2 Samuel 13:1-2

The Rape of Tamar

13:1 Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. In the course of time David’s son Amnon fell madly in love with her. ¹  13:2 But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick ²  over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.

2 Samuel 13:7-8

13:7 So David sent Tamar to the house saying, “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.” 13:8 So Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, made some cakes while he watched, ³  and baked them. ⁴ 

2 Samuel 13:19

13:19 Then Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing as she went.

2 Samuel 14:27

14:27 Absalom had ⁵  three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman. ⁶ 

[13:1]  ¹ tn Heb “Amnon the son of David loved her.” The following verse indicates the extreme nature of his infatuation, so the translation uses “madly in love” here.

[13:2]  ² tn Heb “and there was distress to Amnon so that he made himself sick.”

[13:8]  ³ tn Heb “in his sight.”

[13:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “the cakes.”

[14:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “and there were born.”

[14:27]  ⁵ tc The LXX adds here the following words: “And she became a wife to Rehoboam the son of Solomon and bore to him Abia.”