What I Noticed Today (2 Samuel 13-14)
2 Samuel 13 & 14 reveal dysfunction in David’s family.
2 Samuel 13
Ammon raped his sister, Tamar,
In verses 1-20, David’s son Amnon (mother Ahinoam) lusted for his half-sister Tamar (mother, Maacah).
Note: Some translations of 2 Samuel 13:1 say Amnon “loved” Tamar, but the word used here could also be translated “was infatuated with her.” The way this story goes, I doubt there was any love involved.
- Amnon schemed to get Tamar into his room, and despite her protestations, he raped her. When he was done, he threw her out of his room and sent her away in shame.
- Tamar left tore her clothes put ashes on her head, and went away crying out (the usual signs of mourning).
- Tamar’s brother, Absalom, learned what had happened to Tamar and told her to do nothing. Tamar came and lived in his house as a desolate woman.
Note: This created a very difficult situation for the family. By Levitical law, he was not allowed to marry her (Leviticus 18:11). Rape was a violation of the law (Deuteronomy 22:25-29). However, a man who raped a virgin was required to marry her, pay a bride price, and was never allowed to divorce her (Deuteronomy 22:28-29).
In verses 21-39, Absalom murdered Amnon:
- David was mad when he heard what happened, but did nothing.
- After waiting two years, Tamar’s brother Absalom schemed to get Amnon away from Jerusalem and ordered servants to kill Amnon.
- Fearing his father, Absalom fled to Geshur to stay with Talmai, his maternal grandfather (2 Samuel 3:3). He stayed there for three years.
- After these three years, David longed to reunite with Absalom because he had finished grieving for Amnon.
2 Samuel 14
David is reunited with Absalom.
In verses 1-12, Joab schemed to reunite Absalom with David by having a wise woman pretend to see David on another matter.
- Joab told the woman exactly what to say, and she went to see David.
- The woman told David a story about being a widow with two sons. The two sons argued in the field, and one killed the other as they were fighting.
- David agreed to issue an order to save the woman’s son from the avenger of blood.
In verses 12-33
- The woman then brought up the issue of the exile of Absalom.
- David confronted the woman asking if she had been put up to appearing before him by Joab. She admitted that Joab had ordered her to tell this story to the king.
- David relented and ordered Joab to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem, but David to see him until Joab once again interceded on Absalom’s behalf.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- There is a lot of scheming and deception going on here, not to mention David doesn’t hold his own family members accountable for their actions. David doesn’t deal with Amnon, he doesn’t seem to do anything for his daughter, who was raped, and he doesn’t do anything when Absalom takes revenge on his sister by having Amnon killed.
- Additionally, David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, with no indication that he had repented of the murder of his half-brother, Amnon.
- I suspect sometimes it is easier to make hard decisions for others than it is when it involves your own family. It’s easier to proclaim judgment when the judgment doesn’t involve your own flesh and blood! God calls us to be leaders in our families, even when it is hard!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
