After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom.
Parallel translations
- WEB After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
- 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.
- NKJV After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
- NASB Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David was in love with her.
- NLT Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Absalom's beautiful sister Tamar becomes the object of her half-brother Amnon's desire. This opening sets in motion the tragic fulfillment of judgment on David's house.
Overview
The narrative now turns inward to David's family, where the sword Nathan foretold begins its work. Amnon's attraction to his half-sister Tamar introduces a story of lust, violence, and revenge that mirrors David's own sins of adultery and bloodshed. It reminds readers that sin sown in a household often bears bitter fruit in the next generation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Chr 3:9These were all the sons of David, besides the sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.
- 2 Sam 3:2–3And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
- 2 Sam 14:27Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.
- 2 Sam 13:15Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”
- 1 Chr 3:2the third was Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith;
- 2 Sam 11:2One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.
- Gen 29:18Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
- Prov 31:30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
- Gen 29:20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
- Gen 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
- Gen 39:6–7So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
- 1 Kgs 11:1King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.
- Gen 34:3And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly.
- Prov 6:25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 13:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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