SUMMARY
Three stories form a sordid tale of rape, murder, deception, and reconciliation. Just as David’s sexual misappropriation of BathshebaWife of David and mother of Solomon. More had ended in the murder of UriahOne of King David's military heroes and the husband of Bathsheba More, David’s sons mirror his behavior in Amnon’s rape of Tamar and Absalom’s murder of Amnon.
ANALYSIS
In announcing God’s judgment against DavidSecond king of Israel, David united the northern and southern kingdoms. More for his affair with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah her husband, NathanThe prophet who condemned David for adultery and promised that God would establish a Davidic dynasty More the prophet had said, “I [the LORD] will raise up trouble against you from within your own house” (2 SamuelThe judge who anointed the first two kings of Israel More 12:11a). These chapters report the beginning of the fulfillment of those words. All four of the main characters are named in the opening verse (Amnon, David, Tamar, and AbsalomThe son of King David who tried to usurp David's throne. More). In effect, David sees his own transgressions replayed before his very eyes in the lives of his children:
- His virgin daughter, Tamar, is sexually violated by her half-brother, Amnon, David’s firstborn son, as he had violated Bathsheba (13:1-22).
- Absalom, Tamar’s brother, will murder Amnon, as David had had Uriah murdered (13:23-39).
- Even the reconciliation between David and Absalom will turn sour as Absalom’s return will morph into rebellion that nearly destroys David and the nation as surely as it did destroy Absalom himself (14:1-33).
