2 Samuel 13:11
ESV
But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."
NIV
But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister."
NASB
When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, 'Come, sleep with me, my sister.'
CSB
When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come sleep with me, my sister!"
NLT
But as she was feeding him, he grabbed her and demanded, 'Come to bed with me, my darling sister.'
KJV
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.
NKJV
Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
What does 2 Samuel 13:11 mean?
Amnon is finally getting what he wants. He's obsessed with his half-sister Tamar to the point that it's making him physically ill. His friend and cousin saw his helplessness and came up with a plan (2 Samuel 13:1–5). It's working. He's in his bedchambers. He's sent the servants away. It's just him and Tamar (2 Samuel 13:9–10). So makes his proposition: that he and Tamar have sex—with the text once again emphasizing that these are half-siblings.Tamar can't physically overpower Amnon, so she'll use reason. What Amnon wants is unthinkable (2 Samuel 13:12). She'll be irredeemably shamed, and he'll be an "outrageous fool." Tamar also looks to stall Amnon, saying that they can be married properly if David approves (2 Samuel 13:13).
Amnon has no idea that he's part of a curse God laid on David. David took Bathsheba and made her pregnant. He deceived Uriah and tried to get him to sleep with his wife and assume the child was his. When he refused, David sent him back to the battle, carrying sealed instructions on how Joab should arrange for the enemy to kill him (2 Samuel 10:2–17).
It took a parable and a series of curses before David could acknowledge what he'd done. He repented sincerely (Psalm 51). God accepted his humility and told him he wouldn't die, but the curses stand (2 Samuel 12:1–13).
All Amnon can think of is his lust. Completely forgotten is that Tamar has a full brother who, consistent with the culture, takes his sister's honor personally. After two years, Absalom will take that metaphorical sword (2 Samuel 12:10) and kill Amnon (2 Samuel 13:29).
