Ammon and Tamar

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 13:1-18. Absolam, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. David’s son, Ammon, was in love with her. David had many wives so these two had different mothers, but their father was King David.

Proverbs 6:25 warns, “Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.”

Ammon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that it made him sick. She was a virgin and he couldn’t imagine doing anything to harm her.

But Ammon had a friend named Jonadab. He was the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, which means he was actually Ammon’s cousin. Of course, cousins can be friends and sometimes best friends. Jonadab was a shrewd man.

Jonadab was so close to Ammon that he noticed he was frail and distraught. He asked Ammon what was wrong with him. Ammon told Jonadab of his love for his sister Tamar.

Jonadab devised a plan for Ammon. He told Ammon to pretend that he was sick. Then, he told Ammon when his father, King David, came in to check on him ask his father to send his sister Tamar to cook a meal for him.

James 1:14 says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Ammon did as Jonadab suggested. King David didn’t think anything about Ammon’s request. He told Tamar to go cook for her brother Ammon since he was sick. So Tamar went to Ammon’s house and made some cakes for him, but he refused to eat. He was really playing the part.

Then, Ammon sent all his servants away and told Tamar to bring him the cakes to his bed. When she went in to give him the cakes he took hold of her arm and told her to come lie with him. She told him no. She even tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t listen. She even told him that if he told King David of his desire for her he would probably grant his wishes, but this wasn’t the way to do things. She knew that it was wrong and tried to talk him out of it, but Ammon was stronger than Tamar and forced her to lie with him.

Once Ammon had his way with Tamar he hated her more than he had ever loved her. He told her to get out. She begged him not to send her away, but he insisted. He sent for his servant and told him to make her leave and lock the door behind her.

Tamar was wearing a multi-colored garment, which is what the king’s daughters who were virgins wore. The servant did as Ammon requested and sent Tamar away and locked the door as he was instructed.

Ammon’s obsession got the best of him. He had admired Tamar for her beauty for so long that his desire took control of him. His friend added fuel to the fire when he gave Ammon a plan as to how he could get Tamar to lie with him.

Did Ammon have to carry out the plan that Jonadab suggested? No, he could have resisted the temptation. When the enemy tempts us, we should always look for a way to escape the temptation. What could Ammon have done to escape his temptation for his sister? Surely he could of found some way to escape the temptation.

1 John 2:16 tells us, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 13:1-18

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
16 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

Things to think about:

• Why was Ammon obsessed with his sister Tamar?
• What did Jonadab suggest Ammon do about his obsession?
• How did Jonadab’s plan play out?
• How did Ammon feel after he took advantage of his sister?
• What did Ammon tell Tamar to do after he had his way with her?
• What lessons can we learn from this incidence that took place with Ammon and Tamar?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we can see how sin can cause people to do things they shouldn’t do. Help us to realize there are always things in this life to tempt us to sin. Help us to look for ways to escape the temptation. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions is a Daily Bible Reading study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of Zechariah from the Old Testament of the Bible. Zechariah was a prophet during Old Testament times. He tells of eight dreams or visions he has where the LORD communicates with him.

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