2 Samuel 13: Tamar gets raped by her brother

Synopsis:

One of David’s sons, Absalom, had a beautiful sister namded Tamar.  Amnon, another of the son’s of David loved her. Ammon manages to get Tamar to take care of him when he is sick. He asks her to lie with him. She tells him, ask David, the king – he will surely give me to you. Amnon ignores her and rapes her. And then, he is as mad at her as he was in love with her and sends her away. She rips her clothes and weeps. Her brother Absalom finds out, as does David. Both are very mad. Absalom never speaks to his brother Amnon again.  Absalom gets all the brothers together for a sheepshearing and has his servants kill Amnon. David is upset, he thinks all his sons have been killed. Turns out it’s just Amnon. Absalom flees to Geushur.

In other words:

Tamar, one of the daughters of David, is raped by one of her half-brothers. Her full  blooded brother kills the rapist and flees.

Favorite bit:

2 Samuel 13:22 – An Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.  (Good for the brother to stand up for his sister.)

Least favorite bit:

2 Samuel 13:12-14 – Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done ... Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. (Incestuous rape.)

2nd least favorite bit:

2 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. (He rapes his sister and then – it’s her fault – lovely.)

Not sure about this:

2 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.  (Was David glad Absalom killed his brother the rapist, or upset?  I think he was glad.)

Moral Lesson Learned:

Don’t rape. (2 Samuel 13)