The big picture
2 Samuel 13 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 20 with “And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold…”, and closes in verse 39 with “And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted…” Repeated or prominent terms include Amnon, Absalom, king, brother, Tamar. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 392 Samuel 13:1-8
1–8: It came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair…
2 Samuel 13:1–8 opens with “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was…” and reaches “So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 13 develops its own movement around Amnon, Absalom, king, brother, Tamar, with particular weight carried by Amnon, Tamar, sister.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
“But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.” Naming Jonadab and Amnon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee…” Naming Jonadab and Lay keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 13:1-8
King James Version1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
6So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
2 Samuel 13:9-16
9–16: She took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat…
2 Samuel 13:9–16 opens with “And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have…” and reaches “And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 13 develops its own movement around Amnon, Absalom, king, brother, Tamar, with particular weight carried by Amnon, took, brother.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me…” Naming Amnon and Have keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.” Naming Come keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
2 Samuel 13:9-16
King James Version9And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
10And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
11And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
12And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
13And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
14Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
15Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
16And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
2 Samuel 13:17-24
17–24: He called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this…
2 Samuel 13:17–24 opens with “Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me…” and reaches “And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 13 develops its own movement around Amnon, Absalom, king, brother, Tamar, with particular weight carried by Absalom, brother, servant.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after…” Naming Put keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her…” Naming Tamar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 13:17-24
King James Version17Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
18And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
20And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
2 Samuel 13:25-32
25–32: The king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be…
2 Samuel 13:25–32 opens with “And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto…” and reaches “And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 13 develops its own movement around Amnon, Absalom, king, brother, Tamar, with particular weight carried by Absalom, Amnon, king’s.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.” Naming Absalom and Amnon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
2 Samuel 13:25-32
King James Version25And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
31Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
2 Samuel 13:33-39
33–39: Therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think…
2 Samuel 13:33–39 opens with “Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s…” and reaches “And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 13 develops its own movement around Amnon, Absalom, king, brother, Tamar, with particular weight carried by king, Absalom, dead.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for…” Naming Amnon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much…” Naming Absalom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 13:33-39
King James Version33Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
34But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 13:1 begins with “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 13:20 forms a natural hinge: “And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing…”
The final note
2 Samuel 13:39 leaves the reader with “And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Amnon, Absalom, king, brother, Tamar, king’s help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.