2 Samuel 13
13:1 a Absalom had a beautiful sister: Tamar was Absalom’s full sister but Amnon’s half sister (see 3:2-3 b). Absalom would later avenge Tamar as her nearest relative (13:23-29 c; cp. Gen 34 d; Num 35:19 e).13:2 f obsessed ... ill: As the story reveals, Amnon’s “love” (13:4 g) for Tamar was a sickly erotic obsession.
• She was a virgin: Amnon’s fixation deepened because Tamar was sexually untouched.
• thought he could never have her: The law prohibited marriage between brother and sister (Lev 18:9 h, 11 i; 20:17 j; Deut 27:22 k). But Amnon did not want to marry Tamar; he only wanted to have sex with her.
13:3 l crafty (literally wise): Jonadab’s “wisdom” was akin to the serpent’s shrewdness (Gen 3:1 m).
• In the context of a royal court, the Hebrew term for friend is closer to “counselor” or “adviser.”
13:4 n morning after morning: Amnon’s obsession was all-consuming and ongoing.
13:12 o wicked things: The Hebrew word nebalah (“outrage,” “deplorable act”) often describes sexual crimes such as rape and adultery (Gen 34:7 p; Deut 22:21 q; Judg 20:6 r, 10 s; Jer 29:23 t) that the perpetrator must pay for with his life.
• in Israel: The addition of this phrase either indicates indignation that the crime happened among Israelites or characterizes the act as a violation of Israelite standards of sexual morality.
13:13 u he will let you marry me: Tamar said this to gain time; Amnon knew that the law prohibited marriage between half siblings (see study note on 13:2), and he refused to back off.
13:14 v since he was stronger: Tamar resisted as much as she could.
13:15 w That Amnon’s feelings for Tamar so quickly turned to hate shows that his so-called “love” for her (13:4 x) was really only selfish lust.
13:16 y worse than what you’ve already done: A virgin who had been raped became unmarriageable (13:20 z; see Deut 22:28-29 aa).
13:18 ab a long, beautiful robe: The same phrase is used to describe Joseph’s robe in Gen 37:3 ac.
13:19 ad Tamar tore her robe to symbolize the violation of her virginity and honor and to mourn the death of her future (13:16 ae).
• Ashes represented death; sitting amid ashes or putting ashes on one’s head were signs of mourning (Esth 4:1-3 af; Job 42:6 ag; Dan 9:3 ah; Jon 3:6 ai).
13:20 aj keep quiet for now ... Don’t you worry about it: Absalom’s words of comfort seem hollow in light of her disgrace and mourning; this toned-down response hid Absalom’s rage (13:22 ak) from the already distraught Tamar.
• as a desolate woman: See study note on 13:16.
13:21 al King David ... was very angry: But he apparently never punished Amnon—as in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version, which add that it was because he loved Amnon. Another possibility is that as an adulterer himself (see 11:1–12:24 am), David considered himself in no position to punish his son’s sexual sin. A third possibility is that David thought this was God’s “eye for an eye” punishment for his own sexual indiscretion.
13:23 an Baal-hazor should not be confused with the famous fortified city of Hazor located north of the Sea of Galilee. The generally accepted location of Baal-hazor is Jebel el-Asur, some fifteen miles north of Jerusalem.
• a feast: Sheep shearing was a time for sharing bounty and blessing with others (see 1 Sam 25:2-8 ao).
13:31 ap David tore his robe, as Tamar had done after being violated (13:19 aq)—a sign of great distress or remorse (see also Gen 37:34 ar).
Summary for 2Sam 13:34-39: 13:34-39 as Absalom, now a fugitive, sought refuge among his mother’s family.
13:37 at fled to his grandfather: See 3:3 au.
• Geshur was in Aram, northeast of Israel’s territory (see 15:8 av; Josh 13:13 aw).
13:39 ax And King David: Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read And the spirit of the king.
• longed to be reunited with his son Absalom: David’s grief over Amnon’s death was evidently alleviated; any desire David might have had to execute Absalom had dissipated.
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