pray him that they may never return.

Nay, my brother - There is something exceedingly tender and persuasive in this speech of Tamar; but Amnon was a mere brute, and it was all lost on him.

Speak unto the king - So it appears that she thought that the king, her father, would give her to him as wife. This is another strong mark of indelicacy in those simple but barbarous times. There might have been some excuse for such connections under the patriarchal age, but there was none now. But perhaps she said this only to divert him from his iniquitous purpose, that she might get out of his hands.

Hated her exceedingly - Amnon's conduct to his sister was not only brutal but inexplicable. It would be easy to form conjectures concerning the cause, but we can arrive at no certainty.

A garment of divers colors - See the note on Genesis 37:3, where the same words occur.