2 Sa. 13: Note to Amnon

2 Samuel 13:15 "Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and get out!"

David had a son, Amnon, who made himself crazy with his longing for his sister, Tamar. I don't know if they were from the same mother, as the Bible doesn't say at this point. After some advice from his cousin, Jonadab, he feigns illness and requests that Tamar come in and prepare him some food. That would make him feel better, right? If he ate something. Anyway, Tamar goes in to take care of her brother out of her own love for him. Which, I assume to be the case. She was unassuming enough to be unaware of Amnon's feelings about her. She prepares everything right in front of him. She hid nothing from him. He then forces himself on her and rapes her. House of David - Libido. Sexual sin is clearly gaining a foothold in David's household. I would guess due to David's own peccadilloes.

Tamar's objections show she did not want to be a part of this sin, even reminding Amnon about their future reputations based from this one act. She brought up possible marriage with David's blessing. But Amnon was overcome with lust.

Realizing his act was horrible, he sent Tamar away. Threw her out was more like it. More concerned with his own reputation which was easily hidden than that of his sister's who could no longer wear the virgin's garment, and would have to bear the fruit of his sin. Violated, it would be obvious that Tamar was no longer pure.

I can only hope I was a better older brother than Absolom, who essentially told his sister Tamar not to worry about it, since Amnon was her brother. Why would he say this? Was he expecting this would be comforting? Was he even interested in comforting her? Was this worse than being raped by a total stranger?

Two years later, at a sheepshearing party, Absalom rallies his men, and his wait to avenge Tamar is complete. He orders his men to kill a drunken Amnon. Somehow word gets back to David that all his sons are dead. His scheming nephew, Jonadab, however gets it right...letting David know that it was only Amnon that was dead. I wonder how Jonadab felt about it, since it was he who put the "solution" in Amnon's mind.

Meanwhile, Solomon runs to the hills, runs for his life. After some time, David is consoled about the loss of his son Amnon, and longed to be with Absolom. Which is understandable. David wanted his son to return, after all, he loved him, and was willing (apparently) to forgive him despite this terrible wrong. It's kind of interesting that Absolom didn't try to defend his deed to David. David probably had an unexpected system of justice to most people.