Sunday, January 4, 2015

The rape of Tamar

In the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 13, we meet Tamar, one of King David's daughters.

Tamar was not married and one of her brothers, Absalom, was protective over her.  Unbeknownst to her, there was a half-brother of hers named Amnon who was attracted to her.  He was so in love with her that he couldn't think of much else.

So, one day, he devised a scheme to fake an illness and have his servants call on Tamar to help take care of him.  When she did, he told of his love for her.  Love was not replicated.  Amnon was enraged by her display of failed affection that he violently raped her, and afterwards hated her as much as he had once loved her.

King David was furious by this and no longer wanted to speak with him.

Two years later, Absalom invited all of his brothers to his place for a feast.  Amnon became very drunk, and Absalom ordered his servants to kill him.  They did.  King David was distraught by the news, and was even more so when Absalom fled to lands far away.

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