2 Samuel 13:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her.

NIV: So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing an ornate robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore.

NASB: Now she had on a long-sleeved garment; for this is how the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her.

CSB: Amnon’s servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved garment, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore.

NLT: So the servant put her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe, as was the custom in those days for the king’s virgin daughters.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.

Amnon raped Tamar, his half-sister, an egregious crime against her and God (2 Samuel 13:14). He then refused to give her justice. The culture believes that she's defiled; no good man will want to marry her. When God created the Mosaic law, He had to work within the culture to draw the Israelites into more holy living. Some parts of the culture, like the extreme patriarchy, were too embedded to purify quickly. So God created laws to mitigate the damage, especially to women. He protected them from false accusations of adultery and having sex before marriage (Deuteronomy 22:13–21; Numbers 5:11–31). And He created a law to protect women who had been raped before they were married.

By the Mosaic law, Amnon is required to marry Tamar (Deuteronomy 22:28–29). Marriages back then weren't for love. They were for the strength of the clan. Women married and had children to be part of a family that provided for her and protected her. The contribution of her labor and her children was essential for the survival of the people.

Tamar is now ineligible to have a normal marriage. As a princess, she should be married to a nobleman or a king from another country. Her only hope for a family is through her abuser. But Amnon has kicked her out and locked the door. He refuses to take responsibility. To Tamar, his abandonment is a greater crime than the rape. She would rather have an incestuous marriage (Leviticus 18:9, 11) with a man who brutalized her than live her life alone (2 Samuel 13:15–17).

Her robe, like Joseph's (Genesis 37:3), signifies her identity and status. She's a princess under the protection of her father, the king. As she leaves, she tears the robe, both in mourning and because she decides it's no longer appropriate for her to wear. She puts ashes on her head, covers her head with her hand, and cries loudly as she makes her way home (2 Samuel 13:19).

In this chapter, God's curse that the sword will strike David's house (2 Samuel 12:10) begins to emerge. David's firstborn son Amnon lusts over half-sister Tamar. Tamar fights back, but Amnon first rapes her and then rejects her. David is angry but does nothing. Two years later, Tamar's full brother Absalom murders Amnon. Three years after that, Absalom returns and becomes the enemy in David's house who takes his wives in public (2 Samuel 12:11–12; 15:1–16; 16:21–23).

This begins fulfillment of some of God's curses against David (2 Samuel 12:10), and sets the scene for others (2 Samuel 12:11–12). David's oldest son, Amnon, rapes his own half-sister, Tamar. Her full brother Absalom murders Amnon, starting a five-year campaign of vengeance against David. By the end, two of David's sons will be dead, his daughter will be desolate, and David will be deeply humbled (2 Samuel 14—19).