Sometimes The Book is boring, but not today. We start with a bang (pun intended).
Amnon, son of David, falls in love with his virgin half-sister Tamar. He doesn’t know what to do, so he asks his nephew Jonadab for advice. His advice is to pretend to be sick and say that no one but Tamar can make him better. When he gets her alone, he tries to force her into his bed, and she pleads that he should just ask David for her hand. But he can’t wait and rapes her. Suddenly, his great love was gone, and he kicked her out. She tore her robe, put ashes on her head, and cried loudly as she walked away. Then we get the family reaction:
Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he’s your brother, don’t tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.” Tamar soon moved into Absalom’s house, but she was always sad and lonely. When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy. (2 Samuel 13:20-21 CEV)
Great family we have here. The nephew give the strategy for the rape, one brother rapes his sister, the other brother tells her to hush it up, and their father doesn’t want to upset the rapist. But it’s okay, because two years later, Absalom kills Amnon for the rape. Better late than never. However, the purpose of this is not really revenge, but to advance the plotline of David having adversity as King.
After Absalom flees,he eventually wants to get back with his father. But Joab (David’s flapper) doesn’t answer his calls. So he sets Joab’s barley field on fire to get his attention. Is this an appropriate response?
After David forgives Absalom, Absalom decides he wants to be King. Maybe this is why he killed the oldest son? So he sits at the gate and tells everyone who wants to see David that David is unavailable, and just tell me your problems. After four years (or forty; translations differ), he rides out to Hebron to run his revolt.
David leaves Jerusalem, but sends back the Ark. Maybe he thinks that Absalom might touch it and get smitten. He also sends back a spy!
Next: 2 Samuel 16-18