About
Tamar was King David’s daughter and Absalom’s sister. She shares the name of Judah’s daughter-in-law, whose story is told in Genesis 38.
Backstory
Tamar’s half-brother Amnon lured her to his chambers under false pretenses and raped her (2 Samuel 13). Amnon did not act alone in the dark. He had help from others, whose actions or inaction made it possible.
- Jonadab, David’s nephew and Amnon’s advisor, devised a scheme to entrap her by pretending to be sick.
- David told Tamar to go to Amnon’s chambers to fulfill his request to make bread in front of him so he could eat it from her hand, making her vulnerable.
- When Tamar went to Amnon’s chambers, others were present. They left at Amnon’s orders without standing up to him or calling for help.
Tamar pleaded with Amnon to asked David for permission to marry her instead. Afterwards, she begged him not to send her away in disgrace. But he had a servant throw her out and bolt the door behind her. She put ashes on her head and tore her ornate robe in grief.
Absalom took her into his home and encouraged her not to take it to heart, since Amnon was her brother. Meanwhile, his hatred toward the perpetrator grew until it culminated in murder.
Years later, Absalom named his daughter Tamar, after her aunt. (2 Samuel 14:27)