2 Samuel 13:1
ESV
Now Absalom, David 's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David 's son, loved her.
NIV
In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.
NASB
Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David was in love with her.
CSB
Some time passed. David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David’s son Amnon was infatuated with her.
NLT
Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her.
KJV
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.
NKJV
After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
What does 2 Samuel 13:1 mean?
One of the Lord's consequences for David's sins of adultery and murder was that David's house would always be marked by the sword of violence (2 Samuel 12:10). This chapter describes the specific ways in which that judgment against David is fulfilled.It begins with the one-sided attraction of a man, Amnon, for a beautiful woman who happens to be his half-sister. He can't get her alone until his clever cousin devises a plan. Amnon will pretend to be even sicker than he already feels. He'll convince their father, King David, to send Tamar to give him food. If Amnon can then clear the room, he'll be able to do what he wants to Tamar (2 Samuel 13:3–5). Sadly, the plan works. This leads to humiliation, murder, and eventually a rebellion against David.
Amnon is David's oldest son. David married Amnon's mother, Ahinoam, the Jezreelite, before he became king of Judah (1 Samuel 25:43). Absalom is David's third son; his and Tamar's mother is Maacah, the daughter of the king of Geshur. Both sons were born in Hebron, after David became king of Judah. Tamar appears to be David's only daughter among David's wives' 19 sons (1 Chronicles 3:9).
