2 Samuel 13:1-22 – Echoes of David’s Sin Among His Children: Ammon

Translation & Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ The Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 26 Jun. 2022

Introduction

vs.1-2 Amnon’s lust

vs.3-5 Jonadab’s Bad Advice

vs.6-17 Tamar Abused

vs. 19-2 David and Absolom’s Failure To Prosecute Justice

Conclusion

2 Samuel 13:1-22Side-by side comparison of versionsA

LXX

Brenton

DRB

KJV

NAW

MT

1 Καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ τῷ Αβεσσαλωμ υἱῷ Δαυιδ ἀδελφὴ καλὴ [τῷ εἴδει σφόδρα], καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῇ Θημαρ, καὶ ἠγάπησεν αὐτὴν Αμνων υἱὸς Δαυιδ.

1 And it happened after this that Abessalom the son of David had a [very] beautiful sister, and her name was Themar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

1 And it came to pass after this that Ammon the son of David loved X X X the sister of Absalom the son of David, [who was very] beautiful, and her name was Thamar.

1 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.

1 Now, it happened to be after this that David’s son Absalom had a sister who was good-{looking} – her name was Tamar, and David’s son Amnon was in love with her.

1 וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי-כֵן וּלְאַבְשָׁלוֹם בֶּן-דָּוִד אָחוֹת יָפָהB וּשְׁמָהּ תָּמָר וַיֶּאֱהָבֶהָ אַמְנוֹן בֶּן-דָּוִד:

2 καὶ ἐθλίβετο Αμνων ὥστε ἀρρωστεῖν διὰ Θημαρ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι παρθένος ἦν αὐτή, καὶ ὑπέρογκον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Αμνων τοῦ ποιῆσαί τι αὐτῇ.

2 And Amnon was distressed even to sickness, because of Themar his sister; for she was a virgin, and it seemed [very] difficult for Amnon to do anything to her.

2 And he was exceedingly fond of her, so that he fell sick for the love of her: for as she was a virgin, he thought it hard to do any thing [dishonestly] with her.

2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hardC for him to do any thing to her.

2 But this was distressing for Amnon, such that he made himself sick on account of Tamar his sister, since she was single, yet it was off-limits in Amnon’s eyes to instigate anything in relation to her.

2 וַיֵּצֶר לְאַמְנוֹן לְהִתְחַלּוֹת בַּעֲבוּר תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ כִּי בְתוּלָה הִיא וַיִּפָּלֵא בְּעֵינֵי אַמְנוֹן לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהּ מְאוּמָה:

3 καὶ ἦν τῷ Αμνων ἑταῖρος, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ιωναδαβ υἱὸς Σαμαα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ Δαυιδ· καὶ Ιωναδαβ ἀνὴρ σοφὸς σφόδρα.

3 And Amnon had a friend, and his name was Jonadab, the son of Samaa the brother of David: and Jonadab was a very cunning man.

3 Now Ammon had a friend, X X named Jonadab the son of Semmaa the brother of David, a very wise man:

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

3 Now, Amnon had a friend – his name was Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

3 וּלְאַמְנוֹן רֵעַ וּשְׁמוֹ יוֹנָדָבD בֶּן-שִׁמְעָה אֲחִי דָוִד וְיוֹנָדָב אִישׁ חָכָםE מְאֹד:

4 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Τί σοι ὅτι σὺ οὕτως ἀσθενής, υἱὲ τοῦ βασιλέως, τὸ πρωὶ πρωί; οὐκ ἀπαγγελεῖς μοι; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Αμνων Θημαρ τὴν ἀδελφὴν Αβεσσαλωμ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ.

4 And he said to him, What ails thee that thou art thus weak? O son of the king, morning by morning? wilt thou not tell me? and Ammon said, I love Themar the sister of my brother Abessalom.

4 And he said to him: Why dost thou grow so lean from day to day, O son of the king? why dost thou not tell me the reason of it? And Ammon said to him: I am in love with Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom.

4 And 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.

4 And he said to him, “Why are you, a son of the king, being wanton like this from morning to morning? Won’t you tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “It’s Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom, that I’m in love with.”

4 וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה כָּכָה דַּל בֶּן-הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר הֲלוֹא תַּגִּיד לִי וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַמְנוֹן אֶת- תָּמָר אֲחוֹת אַבְשָׁלֹם אָחִי אֲנִי אֹהֵב:

5 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ιωναδαβ Κοιμήθητι ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης σου καὶ μαλακίσθητι, καὶ εἰσελεύ­σεται ὁ πατήρ σου τοῦ ἰδεῖν σε, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτόν Ἐλθέτω δὴ Θημαρ ἡ ἀδελφή μου καὶ ψωμι­σάτω με X καὶ ποιησάτω κατ᾿ ὀφθαλ­μούς μου βρῶμα, ὅπως ἴδω καὶ φάγω ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς.

5 And Jonadab said to him, Lie upon thy bed, and make thyself sick, and thy father shall come in to see thee; and thou shalt say to him, Let, I pray thee, Themar my sister come, and feed me with morsels, and let her prepare food before my eyes, that I may see and eat at her handsF.

5 And Jonadab said to him: Lie down upon thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father shall come to visit thee, say to him: Let my sister Thamar, I pray thee, come to me, to give me X to eat, and to make me a mess X X X, that I may X X eat [it] at her hand.

5 And 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.

5 Then Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and make yourself sick. Then, when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please have my sister Tamar come and feed me some food – and have her make this special food before my eyes in order that I may watch and eat from her hand.’”

5 וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יְהוֹנָדָב שְׁכַב עַל-מִשְׁכָּבְךָ וְהִתְחָל וּבָא אָבִיךָ לִרְאוֹתֶךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו תָּבֹא נָא תָמָר אֲחוֹתִיG וְתַבְרֵנִי לֶחֶם וְעָשְׂתָה לְעֵינַיH אֶת- הַבִּרְיָהI לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר אֶרְאֶה וְאָכַלְתִּי מִיָּדָהּ:

6 καὶ ἐκοιμήθη Αμνων καὶ ἠρρώστησεν, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἰδεῖν αὐτόν, καὶ εἶπεν Αμνων πρὸς τὸν βασι­λέα Ἐλθέτω δὴ Θημαρ ἡ ἀδελφή μου [πρός με] καὶ κολλυρισάτω ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου δύο κολλ­υρίδας, καὶ φάγομαι ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς.

6 So Ammon lay down, and made himself sick; and the king came in to see him: and Amnon said to the king, Let, I pray thee, my sister Themar come [to me], and make a couple of cakes in my sight, and I will eat them at her hand.

6 So Ammon lay down, and made [as if] he were sick: and when the king came to visit him, Ammon said to the king: I pray thee let my sister Thamar come, and make in my sight two little messes, that I may eat at her hand.

6 So 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.

6 So Amnon laid down and made himself sick. And the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, “Please have my sister Tamar come {to me} and make dumplings before my eyes – two dumplings, so I may partake from her hand.”

6 וַיִּשְׁכַּב אַמְנוֹן וַיִּתְחָל וַיָּבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְאֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אַמְנוֹן אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ תָּבוֹא-נָאJ תָּמָר אֲחֹתִי וּתְלַבֵּבK לְעֵינַי שְׁתֵּי לְבִבוֹת וְאֶבְרֶה מִיָּדָהּ:

7 καὶ ἀπέσ­τειλεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Θημαρ εἰς τὸν οἶκον λέγ­ων Πορεύ­θητι δὴ εἰς τὸν οἶκ­ον Αμνων τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου καὶ ποίησον αὐ­τῷ X βρῶμα.

7 And David sent to Themar to the house, saying, Go now to thy brother X's house, and dress him food.

7 Then David sent X home to Thamar, saying: X Come to the house of thy brother Ammon, and make him a mess.

7 Then David sent X home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

7 So David sent a commission to Tamar at her house to say, “Please go to the house of your brother Amnon, and make his special food for him!”

7 וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד אֶל-תָּמָר הַבַּיְתָה לֵאמֹר לְכִי נָא בֵּית אַמְנוֹן אָחִיךְ וַעֲשִׂי-לוֹ הַבִּרְיָה:

8 καὶ ἐπορεύθη Θημαρ εἰς τὸν οἶκον Αμνων ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῆς, καὶ αὐτὸς κοιμώμενος. καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸ σταῖς καὶ ἐφύρασεν καὶ ἐκολλύρισεν κατ᾿ ὀφθαλ­μοὺς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἥψησεν τὰς κολλυρίδας·

8 And Themar went to the house of her brother Amnon, and he was lying down: and she took the dough and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

8 And Thamar came to the house of Ammon her brother: but he was laid down: and she took meal and tempered it: and dissolving it in his sight she made little messes.

8 So 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.

8 And Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down, so she took the dough and kneaded it and made dump­lings before his eyes and boiled the dumplings.

8 וַתֵּלֶךְ תָּמָר בֵּית אַמְנוֹן אָחִיהָ וְהוּא שֹׁכֵב וַתִּקַּח אֶת-הַבָּצֵקL וַתָּלוֹשׁM וַתְּלַבֵּב לְעֵינָיו וַתְּבַשֵּׁל אֶת-הַלְּבִבוֹת:

9 καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸ τήγανον καὶ κατε­κένωσεν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν φαγεῖν. καὶ εἶπεν Αμνων Ἐξαγάγετε πάντα ἄνδρα ἐπάνωθέν μου· καὶ ἐξήγαγον πάντα ἄνδρα ἀπὸ ἐπάνωθεν αὐτοῦ.

9 And she took the frying pan and poured [them] out before him, but he would not eat. And Amnon said, Send out every man from about me. And they removed every man from about him.

9 And taking what she had boiled, she poured it out, and set it before him, but he would not eat: and Ammon said: Put out all persons from me. And when they had put all persons out,

9 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. And they went out every man from him.

9 Then she took the pot and poured a serving before his face, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, “Make everybody go out from around me.” So {they made} everybody go out from around him.

9 וַתִּקַּח אֶת- הַמַּשְׂרֵתN וַתִּצֹק לְפָנָיו וַיְמָאֵןO לֶאֱכוֹל וַיֹּאמֶר אַמְנוֹן הוֹצִיאוּ כָל- אִישׁ מֵעָלַי וַיֵּצְאוּP כָל- אִישׁ מֵעָלָיו:

10 καὶ εἶπεν Αμνων πρὸς Θημαρ Εἰσ­ένεγκε τὸ βρῶμα εἰς τὸ ταμίειον, καὶ φάγομαι ἐκ τῆς χειρός σου. καὶ ἔλαβεν Θημαρ τὰς κολλυρίδας, ἃς ἐποίησεν, καὶ εἰσήνεγκεν τῷ Αμνων ἀδελφῷ αὐτῆς εἰς τὸν κοιτῶνα

10 And Amnon said to Themar, Bring in the food into the closet, and I will eat of thy hand. And Themar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to her brother Amnon into the chamber.

10 Ammon said to Tha­mar: Bring the mess into the chamber, that I may eat at thy hand. And Thamar took the little messes which she had made, and brought them in to her brother Ammon in the chamber.

10 And 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.

10 And Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the special food to my bedroom, and I will partake from your hand.” So Tamar took the dumplings which she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon.

10 וַיֹּאמֶר אַמְנוֹן אֶל- תָּמָר הָבִיאִי הַבִּרְיָה הַחֶדֶר וְאֶבְרֶה מִיָּדֵךְ וַתִּקַּח תָּמָר אֶת- הַלְּבִבוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂתָה וַתָּבֵא לְאַמְנוֹן אָחִיהָ הֶחָדְרָה:

11 καὶ προσ­ήγαγεν αὐτῷ τοῦ φαγεῖν, καὶ ἐπελάβ­ετο αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Δεῦρο κοιμήθητι μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ἀδελφή μου.

11 And she brought them to him to eat, and he caught hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.

11 And when she had presented him the meat, he took hold of her, and said X X: Come lie with me, my sister.

11 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.

11 Yet when she brought them close to him to eat, he got a strong grip on her and said to her, “Come, lie down with me, my sister!”

11 וַתַּגֵּשׁ אֵלָיו לֶאֱכֹל וַיַּחֲזֶק-בָּהּ וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ בּוֹאִי שִׁכְבִי עִמִּי אֲחוֹתִי:

12 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μή, ἄδελφέ μου, μὴ ταπεινώ­σῃς με, διότι οὐ ποιηθή­σεται οὕτως ἐν Ισραηλ· μὴ ποιήσῃς τὴν ἀφροσύνην ταύτην·

12 And she said to him, Nay, my brother, do not humble me, for it ought not to be so done in Israel; do not this folly.

12 X She answered him: [Do] not so, my brother, do not force me: for no such thing must be done in Israel. Do not thou this folly.

12 And 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.

12 But she said to him, “No, my brother! Don’t take advantage of me, for it should not be done this way in Israel. Don’t do this foolisness!

12 וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַל-אָחִי אַל-תְּעַנֵּנִי כִּי לֹא-יֵעָשֶׂה כֵן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אַל-תַּעֲשֵׂה אֶת-הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת:

13 καὶ ἐγὼ ποῦ ἀποίσω τὸ ὄνειδός μου; καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ ὡς εἷς τῶν ἀφρόνων ἐν Ισραηλ·



καὶ νῦν λάλησον δὴ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, ὅτι οὐ [μὴ] κωλύσῃ με ἀπὸ σοῦ.

13 And I, whither shall I remove my reproach? and thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel.

And now, speak, I pray thee, to the king, for [surely] he will not keep me from thee.

13 For I shall not be able to bear my shame, and thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel:

but rather X speak to the king, and he will not deny me to thee.

13 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 therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

13 And as for me, how would I remove my stigma? And as for you, you would become like one of the fools in Israel.

Instead, please speak to the king now, for he will not withhold me from you!”

13 וַאֲנִי אָנָה אוֹלִיךְ אֶת-חֶרְפָּתִי וְאַתָּה תִּהְיֶה כְּאַחַד הַנְּבָלִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

וְעַתָּה דַּבֶּר- נָא אֶל- הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי לֹא יִמְנָעֵנִי מִמֶּךָּ:

14 καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν [Αμ­νων] τοῦ ἀκοῦ­σαι τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς καὶ ἐκραταί­ωσεν ὑπὲρ αὐτὴν καὶ ἐταπείνωσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετ᾿ αὐτῆς.

14 But [Amnon] would not hearken to her voice; and he prevailed against her, and humbled her, and lay with her.

14 But he would not hearken to her prayers, but being stronger X X X overpowered her and lay with her.

14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, X forced her, and lay with her.

14 But he was not willing to give heed to her voice, and he was stronger than her, so he took advantage of her and laid down with her.

14 וְלֹא אָבָה לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹלָהּ וַיֶּחֱזַק מִמֶּנָּה וַיְעַנֶּהָ וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֹתָהּQ:

15 καὶ ἐμίσησεν αὐτὴν Αμνων μῖσος μέγα σφόδρα, ὅτι μέγα τὸ μῖσος, ὃ ἐμίσησεν αὐτήν, ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀγάπην, ἣν ἠγάπησεν αὐτήν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Αμνων Ἀνάστηθι [καὶ] πορεύου.

15 Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her, for the last wickedness was greater than the first: and Amnon said to her, Rise, [and] be gone.

15 Then Ammon hated her with an exceeding great hatred: so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her [before]. And Ammon said to her: Arise, [and] get thee gone.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly X X; 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.

15 Then Amon hated her with a very intense hatred, such that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her, so Amnon said to her, “Get up! Be gone!”

15 וַיִּשְׂנָאֶהָ אַמְנוֹן שִׂנְאָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד כִּי גְדוֹלָה הַשִּׂנְאָה אֲשֶׁר שְׂנֵאָהּ מֵאַהֲבָה אֲשֶׁר אֲהֵבָהּ וַיֹּאמֶר- לָהּ אַמְנוֹן קוּמִי לֵכִי:

16 Rκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ [Θημαρ] Μή, ἄδελφε, [ὅτι] μεγάλη ἡ κακία X ἐσχάτη [ὑπὲρ τὴν πρώτην], ἣν ἐποίησας μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ ἐξαπο­στεῖλαί με. καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλ­ησεν [Αμνων] ἀκοῦσαι [τῆς φωνῆς] αὐτῆς.

16 And Themar spoke to him concerning this great mischief, greater, [said she], than the other that thou didst me, to send me away: but [Amnon] would not hearken to her [voice].

16 X She answered him X X: The evil which now thou dost against me, in driving me away, is greater than [that which thou didst] before. And he would not hearken to her:

16 And 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.

16 But {Tamar} said to him, “{No, my brother}, {for} this outcome of sending me off is an escalation of the wrongwhich you have done to me!” But {Amnon} was not willing to give heed to her {voice},

16 וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹS Tאַל- אוֹדֹתU הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת מֵאַחֶרֶת אֲשֶׁר-עָשִׂיתָ עִמִּי לְשַׁלְּחֵנִי וְלֹא אָבָה לִשְׁמֹעַ לָהּV:

17 καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ τὸν προεστηκότα τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν [αὐτῷ] Ἐξαπο­στείλατε δὴ ταύτην ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἔξω καὶ ἀπόκλεισον τὴν θύραν ὀπίσω αὐτῆς.

17 And he called his servant who had charge of the house, and said [to him], Put now this woman out from me, and shut the door after her.

17 But calling the servant[s] that ministered to him, X he said: Thrust this woman out from me: and shut the door after her.

17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

17 instead, he called his servant-boy who attended to him and he said, “Y’all, please send this woman away from me to the street, and lock the door behind her.”

17 וַיִּקְרָא אֶת-נַעֲרוֹ מְשָׁרְתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁלְחוּ-נָא אֶת-זֹאתW מֵעָלַי הַחוּצָה וּנְעֹלX הַדֶּלֶת אַחֲרֶיהָ:

18 καὶ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς ἦν χιτὼν καρπω­τός, ὅτι οὕτ­ως ἐνεδιδύσ­κοντο αἱ θυγατέρες τοῦ βασιλέως [αἱ] παρθένοι τοὺς ἐπενδύ­τας [αὐτῶν]· καὶ ἐξήγαγεν αὐτὴν ὁ λειτουργὸς αὐτοῦ ἔξω καὶ ἀπέκλεισεν τὴν θύραν ὀπίσω αὐτῆς·

18 And she had on her a variegated robe, for so were the king's daughters [that] were virgins attired in [their] apparel: and his servant led her forth X, and shut the door after her.

18 And she was clothed with a long robe: for the king's daughters [that] were virgins, used such kind of garments. Then his servant thrust her out: and shut the door after her.

18 And 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.

18 (Now, she had on her a long tunic, for that was how the virgin daughters of the king dressed in tunics.) So his attendant ushered her out to the street and locked the door behind her.

18 וְעָלֶיהָ כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּיםY כִּי כֵן תִּלְבַּשְׁןָ בְנוֹת-הַמֶּלֶךְ הַבְּתוּלֹת מְעִילִים וַיֹּצֵא אוֹתָהּ מְשָׁרְתוֹ הַחוּץ וְנָעַל הַדֶּלֶת אַחֲרֶיהָ:

19 καὶ ἔλαβεν Θημαρ σποδὸν [καὶ ἐπέθηκεν] ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς καὶ τὸν χιτῶνα τὸν καρπωτὸν τὸν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς διέρρηξεν καὶ ἐπέθηκεν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπορεύθη πορευομένη καὶ κράζουσα.

19 And Themar took ashes[, and put them] on her head; and she rent the variegated garment that was upon her: and she laid her hands on her head, and went crying continually.

19 And she put ashes on her head, and rent her long robe X X X and laid her hands upon her head, and went on crying.

19 And 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.

19 So Tamar took some ashes {and put them} on her head, then she tore the long tunic which she had on her, and she put her hand{s} on her head and went, walking and cry{ing}.

19 וַתִּקַּח תָּמָר אֵפֶרZ עַל-רֹאשָׁהּ וּכְתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיהָ קָרָעָה וַתָּשֶׂם יָדָהּAA עַל- רֹאשָׁהּ וַתֵּלֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וְזָעָקָהAB:

20 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτὴν Αβεσσαλωμ ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτῆς Μὴ Αμνων ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἐγένετο μετὰ σοῦ; καὶ νῦν, ἀδελφή μου, κώφευσον, [ὅτι] ἀδελφός σού ἐστιν· μὴ θῇς τὴν καρδίαν σου [τοῦ λαλῆσαι] εἰς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο. καὶ ἐκάθισεν Θη­μαρ X χηρεύ­ουσα ἐν οἴκῳ Αβεσσαλωμ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτῆς.

20 And Abessalom her brother said to her, Has thy brother Amnon been with thee? now then, my sister, be silent, [for] he is thy brother: be not careful to mention X this matter. So Themar dwelt as a widow in the house of her brother Abessalom.

20 And Absalom her brother said to her: Hath thy brother Ammon lain with thee? but now, X sister, hold thy peace, he is thy brother: [and] afflict not X thy heart for this thing. So Thamar remained X pining away in the house of Absalom her brother.

20 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 X this thing X X X. So Tamar remained X desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

20 Then her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet now. He is your brother; don’t find a place for this matter in your heart. So Tamar settled down and was desolate at her brother Absalom’s house.

20 וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ אַבְשָׁלוֹם אָחִיהָ הַאֲמִינוֹןAC אָחִיךְ הָיָה עִמָּךְ וְעַתָּה אֲחוֹתִי הַחֲרִישִׁי אָחִיךְ הוּא אַל- תָּשִׁיתִי אֶת- לִבֵּךְ לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַתֵּשֶׁב תָּמָר וְשֹׁמֵמָהAD בֵּית אַבְשָׁלוֹם אָחִיהָ:

21 καὶ ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαυιδ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους καὶ ἐθυμώθη σφόδρα· [καὶ οὐκ ἐλύπησεν τὸ πνεῦμα Αμνων τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἠγάπα αὐτόν, ὅτι πρωτότοκος αὐτοῦ ἦν.]

21 And king David heard of all these things, and was very angry[; but he did not grieve the spirit of his son Amnon, because be loved him, for he was his first-born].

21 And when king David heard of these things he was exceedingly grieved[: and he would not afflict the spirit of his son Ammon, for he loved him, because he was his firstborn].

21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

21 Presently, David the king heard all these things and got really hot about it, {but he did not cause hardship to the spirit of Amnon his son because he loved him since he was his firstborn.}

21 וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד שָׁמַע אֵת כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיִּחַר לוֹ מְאֹדAE:

22 καὶ οὐκ ἐλάλησεν Αβεσσαλωμ μετὰ Αμνων ἀπὸ πονηροῦ X ἕως ἀγα­θοῦ, ὅτι ἐμίσει Αβεσ­σαλωμ τὸν Αμνων ἐπὶ λόγου οὗ ἐταπείνωσεν Θημαρ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ.

22 And Abessalom spoke not to Amnon, X good or X bad, because Abessalom hated Amnon, on account of his humbling his sister Themar.

22 But Absalom spoke not to Ammon neither X good nor X evil: for Absalom hated Ammon because X X he had ravished his sister Thamar.

22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither X good nor X bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because X X he had forced his sister Tamar.

22 Meanwhile Absalom did not speak with Amnon for ill or for good, because Absalom hated Amnon on account of the matter in which he had taken advantage of his sister Tamar.

22 וְלֹא-דִבֶּר אַבְשָׁלוֹם עִם- אַמְנוֹן לְמֵרָע וְעַד- טוֹב כִּי-שָׂנֵא אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת-אַמְנוֹן עַל-דְּבַר אֲשֶׁר עִנָּה אֵת תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ: פ


1The oldest-known manuscript of this passage spells “Jonadab” as “Jonathan,” so he may be the same son of Shimea who killed a giant in battle later on against the Philistines in ch.21 (v.21).

2Tsumura agreed, noting that the story implies a rapid preparation without time for a leavened bread to rise.

3There are many opinions on this suggestion. Gill summarizes well: “[T]his she said, either as ignorant of the law, which forbids such marriages, or as supposing the king had a power to dispense with it… [or] to put him off of his wicked design for the present, holding then she should be delivered from him [the position taken by Josephus, Willett, Jamieson, and Keil & Delitzsch]… [T]he Jews say [she] was born of a captive woman before she was proselyted and married to David, and so was free for Amnon (Maimon. Hilchot Melacim, c. 8. sect. 8. Kimchi in 2 Sam. xiii. 1); and others say (R. Moses Kotzensis, pr. affirm. 122) she was the daughter of Maacah by a former husband, and not by David. Christian commentators don’t seem to buy that, though. Note that even in marriage, physical intimacy should be something mutually agreed-upon, not selfishly forced against the will of the spouse.

4"If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are found out, then the man who lay with her shall give to the young woman's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her; he shall not be permitted to divorce her all his days.” Deut. 22:28-29 NKJV

AMy original chart includes the NASB and NIV, but their copyright restrictions have forced me to remove them from the publicly-available edition of this chart. I have included the ESV in footnotes when it employs a word not already used by the KJV, NASB, or NIV. (NAW is my translation.) When a translation adds words not in the Hebrew text, but does not indicate it has done so by the use of italics (or greyed-out text), I put the added words in [square brackets]. When one version chooses a wording which is different from all the other translations, I underline it. When a version chooses a translation which, in my opinion, either departs too far from the root meaning of the Hebrew word or departs too far from the grammar form of the original text, I use strikeout. And when a version omits a word which is in the original text, I insert an X. (I also place an X at the end of a word if the original word is plural but the English translation is singular.) I occasionally use colors to help the reader see correlations between the various editions and versions when there are more than two different translations of a given word. The only known Dead Sea Scroll containing 2 Samuel 13 is 4Q51Samuela, which contains fragments of vs. 1-6 & 13-39, and which has been dated between 50-25 B.C. Where the DSS is legible and in agreement with the MT, the MT is colored purple. Where the DSS supports the LXX (or Vulgate) with omissions or text not in the MT, I have highlighted with yellow the LXX and its translation into English, and where I have accepted that into my NAW translation, I have marked it with {pointed brackets}.

BThe LXX and Vulgate add “to see” here. The Targums agree with the MT, and the Syriac omits the fact that she was “beautiful” altogether. The DSS is obliterated at this point, but since it contains plenty of room for an extra word (such as מראה), that weighs in favor of the LXX and Vulgate.

CNKJV = “improper”

DThe DSS [/tnwhy] and the Lucian Rescription of the LXX spell this name “Jonathan,” but all the other versions read “Jonadab.”

EThis is the first time in the Bible that the adjective “wise” is used in a negative way to mean “cunning.”

FLXX and Syriac are plural, but MT and Vulgate and Targums are singular. Only the Syriac is plural at the end of the next verse. It doesn’t really make a difference in meaning, though.

GThis part of the verse is obliterated in the DSS, but there is room for a couple more words than what is contained in the MT. The ancient versions, however, do not seem to suggest any extra words.

HSyriac and Vulgate omit “eyes,” but it is in the LXX, and, although it is in an obliterated section of the DSS, there are already not enough words in the MT to fill the text space in the DSS, so it seems unlikely that this word would also be omitted there.

IThis word for “select food” does not occur in the Hebrew Bible outside of its three uses in this chapter.

JThe DSS has space for about 7 more characters before “Tamar,” perhaps supporting the extra phrase “to me” in the LXX (although that would only account for two letters and one space in Hebrew).

KLXX translates “cake-bake… two cakes,” Targums read “mix up... two dumplings,” and Syriac reads “serve up... ‎ לבותא” Strong indicates that the root word means to “enclose” whereas BDB describes it as “encourage.” Gill calls them “heart-[shaped] cakes” and then “fritters.” K&D comment: “a heart-strengthening kind of pastry, a kind of pancake,” and Tsumura opts for “dumplings.” The three instances in this chapter are the only times the noun form of this word show up in the Hebrew Bible, and the only two times the verb form shows up outside of this chapter, it is translated entirely differently: Job 11:12 “For vain man would be wise…” and Song 4:9 “Thou hast ravished my heart...”

LThis word only occurs here and Exod. 12:34&39; Jer. 7:18; and Hos. 7:4.

MQere suggests reducing the long holem vowel to a qametz hatuf, essentially shortening a long “o” to a short “o” vowel וַתָּלָשׁ, which would bring it in line with the spelling of 1 Samuel 28:24 “Now, the woman had a calf from the feed-lot at her house, so she hurried and slaughtered it. Then she took some flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread.” (NAW) The root also occurrs in Genesis 18:6; Jeremiah 7:18; and Hosea 7:4.

NHapex Legomenon. Apparently meaning “dented/hollowed out.”

Ocf. Saul’s “refusal” to eat in 1 Sam. 28:23

PThis verb is plural, whereas “every man” is singular, so it would be irregular to interpret this “every man went out.” The LXX and Vulgate read “they sent every man out,” and the the Targums and Syriac seem to support this.

QDSS supports the MT, but some Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions (Targums, Syriac, and, by extention, LXX) use the practically-synonymous preposition עם.

RThe first half of this verse is significantly different in the Vaticanus:
Rahlfs LXX: Kαὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ [Θημαρ] Μή, ἄδελφε, [ὅτι] μεγάλη ἡ κακία X ἡ ἐσχάτη [ὑπὲρ τὴν πρώτην]...
Vaticanus: Και ειπεν αυτω [Θημαρ] X περι της κακιας της μεγαλης ταυτης ‘υπερ ετεραν…
Square brackets indicate additional text not in the MT, and capital X indicates text in the MT omitted in Greek.

SAll the oldest-known manuscripts (DSS, LXX, Vaticanus) insert Tamar’s name here. Without it, she is still assumed to be the speaker, however.

TMultiple Hebrew manuscripts (also Targums) read על. DSS is obliterated at this point. It probably doesn’t change the meaning.

UThe MT word here is a rare one for “occasion/turn/cause” found only here and Gen. 21:11&25, Gen. 26:32, Exod. 18:8, Num. 12:1; 13:24, Josh. 14:6, Jdg. 6:7, and Jer. 3:8. The DSS reads אחי (“my brother”) which matches the LXX (although not the Vaticanus, which follows the MT reading). The grammar is odd, but Tsumura explains it in terms of aposiopesis “the sentence stopped before the main clause begins.”

VLXX (including Vaticanus) adds “Amnon” as the subject and “voice” as the object. The DSS, although obliterated at this point has space for about 9 more characters than appear in the MT, which would be just enough space to add the Hebrew words for “Amnon” and for “voice.” This makes no difference to the meaning of the text, though. Although the DSS and Vaticanus are the oldest manuscripts, the more terse reading in the MT, is still pretty ancient because it is in the Vulgate, Syriac, and Targums.

WGoldman notes the “deep contempt” Amnon expresses by saying literally, “put this out from on top of me,” as though “dismissing one whose presence was obnoxious.” His action had the appearance of righteous indignation at some wrong thing she had done, as though she were the guilty party instead of him! (K&D)

XRare word, only found elsewhere in Judges 3:23-24 (where the action is clearly distinguished from “closing” the door); and Canticles 4:12 (although a word with the same spelling appears in Ezek. 16:10 and 2 Chr. 28:15 that means “put on sandals”). This command is in the singular, addressed to his servant-boy, whereas the first command “put out” is plural, perhaps because it would take more than one servant to eject her, or perhaps, as Tsumura suggested, to “spread the responsibility around” to salve his reluctant conscience in doing this wrong.

YThe only other place the kitona passim is mentioned is the “coat of many colors” which Jacob gave Joseph in Gen. 37. Kitona, by itself just means “a tunic,” and is also used to describe the priestly garments in Exodus and Leviticus. Passim literally means the “palm” of the hand or foot, so it could mean that it was long in the skirt as well as in the sleeves. My guess is that it served two purposes, first to preserve the modesty of the unmarried women because it covered so much of the body and secondly to symbolize that they were not of the working class, for long skirts and sleeves would get in the way of doing menial work. Older commentators maintained that it meant multicolored or embroidered.

ZLXX adds “and put them,” and, although the DSS is obliterated at this point, there is too much space in the DSS for the reading of the MT, so the DSS seems to support the extra word in the LXX.

AALXX, Old Latin, Syriac, and Vulgate make “hands” plural instead of the MT’s singular, and the extra space in this obliterated section of the DSS supports adding the extra letter to pluralize it. Jamieson suggested that raising her hands to her head was to cover her face and make up for the loss of her veil.

ABAthough the MT is a regular imperfect verb, the LXX, old Latin, Vulgate, Syriac, and Targums spell it as a participle.

ACKimchi suggested that Absalom purposefully mispronounced the name in Hebrew with an extra “i” in the middle to show contempt.

ADSyriac and Targums support the “and” before this participle, but it’s not in the old Latin, Vulgate, or LXX. The DSS is obliterated at this point.

AEDSS adds ולוא עצב את רוח אמנון בנו כי אהבו כי בכורו הוא (“And he would not cause hardship to the spirit of Amnon his son because he loved him since he was his firstborn.”)(Grey letters are in an obliterated section and reconstructed from the LXX and Vulgate to fit the available space in the DSS.)

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