2 Samuel 13 is the first of six chapters which tell the tragic story of Absalom’s rebellion to his father King David. The sins of David’s sons repeat and magnify David’s sin. David’s crime was against the wife of a friend. Amnon sins against a sister. The consequences of the first were death of a husband and baby. The consequences of the second was civil war. But why do the consequences fall so heavily on Tamar?
The Story
Amnon is the eldest son of David by Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess (2 Samuel 3:2). Amnon is lovesick for his half-sister Tamar, and there the story should have ended. Yet with the help of his cousin Jonadab, Amnon feigns illness and persuades his father to send Tamar to nurse him back to health. He traps her alone in his bedroom, and he forces himself upon her. Magnifying the sin, after violating her, Amnon throws her away. But Tamar doesn’t go quietly. Her brother Absalom is rightly enraged and thus begins the plot which will lead to civil war.
Tamar is not like Bathsheba
- While Bathsheba is most frequently referred to as “the woman” or as “Uriah’s wife”, Tamar is primarily identified by her name, and only secondarily as Absalom’s sister.
- Tamar physically resists Amnon’s advances and eloquently attempts to reason with him. As far as we know Bathsheba was compliant when David brought her to the palace.
- In 13:12-13 Tamar pleads with Amnon to stop using 4 arguments: 1) the action is wrong; 2) the action is unwise; 3) the cost to them both is enormous; and 4) there is an alternative: ask the King for permission to marry her.
- Bathsheba returns quietly to her own house and only contacts David when she learns she is pregnant. Tamar, on the other hand, immediately goes into mourning and publicly proclaims the wrong done to her.
In every way the text presents Tamar as a woman wronged while each of the male characters in the story fail to protect and respect her.
Amnon
Ammon demonstrates passion without love. Amnon is not attracted by Tamar’s character, wisdom, purity or work ethic. He wants her simply because she is beautiful.
Jonadab
Jonadab demonstrates wisdom without principle. He could have reasoned with Amnon and persuaded him to seek an honorable marriage. Instead Jonadab uses his wisdom to plot a crime.
David
David demonstrates anger without justice. Amnon should have been punished and Tamar exonerated. As both king and father, David is the only one in a position deliver justice. If David fails to act, no one else can.
Absalom
Absalom demonstrates hatred without restraint. Absalom waits two years for his father to act (13:230) during which time he plotted revenge. Then Absalom takes matters into his own hands.
After executing his revenge, Absalom flees to his mother’s family, the King of Geshur and lives in exile for three years. Leaving David in grief and the future of the Davidic kingship in question.
Where is God?
Where is God while all this is happening to Tamar?
Sin always has consequences and those consequences can be far reaching. Ultimately the consequences of our sin are meant to drive us back to the feet of our heavenly father. We will see David’s grief drive him back to God and we hope that Tamar’s sorrow also drove her to the arms of her heavenly father who is the only one who could heal the deepest grief and right the most tragic wrong.
Though Tamar did nothing to bring this tragedy upon herself and we should grieve over the injustice done to her, she was still a sinner in need of salvation. By proclaiming that Tamar was treated unjustly, we are not accusing God of injustice or neglect. None of us deserve the blessings he gives us either in this world or the next.
RC Sproul explains it this way in “The Holiness of God”
“We are not really surprised that God has redeemed us. Somewhere deep inside, in the secret chambers of our heart, we harbor the notion that God owes us His mercy. Heaven would not be quite the same if we were excluded from it. We know that we are sinners, but we are surely not as bad as we could be. There are enough redeeming features to our personalities that if God is really just, He will include us in salvation. What amazes us is justice, not grace.” (pg 123-124)
Sproul then goes on to summarize (pg 127)
“Though people may mistreat me, God never does. That God allows a human being to treat me unjustly is just of God. While I may complain to God about the human, horizontal injustice I have suffered, I cannot rise up and accuse God of committing a vertical injustice by allowing the human injustice to befall me. God would be perfectly just to allow me to be thrown in prison for life for a crime I didn’t commit. I may be innocent before other people, but I am guilty before God…. It is impossible for anyone, anywhere, anytime to deserve grace. Grace by definition is undeserved.” (pg 127)
Application
- Scripture teaches us that life is going to hurt and we are going to suffer, BUT that suffering is not in vain. It serves a purpose.
- The goal of this life is a mature faith, not an easy life. Removing the external problem and leaving us in our sin is not what is best for us.
- Trusting God in the midst of suffering is not the same thing as being tough.
- Our suffering is not always understandable. However, part of a mature faith is trusting that God does not need to explain himself to us.
- Suffering as a Christian does not mean you must fake happiness. James says “Consider it joy when you encounter trials.” But joy and happiness are not the same thing.
- God uses suffering to mature our faith. And faith is worth everything.
For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.
Next: 15 2Samuel 14 Absalom Returns
Series: The Rebellion of Absalom
Also: 2Samuel: David as King
Scripture quotes are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
Photo used here under Flickr Creative Commons.