131 And it cometh to pass afterwards that Absalom son of David hath a fair sister, and her name 'is' Tamar, and Amnon son of David loveth her. 2 And Amnon hath distress—even to become sick, because of Tamar his sister, for she 'is' a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her. 3 And Amnon hath a friend, and his name 'is' Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab 'is' a very wise man, 4 and saith to him, 'Wherefore 'art' thou thus lean, O king's son, morning by morning? dost thou not declare to me?' And Amnon saith to him, 'Tamar—sister of Absalom my brother—I am loving.' 5 And Jonadab saith to him, 'Lie down on thy couch, and feign thyself sick, and thy father hath come in to see thee, and thou hast said unto him, 'Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come in and give me bread to eat; and she hath made the food before mine eyes so that I see 'it', and have eaten from her hand.' 6 And Amnon lieth down, and feigneth himself sick, and the king cometh in to see him, and Amnon saith unto the king, 'Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come, and she maketh before mine eyes two cakes, and I eat from her hand.' 7 And David sendeth unto Tamar, to the house, saying, 'Go, I pray thee, to the house of Amnon thy brother, and make for him food.' 8 And Tamar goeth to the house of Amnon her brother, and he is lying down, and she taketh the dough, and kneadeth, and maketh cakes before his eyes, and cooketh the cakes, 9 and taketh the frying-pan, and poureth out before him, and he refuseth to eat, and Amnon saith, 'Take ye out every one from me;' and they go out every one from him. 10 And Amnon saith unto Tamar, 'Bring the food into the inner chamber, and I eat from thy hand;' and Tamar taketh the cakes that she hath made, and bringeth in to Amnon her brother, into the inner chamber, 11 and she bringeth nigh unto him to eat, and he layeth hold on her, and saith to her, 'Come, lie with me, my sister.' 12 And she saith to him, 'Nay, my brother, do not humble me, for it is not done so in Israel; do not this folly. 13 And I—whither do I cause my reproach to go? and thou—thou art as one of the fools in Israel; and now, speak, I pray thee, unto the king; for he doth not withhold me from thee.' 14 And he hath not been willing to hearken to her voice, and is stronger than she, and humbleth her, and lieth with her. 15 And Amnon hateth her—a very great hatred—that greater 'is' the hatred with which he hath hated her than the love with which he loved her, and Amnon saith to her, 'Rise, go.' 16 And she saith to him, 'Because of the circumstances this evil is greater than the other that thou hast done with me—to send me away;' and he hath not been willing to hearken to her, 17 and calleth his young man, his servant, and saith, 'Send away, I pray thee, this one from me without, and bolt the door after her;' 18 —and upon her 'is' a long coat, for such upper robes do daughters of the king who 'are' virgins put on,—and his servant taketh her out without, and hath bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar taketh ashes for her head, and the long coat that 'is' on her she hath rent, and putteth her hand on her head, and goeth, going on and crying;
20 and Absalom her brother saith unto her, 'Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? and now, my sister, keep silent, he 'is' thy brother; set not thy heart to this thing;' and Tamar dwelleth—but desolate—in the house of Absalom her brother.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:1-20
Commentary on 2 Samuel 13:1-20
(Read 2 Samuel 13:1-20)
From henceforward David was followed with one trouble after another. Adultery and murder were David's sins, the like sins among his children were the beginnings of his punishment: he was too indulgent to his children. Thus David might trace the sins of his children to his own misconduct, which must have made the anguish of the chastisement worse. Let no one ever expect good treatment from those who are capable of attempting their seduction; but it is better to suffer the greatest wrong than to commit the least sin.