About Amnon
Amnon was King David’s firstborn son. He was born to the Ahinoam of Jezreel while David was in Hebron and still at war with King Saul. Amnon’s half-brother Absalom killed him as vengeance for the rape of his sister Tamar.
Backstory
Amnon’s downfall began with his obsession with his half-sister Tamar, as told in 2 Samuel 13. With the help of an advisor, Jonadab son of Shimeah, he concocted a scheme to fake an illness as a pretext for asking for Tamar to bring him food.
Once Tamar was in his tent, she made bread in front of him and served it to him but he refused to eat. Amnon sent every one else away and asked for her to bring the food to his bedroom so he could eat from her hand. When she did, he grabbed her and raped her, despite her attempts to reason with him.
Amnon then sent her away and asked his personal servant to lock the door after her. Tamar tore the ornate robe she was wearing and went into mourning.
Tamar’s brother Absalom promised to avenge her and took her into his house. Meanwhile, David was furious but did nothing. Absalom stopped speaking to Amnon.
Two years later, Absalom used a pretext to draw Amnon out of the city and have his servants murder him.