2 Samuel 13 1

2 Samuel 13:1 kjv

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 Samuel 13:1 nkjv

After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 Samuel 13:1 niv

In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.

2 Samuel 13:1 esv

Now Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her.

2 Samuel 13:1 nlt

Now David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 1 Meaning

This verse introduces a pivotal and tragic phase in King David's life and household. It establishes the central characters: Absalom, David's handsome son; Tamar, Absalom's beautiful sister and David's daughter; and Amnon, David's firstborn son. The verse subtly yet ominously states that "Amnon... loved her," setting the stage for an abhorrent act of sexual violence that will shatter the royal family and fulfill divine judgment against David. This "love" is immediately recognized by the discerning reader as an illicit, destructive obsession rather than true affection.

2 Samuel 13 1 Context

2 Samuel 13:1 marks the commencement of the internal "evil from your own house" (2 Sam 12:11) that Nathan the prophet declared would come upon David as a direct consequence of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Following a period of divine forgiveness yet inescapable earthly consequences for David's transgressions, this chapter plunges the reader into the unraveling of David's own household. The verse sets the stage for a chain of tragic events: Amnon's incestuous rape of Tamar, Absalom's vengeful murder of Amnon, Absalom's subsequent flight and eventual rebellion against David, and his tragic death. This narrative sequence dramatically illustrates the corrosive and ripple effect of sin, not only upon the individual but upon their family and even the nation. Culturally, royal families often faced challenges to succession and internal strife, but here, the specific nature of the moral failure points back directly to David's spiritual lapse.

2 Samuel 13 1 Word analysis

• Now it came to pass after this (וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי כֵן):

  • This phrase literally means "And it was after thus." It serves as a crucial narrative link, immediately connecting the events that follow to the preceding ones, particularly Nathan's prophecy and David's sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11-12. This is not just a chronological marker but a theological one, signaling the beginning of the promised judgment on David's house. It highlights divine sovereignty even amidst human sin and its consequences.

• Absalom the son of David (אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם בֶּן־דָּוִד֮):

  • Absalom (אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם / Avshalom): Meaning "my father is peace" or "father of peace." This name is highly ironic given Absalom's character development and his pivotal role in creating immense conflict and war, culminating in his rebellion against his father, David. The irony underscores the tragedy of the situation.
  • Son of David (בֶּן־דָּוִד֮ / ben-David): This phrase emphasizes his direct royal lineage and closeness to David, underscoring that the coming evil is "from David's own house."

• had a lovely sister (וְלוֹ אָחוֹת יָפָ֔ה):

  • Lovely (יָפָ֔ה / yafah): This Hebrew word denotes "beautiful," "fair," or "handsome." It often plays a significant role in biblical narratives as a catalyst for desire, temptation, and subsequent trouble (e.g., Eve, Sarai, Rachel, Bathsheba). Here, Tamar's physical attractiveness, through no fault of her own, tragically becomes the object of Amnon's destructive "love."
  • Sister (אָחוֹת / achot): The term underscores the familial relationship that is about to be gravely violated, heightening the perversity of Amnon's actions in the subsequent verses. This refers to a full sister from the same parents or a half-sister from the same father, as Tamar was David's daughter by Maacah, and Amnon by Ahinoam.

• whose name was Tamar (וּשְׁמָ֖הּ תָּמָר֙):

  • Tamar (תָּמָר֙ / Tamar): Means "date palm." Date palms are symbols of uprightness, grace, beauty, and fruitfulness in ancient Near Eastern culture. This name further highlights Tamar's attractiveness, adding to the pathos of her defilement. The name also echoes another "Tamar" in the Bible (Gen 38) who suffered injustice related to sexual integrity but ultimately brought forth the lineage of David, contrasting with the ruinous nature of this Tamar's story.

• and Amnon the son of David (וּלְאַמְנוֹן֙ בֶּן־דָּוִד֮):

  • Amnon (אַמְנוֹן֙ / Amnon): Means "faithful," "steadfast," or "trustworthy." This name, like Absalom's, is tragically ironic. Amnon, David's firstborn son and heir apparent, proves anything but faithful or trustworthy, particularly in his devastating act against his own half-sister. His actions signify betrayal on multiple levels—of family, trust, and divine law.
  • The son of David (בֶּן־דָּוִד֮ / ben-David): Reiteration of his direct paternal relationship with David, reinforcing his prominent position within the royal house and thus the severe nature of the coming scandal.

• loved her (אֲהֵבָ֑הּ / ahavah):

  • Loved (אֲהֵבָ֑הּ / ahavah): This is from the root אָהַב (ahav), commonly translated "to love." However, in the biblical narrative, "love" (ahavah) can range from genuine affection to intense physical desire, even obsessive lust. Given Amnon's subsequent actions in the chapter (rape, then immediate hatred), his "love" is clearly not the selfless, benevolent, covenantal love commanded by God (e.g., hesed). Instead, it represents a carnal, selfish, and ultimately destructive infatuation bordering on or encompassing obsession and lust. The narrative reveals that what Amnon felt was a perversion of true love, driven by selfish gratification.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "After this... son of David... lovely sister... Amnon... loved her": This progression of phrases quickly establishes the setting, the principal figures of conflict, and the destructive desire that will unleash a cascade of woes upon David's house, as prophesied. The carefully chosen, ironic names and the tragic nature of Tamar's beauty are integral to foreshadowing the events that follow, painting a picture of royal privilege combined with moral decay.

2 Samuel 13 1 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the complex power dynamics and succession issues within David's large, polygamous family. Amnon was the firstborn, a position of considerable authority and privilege. Tamar and Absalom were full siblings, united by a different mother (Maacah) than Amnon's (Ahinoam). This detail regarding their different mothers is important for understanding family loyalties and animosities. The "love" of Amnon is purely an inward desire, initially hidden, but foreshadows the great pain and suffering that David will endure directly from his own lineage. This episode marks the real beginning of the fulfillment of Nathan's words, not in a general sense of misfortune, but in specific, heinous acts committed by David's own children against each other, profoundly affecting his reputation and reign.

2 Samuel 13 1 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:1 introduces the opening chapter of the dark consequences foretold by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. David's profound failure as a king and as a father after his sin with Bathsheba leaves his household vulnerable to moral corruption. This verse reveals Amnon's obsessive, carnal "love" for Tamar, setting the stage for one of the Bible's most chilling narratives of incestuous rape. The "love" mentioned is a counterfeit, devoid of true care or respect, manifesting as a destructive lust. It is an inward desire, similar to what Jesus would later speak of in Matthew 5:28, that ultimately brings forth egregious sin and a long-lasting, bitter family feud. The inclusion of the details of Absalom, Tamar, and Amnon as "sons/daughter of David" highlights the deeply internal nature of the coming affliction, showing how David's personal sin fractured his closest relationships. This verse is not just a prelude but the quiet thunderclap before the storm, warning that unchecked lust and family brokenness, left unattended by responsible authority (David's later passivity), can devastate lives and legacy.