Maacah bore Absalom ("father is peace") while David was reigning in Hebron ( 2 Samuel 3:3). He was David"s third-born. Amnon, his first-born, was also born in Hebron but by Ahinoam ("my brother is delight"; 2 Samuel 3:2). Both sons may have been in their late teens or early twenties at this time. Tamar ("palm tree," cf. Song of Solomon 7:7-8) was evidently born in Jerusalem ( 1 Chronicles 3:4-9), so she would have been younger than both of these brothers. The event described in this chapter probably occurred about987 B.C. [1][source]
The story that unfolds is a tale of frustrated teenage lust. Evidently Amnon had no desire to marry Tamar, which he probably could have done with David"s consent (cf. Genesis 20:12). [2] The grisly episode is very contemporary and requires little clarification. [source][source][source]
"The dialogue in the story of Amnon and Tamar ... looks like a conscious allusion to the technique used in the episode of Joseph and Potiphar"s wife. Amnon addresses to his half-sister exactly the same words with which Potiphar"s wife accosts Joseph-[3]-adding to them only one word, the thematically loaded "sister" ( 2 Samuel 13:11). She responds with an elaborate protestation, like Joseph before her." [4][source]
David had violated God"s will by "sleeping" (Heb. skb "m) with Bathsheba, evidently with her consent. Amnon, however, violated God"s will by "laying" (Heb. skb "t) Tamar, forcing her against her will ( 2 Samuel 13:14; cf. 2 Samuel 11:4). [5][source]
Jonadab may have been trying to secure his own political future with Absalom ( 2 Samuel 13:3-5; 2 Samuel 13:32-35). [6][source]
Quite clearly Amnon"s attraction to Tamar was only selfish infatuation. When he had satisfied himself, he hated her and wanted no more contact with her ( 2 Samuel 13:15). Contrast Amnon"s attitude toward Tamar after the rape with that of pagan Shechem toward Dinah in a similar incident ( Genesis 34:2-3). Amnon hated Tamar, but Shechem loved Dinah. Likewise, David continued to love Bathsheba after their affair. [source][source][source]
Absalom consoled Tamar with a view to taking vengeance for her and gaining his own advantage. He probably saw in this incident an opportunity to bring Amnon down and advance himself as a candidate for the throne. The writer did not mention Chileab, David"s second-born son ( 2 Samuel 3:3), in the Court History. Perhaps he had already died. Tamar remained "desolate" ( 2 Samuel 13:20), a term in Hebrew that means unmarried and childless, which was a living death for a Jewish woman (cf. 2 Samuel 20:3). [7][source]
David may have taken no action against Amnon because he was the crown prince. Perhaps, too, he realized that people would regard him as a hypocrite for punishing Amnon since he himself had been guilty of a similar crime. Nevertheless Amnon deserved to die ( Leviticus 20:17). [source][source][source]
"The results of David"s sin with Bathsheba became evident in his relations with his sons, for how can a father discipline his children when he knows that he has done worse than they? When David"s son Amnon rapes Tamar ... David is very angry ( 2 Samuel 13:21), and yet David takes no action, for Hebrews , too, has committed his own sexual offense. The upshot is that Tamar"s brother, Absalom, murders Amnon ( 2 Samuel 13:29), but David again does nothing, for Hebrews , too, has a murder on his head." [1][source]
"David is as clearly unable to control his sons" passions as he is his own." [9][source]
"If David had exerted himself as the situation required, he might have prevented that initial estrangement between himself and Absalom which was finally to plunge the nation into civil strife." [10][source]