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2 SAMUEL 13

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

1. This chapter is a sad fulfillment of 2 Sam. 12:10-12.
   
   
2. David's family became cursed with sexual sins.
   1. Amnon and Tamar (cf. 2 Samuel 13; the Jewish Study Bible, p. 640, says "Tamar's rape is seen as punishment for David, corresponding to his adultery").
   2. Absalom and David's concubines (cf. 2 Sam. 15:16; 16:21-22)
   3. Solomon in his old age and his pagan wives (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:1-8)
   
   
3. This chapter clearly illustrates the difference between love and lust.
   
   
4. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 641, says
    "Absalom murders Amnon to avenge his sister's rape. The murder is a punishment not only for Amnon, but also for David for his murder of Uriah."
   
   
5. This episode is omitted in Chronicles, as are most of the negative things related to David and his reign.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:1-6
  ¹Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her. ²Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. ³But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. ⁴He said to him, "O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" Then Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom." ⁵Jonadab then said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.'" ⁶So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

13:1 "Absalom" He was the third oldest son of David.

1. Amnon ‒ 2 Sam. 3:2
2. Chileab ‒ 2 Sam. 3:3 (called Daniel in 1 Chr. 3:2, who must have died early)
3. Absalom ‒ 2 Sam. 3:3
4. Adonijah ‒ 2 Sam. 3:4

David's sin affected all of these children.

▣ "Tamar" This name (BDB 1071 II; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 308-309) means "date palm." OT women were often named after trees. The date palm's silhouette looked like a woman's form (cf. Song of Songs 7:7).

Notice the dramatic swing from

1. love (BDB 12, KB 17) in vv. 1,4,15 (twice)
2. hate (BDB 971, KB 1338) in v. 15 (twice)

The MT has the VERB (BDB 864 I. B., KB 1058; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 854, #1), which literally means "to bind," "to tie up," or "to be restricted." Emotionally he was in a cramped place. He could not think of anything else (NJB). The text does not mention if he was married but being the first in line for the throne, probably he was.

▣ "she was a virgin" This term (BDB 143) is used to show

1. she was of marriageable age
2. she was strictly guarded by palace servants and was not allowed any private contact with a man, even her half-brother (Josephus, Antiq. 7.8.1)
3. this heightens David's poor decision to order her to go to Amnon's house (v. 7; apparently all the kings sons had their own residences)

The ADJECTIVE "shrewd" (BDB 314, #3) denotes a wisdom or skill, but in some contexts it is a skill toward evil or trickery (i.e., 2 Sam. 14:2; Job 5:13).

13:4 "O son of the king" He was one of several sons but he was the firstborn and was, therefore, in line for the throne. He had a special standing which came with special privileges and power.

13:5-6 What a sad piece of advice! What a tragedy! Maybe Jonadab expected Amnon to marry her.

13:6 "cakes" This root (BDB 525, KB 516 II; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 519-521) is found only in this chapter. It could refer to pancakes or dumplings (AB). It was food for a sick person.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:7-14
  ⁷Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him." ⁸So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. ⁹She took the pan and dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Have everyone go out from me." So everyone went out from him. ¹⁰Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. ¹¹When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." ¹²But she answered him, "No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing! ¹³As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you." ¹⁴However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

The MT has the VERB (BDB 427, KB 428, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) which usually means " to pour" or "to empty." The Hebrew word describing the food she made is uncertain. See note at v. 6. KB suggests "to dispense food" (cf. 2 Kgs. 4:40).

Remember, context, not a lexicon, determines meaning. Words have meaning only in sentences and sentences have meaning only in paragraphs. A paragraph (or strophe) is the smallest literary unit in determining word meaning/usage!

13:12-13 Tamar offers good advice, unlike Jonadab.

It is interesting that "Tamar" is also the name of a woman in Genesis 38, which also involves unusual sexual elements.

13:12 "for such a thing is not done in Israel" See Leviticus 20:17.

The MT has the FEMININE NOUN (BDB 615) from the root "act foolishly" (BDB 614, cf. v. 13; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 11-12). Here are some examples.

1. Gen. 34:7 ‒ Shechem rapes Dinah
2. Deut. 22:21 ‒ a husband accuses his new wife of not being a virgin
3. Jdgs. 19:23; 20:6 ‒ used of the people of Sodom
4. Jer. 29:23 ‒ used of false prophets and fertility worship
5. Nabal of 1 Samuel 25 is the noun form of this root, see especially v. 25

13:13 "As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach" Tamar had no cultural options after being raped but to stay unmarried. Amnon was thinking only of himself! He saw her as an object, not a person, a sister!

The UBS Handbook, p. 875, mentions the emphatic PRONOUNS "me" and "you." "What about me?" What about you?" This impetuous act would affect both of them and their family for life!

▣ "please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you" Lust looks only at the immediate gratification! It violates all logic, all people, for its own desires!

The term "please" translates a PARTICIPLE of request or prayer. It is also used in vv. 6,24,26.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:15-19
  ¹⁵Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up, go away!" ¹⁶But she said to him, "No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!" Yet he would not listen to her. ¹⁷Then he called his young man who attended him and said, "Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her." ¹⁸Now she had on a long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. ¹⁹Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her long-sleeved garment which was on her; and she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

13:15-17 It amazes me how "love" so quickly turns to "hate." Tamar now brings to mind Amnon's terrible deed! She is chased out of the house and the door locked. Culturally, this was even worse than the act itself (v. 16)!

13:15 This verse is very emphatic.

1. Qal IMPERFECT with waw of hated (BDB 971, KB 1338)
2. NOUN form of hate
3. Qal PERFECT of hated
4. with ADJECTIVE and ADVERB "with very great hate"

13:17 "this woman" This was a gesture of contempt. He did not even use his half-sister's name! Josephus, Antiq. 7.8.1, suggests that she asked to wait until evening to send her away so that she would not be seen but Amnon refused.

This same term is used of Joseph's special coat given to him by Jacob. Below is my note from Gen. 37:3:

"The etymology of this Hebrew term (BDB 509 CONSTRUCT 821) is uncertain. Usually a tunic was a short-sleeved work garment which extended to the knees of men and women. It seems that this special tunic was either full-length, from the palms to the ankles (BDB 821), or multi-colored (LXX). Either way, it was obviously not a work garment. The only other reference to this tunic is in 2 Sam. 13:8, where Tamar wore the same type of garment, which is described as being appropriate for the virgin daughters of the king, therefore, implying royalty. It is possible that Joseph felt that his father knew he was to be the son of promise because Reuben had been disqualified due to his sexual impropriety with Jacob's concubine and Simeon and Levi for the slaughter of Shechem (Genesis 34, cf. Gen. 35:22).

From The IVP Bible Background Commentary (p. 68):

"Egyptian paintings of this period depict well-dressed Canaanites as wearing long-sleeved, embroidered garments with a fringed scarf wrapped diagonally from waist to knee."

The MT has "in robes" but a very similar word means "from of old" (Josephus, Antiq. 7.8.1).

1. "in robes" ‒ מעילים
2. "from of old" ‒ מעולם

The UBS Text Project, p. 234, gives #1 (MT) an "A" rating (high probability).

13:19 Tamar began to grieve.

1. put ashes/dust on her head
2. tore her virgin garment
3. put her hand on her head (cf. Jer. 2:37 and possibly 14:3,4)
4. cried loudly

In 2 Sam. 13:31 David also exhibits some cultural symbols of mourning.

1. tore his clothes
2. lay on the ground

SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:20-22
  ²⁰Then Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart." So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom's house. ²¹Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. ²²But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

13:20 "Amnon" Like so many OT names (i.e., Jehonadab and Jonadab in this chapter), this one has two forms.

1. 2 Sam. 13:1 ‒ אמנון
2. 2 Sam. 13:20 ‒ אמינון

Why is uncertain unless

1. regional accents and pronunciations
2. regional scribes differed
3. copies of the book made orally (like NT)
4. possibly a diminutive form of disrespect (i.e., "little Amnon")

This is a Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE (BDB 1030, KB 1570) which is used of someone "appalled." NASB translates it as "desolate" in Isa. 49:8; 54:1; Lam. 1:13,16; 3:11; Ezek. 35:12, 36:4. The shame continues for Tamar!

13:21 David heard what had happened but did nothing. David was a great king but a terrible father.

The LXX and Vulgate add, "but he did not grieve the spirit of Amnon his son, for he kept loving him, for he was his firstborn."

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:23
  ²³Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

13:23 "sheepshearers" This was a time of rejoicing and partying (i.e., Genesis 38). He invited all of David's sons as a ruse to kill Amnon.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:24-27
  ²⁴Absalom came to the king and said, "Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant." ²⁵But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you." Although he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him. ²⁶Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" ²⁷But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

13:25 "burdensome" This is the NOUN kabod (BDB 457), which has a wide semantic field. Literally the root means "to be heavy," usually used of "honor" or "glory." Here, of too much work preparing such a large banquet.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT)

13:27 The LXX adds a concluding sentence, "and Absalom made a feast fit for a king." The UBS Text Project, p. 235, gives this addition as "A" rating (high probability).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:28-29
  ²⁸Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "See now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant." ²⁹The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled.

13:28 Absalom gives his servants several commands.

1. see ‒ BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal IMPERATIVE (i.e., when you see him drunk)
2. strike ‒ BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
3. do not fear ‒ BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense
4. be courageous ‒ BDB304, KB 302, Qal IMPERATIVE
5. be valiant ‒ the VERB "to be," BDB 224, KB 243, Qal IMPERATIVE with "valiant" (BDB 298)

13:29 "mule" Mules were the royal mount in the ANE (i.e., 2 Sam. 18:9; 1 Kgs. 1:33; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 675).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:30-33
  ³⁰Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, "Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left." ³¹Then the king arose, tore his clothes and lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. ³²Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, responded, "Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. ³³Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, 'all the king's sons are dead,' for only Amnon is dead."

13:30 How David got this false report is not stated. Apparently someone at the feast saw Amnon dead and imagined the worst. This servant must have left before the other princes.

13:32 This is the same brother of David, Jonadab, who had given advice to Amnon in v. 5. He knew what Absalom was planning to do, for he had planned it for two full years (v. 22). Apparently Absalom had told Jonadab his plans (i.e., v. 35), yet he had not revealed the plot to David.

The MT has the FEMININE NOUN (BDB 965), occurring only here. BDB suggests "token of unluckiness" or "scowl." However, most English translations have "determined." Absalom executed his two year old plan to kill Amnon.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:34-36
  ³⁴Now Absalom had fled. And the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. ³⁵Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons have come; according to your servant's word, so it happened." ³⁶As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.

13:34 This verse is somewhat uncertain in Hebrew but obviously a watchman saw the king's sons coming quickly to the palace.

The UBS Text Project has 3 pages of suggestions, pp. 235-237. There is a missing phrase in the MT which is found in the LXX.

There is also confusion over the place name in v. 34. The MT and LXX have "after him," but the UBS Text Project, p. 238, gives "Horonaim" (NRSV, TEV, REB) a "C" rating (considerable doubt). "Horonaim" is the same as Beth-honor (i.e., there are two cities in Ephraim by this same name; cf. Josh. 10:10,11; 16:3,5; 18:14; 21:22; 1 Chr. 6:68; 2 Chr. 8:5; 25:13).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 13:37-39
  ³⁷Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. ³⁸So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. ³⁹The heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

13:37 Absalom fled to the northern trans-Jordan area which David controlled. David could have forced him to return but he did not. Absalom picked this place because of its connection to his mother (cf. 2 Sam. 3:3).

13:39 After three years David wanted Absalom to return to the palace.

▣ "The heart of King David" The MT has the VERB (BDB 477, KB 476, Piel IMPERFECT with waw) which means "be complete" or "at an end." However, the LXX and DSS have "and the spirit of the King," which the UBS Text Project, p. 238, gives a "B" rating (some doubt). The MT does not fit this context as well as the LXX and DSS versions.

The word "spirit" and "David" are very similar.

1. spirit ‒ רוח
2. David ‒ דוד

This may be the common "r" - "d" confusion.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. In this period could a brother marry his half-sister?
2. Why is Amnon's action so horrendous?
3. Did Jonadab expect Amnon to marry Tamar?
4. List the three reasons Tamar gives why Amnon should not violate her.
5. List the signs of mourning in vv. 19,31.
6. Did Absalom act
   1. for his sister's honor
   2. to gain the throne
   3. both
7. Why did Absalom flee to Geshur?

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