EVIL COMES TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID: 2 SAMUEL 12 & 13

The Ammonites Defeated

2 Samuel 12:26-31

Having competed the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba and his repentance, the author returns to the story of Israel’s war with the Ammonites. 

The Ammonites were long time enemies of Israel. They refused to aid Israel during the Exodus. They invaded Israel numerous times during the period of the judges. 

David had subjected them in previous battles. But, when the Ammonite king died, his son disrespected David’s representatives. In retaliation, David sent Joab and the army to attack Rabbah, the capitol city of the Ammonites. 

At this point in the story, Joab had defeated the Ammonite army and the Syrian mercenaries they hired. All that is left is to invade the city and take it over. 

We see that Joab is still loyal to David. Instead of taking the city himself, he sends a message to David telling him to come and lead the taking of the city so he will get the credit rather than Joab. It will help restore David’s leadership and reputation. 

So, David gathered additional fighters, led the attack of the city, and conquered it. He dethroned the king of Rabbah, taking his gold crown and having it put on his head to symbolize the he now ruled Rabbah. He eventually conquered all of the Ammonite cities. 

David despoiled the city, adding great wealth to himself. He also forced the people of the city to work for him making bricks. 

David returned to Jerusalem as a conquering hero. God was with him again to give him success. But, the words of God spoken through Nathan the prophet would still come true.

Evil Comes To David’s House: Ammon and Tamar

13:1-19

As a consequence of David’s sins, God told David through Nathan that “I will raise up evil against you out of your house”. (12:11) It began with this episode.

Amnon was David’s first son. After Saul’s daughter Michal was taken away from David, he married Ahinoam of Jezreel. Amnon was born of this marriage.

David also married Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur. They had a daughter, named Tamar, who was beautiful. They also had a son named Absalom. So, Tamar and Absalom were brother and sister. Amnon was the half brother of Tamar.

Amnon developed an obsession with his half sister. He wanted to have sex with her so badly he made himself sick. (2) 

Enter Jonadab, David’s nephew through his older brother, Shimeah. Shimeah was Jesse’s third son. (1 Samuel 16:9) So, Jonadab was a cousin to Amnon. They were obviously close. The Hebrew word translated here as  “friend” can also mean advisor.

Jonadab was “very crafty”. He devised a plan for Amnon to be alone with Tamar. Amnon was to pretend he was sick so that he could get David to send Tamar to him to make cakes and feed them to him. Amnon followed his advice.

David did indeed come to see Amnon when he heard he was in bed sick. And he granted Amnon’s request. David appears naive here, since there was no reason Amnon needed his half sister to feed him by hand to make him well. He had servants to make him food and feed him if that was necessary. 

Tamar obeyed David, came to Amnon’s house, made the cakes and gave them to Amon. Amnon had all the servants sent away. He tried to get Tamar to have sex with him. She refused and begged him not to violate her. (12)

Tamar appealed to Amnon’s sense of right and wrong. she called this an outrageous thing that is not done in Israel. God prohibited a man from having sex with his sister or half sister. (Leviticus 18:9) 

Tamar also appealed he Amon based on the difficulty it would cause her. She would be shamed, likely unable to marry or have any standing in Israel.

She also appealed to Amnon’s own reputation. He would be considered an outrageous fool. (13) 

Finally, she begged Amnon to ask David for permission to marry her, saying David would grant the request. This is difficult to believe, since it would be a sin and David had just repented of his own sexual sin. It may be that Tamar was just trying to escape and not anger Amnon.

Nonetheless, Amnon was consumed by his lust and disregarded all of her arguments. He raped her.

Amnon Sends Tamar Away In Shame

13:15-19

After raping Tamar, Amnon hated her. He sent her away. She pleaded with him not to send her away, saying this was worse than violating her. She probably meant that Amnon should marry her as the law required. 

Exodus 22:16 says:

“If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.” 

Deuteronomy 22:28-29  says:

“If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days.” 

Despite this, Amnon had a servant remove Tamar. He objectified her, calling her “this woman”, not “my sister” or her name. 

Tamar reacted to the shame with mourning, tearing her robe, putting ashes on her head, and crying loudly. 

Amnon committed great evil as Nathan foretold. His actions set off a long stream of conflict in David’s house, resulting to the sword coming to the house as Nathan foretold. 

In these two stories, David appears not as a great leader, but as passive. In the war, Joab saves him by spurring him to action. But with Amnon, David does nothing. His passivity set off a further string of evil events. 

Absalom Finds Out

13:20-22

Word got out about Amnon’s violation of his sister. David was very angry but did not do anything. He did not impose justice on Amnon. He did not exonerate Tamar. This is a huge failure with huge consequences. 

Tamar went to live with her brother Absalom. He also found out what happened. He advised Tamar to keep quiet about it. She was desolate, but did what he said. 

Absalom did not speak about the matter, either. But he hated Amnon for what he did and bided his time to avenge her. 

Takeaways

We see in this passage the beginning of the fulfillment of God's word spoken by Nathan the prophet. God does what he says he will do.

We see how the verses in James about sin and temptation play out. Amnon's lust bloomed into sin and we will see in the next study how that sin leads to death.