וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי כֵן וּלְאַבְשָׁלוֹם בֶּן דָּוִד אָחוֹת יָפָה וּשְׁמָהּ תָּמָר וַיֶּאֱהָבֶהָ אַמְנוֹן בֶּן דָּוִד

It was after that [ah·], and Avshalom son of David had a fair sister, and her name was Tamar. There does not appear to be any causal or chronological connection between the military victory over Amon and the incident that follows. This observation is supported by the Midrash, which states that when an incident is introduced with the term aḥar, it occurred shortly after what was described previously, but when it is introduced by the term aḥarei, it occurred a significant amount of time after the events described previously. The verse describes Tamar as Avshalom’s sister (see also verse 4), apparently indicating that she was not David’s daughter. This provides important background for the story. Tamar and Avshalom were children of the same mother: Maakha, daughter of the king of Geshur. Apparently, Tamar had been conceived or born before David married Maakha. She was raised in David’s household, but as far as David and his family members were concerned, her status was not that of an adopted daughter or sister. Others claim that Tamar was indeed a biological daughter of Maakha and David; however Maakha had conceived her before she converted to Judaism, in accordance with the opinion that the law of a woman taken captive permits relations with her before she converts. Consequently, from a halakhic perspective, Tamar was not considered a sister of Amnon. Amnon son of David loved her. Amnon, as David’s eldest son and the crown prince, was accustomed to a life of indulgence and to a feeling of power and authority. Due to that sense of entitlement, when he fell in love with Tamar, he was neither inclined nor equipped to control himself.

וַיֵּצֶר לְאַמְנוֹן לְהִתְחַלּוֹת בַּעֲבוּר תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ כִּי בְתוּלָה הִיא וַיִּפָּלֵא בְּעֵינֵי אַמְנוֹן לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהּ מְאוּמָה

Amnon was so distressed that he fell ill due to his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and in keeping with the common behavior of virgins, she lived privately in her quarters and did not come into contact with Amnon. And yet it was beyond Amnon to do anything, to initiate any contact, with her.

וּלְאַמְנוֹן רֵעַ וּשְׁמוֹ יוֹנָדָב בֶּן שִׁמְעָה אֲחִי דָוִד וְיוֹנָדָב אִישׁ חָכָם מְאֹד

Amnon had a friend, and his name was Yonadav son of Shima, also called Shama; Shima was David’s older brother. Yonadav, who was presumably older than his cousin Amnon, was a very clever [h·] man. Yonadav was shrewd and could give advice that was very effective, though not necessarily morally sound. Although the word ḥakham means wise or clever, it does not necessarily refer to an individual of high moral stature.

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה כָּכָה דַּל בֶּן הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר הֲלוֹא תַּגִּיד לִי וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַמְנוֹן אֶת תָּמָר אֲחוֹת אַבְשָׁלֹם אָחִי אֲנִי אֹהֵב

He said to him, to Amnon: Why are you so pathetic morning after morning, son of the king? The fact that you look miserable every morning, before the day has even started, clearly indicates that you are distressed. Won’t you tell me what is disturbing you? Amnon said to him: I love Tamar, sister of my brother Avshalom.

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ יְהוֹנָדָב שְׁכַב עַל מִשְׁכָּבְךָ וְהִתְחָל וּבָא אָבִיךָ לִרְאוֹתֶךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו תָּבֹא נָא תָמָר אֲחוֹתִי וְתַבְרֵנִי לֶחֶם וְעָשְׂתָה לְעֵינַי אֶת הַבִּרְיָה לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר אֶרְאֶה וְאָכַלְתִּי מִיָּדָהּ

Yehonadav said to him: I have an idea. Lie on your bed and make yourself ill. Your father will come to see you; say to him: Please let my sister Tamar come and serve me food. Let her prepare the food before my eyes, so that I will see her prepare it, and perhaps the sight and smell of the food will stimulate my appetite, and I will eat from her hand, as I am currently unable to eat anything. This is the ruse suggested by Yonadav to get Tamar to go to Amnon’s room.

וַיִּשְׁכַּב אַמְנוֹן וַיִּתְחָל וַיָּבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְאֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אַמְנוֹן אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ תָּבוֹא נָא תָּמָר אֲחֹתִי וּתְלַבֵּב לְעֵינַי שְׁתֵּי לְבִבוֹת וְאֶבְרֶה מִיָּדָהּ

Amnon lay down and made himself ill. The king, as expected, came to see him, and Amnon said to the king: Please let my sister Tamar come and prepare me two pancakes before my eyes, and I will eat from her hand. These pancakes [levivot] were apparently similar to the food known as levivot in modern Hebrew; they were composed primarily of dough, perhaps together with other ingredients, and were fried in oil.

וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד אֶל תָּמָר הַבַּיְתָה לֵאמֹר לְכִי נָא בֵּית אַמְנוֹן אָחִיךְ וַעֲשִׂי לוֹ הַבִּרְיָה

David innocently sent to Tamar at the house, saying: Please go to the house of your brother Amnon, and prepare the food for him.

וַתֵּלֶךְ תָּמָר בֵּית אַמְנוֹן אָחִיהָ וְהוּא שֹׁכֵב וַתִּקַּח אֶת הַבָּצֵק וַתָּלָשׁ וַתְּלַבֵּב לְעֵינָיו וַתְּבַשֵּׁל אֶת הַלְּבִבוֹת

Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded and prepared pancakes before his eyes, and cooked the pancakes.

וַתִּקַּח אֶת הַמַּשְׂרֵת וַתִּצֹק לְפָנָיו וַיְמָאֵן לֶאֱכוֹל וַיֹּאמֶר אַמְנוֹן הוֹצִיאוּ כָל אִישׁ מֵעָלַי וַיֵּצְאוּ כָל אִישׁ מֵעָלָיו

She took the pan and set them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said: Send out every man from before me. He asked all of his servants and visitors to leave. And every man went out from before him.

וַיֹּאמֶר אַמְנוֹן אֶל תָּמָר הָבִיאִי הַבִּרְיָה הַחֶדֶר וְאֶבְרֶה מִיָּדֵךְ וַתִּקַּח תָּמָר אֶת הַלְּבִבוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂתָה וַתָּבֵא לְאַמְנוֹן אָחִיהָ הֶחָדְרָה

Amnon said to Tamar: Bring the food that you have prepared into the room, and I will eat from your hand. Tamar took the pancakes that she had prepared and brought them to Amnon her brother, to the room.

וַתַּגֵּשׁ אֵלָיו לֶאֱכֹל וַיַּחֲזֶק בָּהּ וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ בּוֹאִי שִׁכְבִי עִמִּי אֲחוֹתִי

She served them to him to eat, while he was still lying in bed, and he took hold of her forcefully and said to her, coarsely: Come lie with me, my sister.

וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַל אָחִי אַל תְּעַנֵּנִי כִּי לֹא יֵעָשֶׂה כֵן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אַל תַּעֲשֵׂה אֶת הַנְּבָלָה הַזֹּאת

She answered him: No, my brother, do not afflict me, for so shall not be done in Israel; perhaps in neighboring countries they allow young men who desire young women to do as they please, but this is certainly not the case in Israel. Do not perform this despicable act.

וַאֲנִי אָנָה אוֹלִיךְ אֶת חֶרְפָּתִי וְאַתָּה תִּהְיֶה כְּאַחַד הַנְּבָלִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַתָּה דַּבֶּר נָא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי לֹא יִמְנָעֵנִי מִמֶּךָּ

As for me, where will I carry my shame? How could I endure the resulting disgrace? And you will be considered like one of the knaves in Israel. Now, please, if you desire me, speak to the king, as although he has not thought of it before, he will not withhold me from you.

וְלֹא אָבָה לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹלָהּ וַיֶּחֱזַק מִמֶּנָּה וַיְעַנֶּהָ וַיִּשְׁכַּב אֹתָהּ

He was unwilling to heed her voice. Amnon desired Tamar; it is not clear that he genuinely loved her, despite his declaration that he did. Apparently, Amnon did not consider the possibility of marrying Tamar, and Yonadav did not suggest it. It is possible that as the prince who might one day become king, Amnon did not see Tamar as having sufficiently distinguished lineage for him. Tamar resisted, and he overpowered her, and forced her and lay with her.

וַיִּשְׂנָאֶהָ אַמְנוֹן שִׂנְאָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד כִּי גְדוֹלָה הַשִּׂנְאָה אֲשֶׁר שְׂנֵאָהּ מֵאַהֲבָה אֲשֶׁר אֲהֵבָהּ וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ אַמְנוֹן קוּמִי לֵכִי

Once he had fulfilled his desire, Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred, as the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had previously loved her. Amnon said to her: Rise, go away immediately.

וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַל אוֹדֹת הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת מֵאַחֶרֶת אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ עִמִּי לְשַׁלְּחֵנִי וְלֹא אָבָה לִשְׁמֹעַ לָהּ

She said to him: Do not do this, for this is a greater evil, to send me away publicly, than the other humiliation, the rape, that you did to me. It is possible that Tamar wanted to remain in his room until she was able to calm down, and leave later, without others noticing. Alternatively, perhaps her protest concerned marriage. Torah law requires a man who rapes a virgin to marry her, if she so desires. He was unwilling to heed her.

וַיִּקְרָא אֶת נַעֲרוֹ מְשָׁרְתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁלְחוּ נָא אֶת זֹאת מֵעָלַי הַחוּצָה וּנְעֹל הַדֶּלֶת אַחֲרֶיהָ

He called his lad, his servant, and said: Please send this one away from me, and lock the door behind her so that she cannot reenter. Amnon did not even refer to Tamar by name.

וְעָלֶיהָ כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים כִּי כֵן תִּלְבַּשְׁןָ בְנוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ הַבְּתוּלֹת מְעִילִים וַיֹּצֵא אוֹתָהּ מְשָׁרְתוֹ הַחוּץ וְנָעַל הַדֶּלֶת אַחֲרֶיהָ

When Tamar had come to Amnon, there was an embroidered tunic, a tunic of embroidered stripes of many colors, or of strips of cloth sewn together, beautiful and special, similar to that given by Jacob to his beloved son, Joseph, upon her other garments, for so would the king’s virgin daughters wear robes. They would wear these robes over their other clothing as a sign of honor and an indication of their elevated status. His servant took her out and locked the door behind her.

וַתִּקַּח תָּמָר אֵפֶר עַל רֹאשָׁהּ וכְתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיהָ קָרָעָה וַתָּשֶׂם יָדָהּ עַל רֹאשָׁהּ וַתֵּלֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וְזָעָקָה

Tamar took ashes and placed them on her head, and rent the embroidered upper tunic that was upon her. She placed her hand on her head and went, crying out as she walked, in her pain and despair.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ אַבְשָׁלוֹם אָחִיהָ הַאֲמִינוֹן אָחִיךְ הָיָה עִמָּךְ וְעַתָּה אֲחוֹתִי הַחֲרִישִׁי אָחִיךְ הוּא אַל תָּשִׁיתִי אֶת לִבֵּךְ לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַתֵּשֶׁב תָּמָר וְשֹׁמֵמָה בֵּית אַבְשָׁלוֹם אָחִיהָ

Avshalom her brother said to her when she returned to her house: Has Aminon your brother been with you? Avshalom referred to Amnon derisively as Aminon. It is possible that Avshalom realized what had occurred before anyone else, as Avshalom naturally had greater concern and sensitivity for his sister, he knew Amnon well, and was approximately the same age. He also may have realized that such an act was entirely consistent with Amnon’s general behavior. Now, my sister, be silent, do not generate a scandal. In general the victim of rape, or her father, would press charges against the aggressor but that is not going to happen in this case, for he is your brother, do not set your heart on this matter; since you cannot do anything about it, keep the matter quiet. This practical advice did not console Tamar, and so Tamar stayed alone and in desolation in the house of Avshalom her brother. This indicates that the grown children of the king did not live in the royal palace, but rather in small houses of their own.

וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד שָׁמַע אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיִּחַר לוֹ מְאֹד

King David heard of all these matters, for Tamar had gone out yelling and crying, and with torn clothes, in order to publicize what had occurred, and he was greatly incensed, or pained. Nonetheless, the text does not mention that David took any action to aid Tamar, who was under his custody, or that he rebuked Amnon.

וְלֹא דִבֶּר אַבְשָׁלוֹם עִם אַמְנוֹן לְמֵרָע וְעַד טוֹב כִּי שָׂנֵא אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת אַמְנוֹן עַל דְּבַר אֲשֶׁר עִנָּה אֵת תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ

From that time, Avshalom did not speak to Amnon, either good or bad; he was not even able to speak to him in order to rebuke him, for Avshalom hated Amnon over the matter that he had violated Tamar his sister.

וַיְהִי לשְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים וַיִּהְיוּ גֹזְזִים לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּבַעַל חָצוֹר אֲשֶׁר עִם אֶפְרָיִם וַיִּקְרָא אַבְשָׁלוֹם לְכָל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

Due to Avshalom’s deep hatred for Amnon, which he had no way to express, he began to consider actually causing Amnon harm. It was after two years, and they were shearing for Avshalom in Baal Hatzor, which is alongside Ephraim, and Avshalom invited all the king’s sons to celebrate the shearing with him, as it was customary to hold a great celebration at the conclusion of the shearing.

וַיָּבֹא אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נָא גֹזְזִים לְעַבְדֶּךָ יֵלֶךְ נָא הַמֶּלֶךְ וַעֲבָדָיו עִם עַבְדֶּךָ

Avshalom came to the king and said: Behold now, they are shearing for your servant; let the king and his servants please go with your servant.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל אַבְשָׁלוֹם אַל בְּנִי אַל נָא נֵלֵךְ כֻּלָּנוּ וְלֹא נִכְבַּד עָלֶיךָ וַיִּפְרָץ בּוֹ וְלֹא אָבָה לָלֶכֶת וַיְבָרֲכֵהוּ

The king said to Avshalom: No, my son, please let us not all go, that we not be a burden to you. I am happy for you, but it will be unnecessarily burdensome to you if my entourage and I join your private celebration. He implored him, but he was unwilling to go, and he blessed him. The king wished Avshalom well but did not agree to attend the celebration.

וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם וָלֹא יֵלֶךְ נָא אִתָּנוּ אַמְנוֹן אָחִי וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ לָמָּה יֵלֵךְ עִמָּךְ

Avshalom said: If you do not join us, please, let my brother Amnon go with us. Avshalom was insulted, or at least displayed insult, at the king’s refusal to attend, and demanded that he at least send his eldest son to represent him. The king said to him: Why should he go with you? Why do you require his presence? David did not feel comfortable with this request, as he knew of the tense relationship between Avshalom and Amnon.

וַיִּפְרָץ בּוֹ אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיִּשְׁלַח אִתּוֹ אֶת אַמְנוֹן וְאֵת כָּל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

Avshalom implored him again, and the king agreed, and he sent Amnon with him, and all the king’s sons. David knew that Avshalom was not trying to draw close to Amnon, but assumed that he wanted the honor of the participation of the prince.

וַיְצַו אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת נְעָרָיו לֵאמֹר רְאוּ נָא כְּטוֹב לֵב אַמְנוֹן בַּיַּיִן וְאָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם הַכּוּ אֶת אַמְנוֹן וַהֲמִתֶּם אֹתוֹ אַל תִּירָאוּ הֲלוֹא כִּי אָנֹכִי צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם חִזְקוּ וִהְיוּ לִבְנֵי חָיִל

Avshalom commanded his lads, saying: See now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, when he is drunk at the celebration of the shearing, and he won’t have full use of his faculties, I will say to you: Smite Amnon, and put him to death. Do not be afraid. Wasn’t it I who commanded you? It is no small matter to kill a man without trial, especially the king’s eldest son, but the responsibility for the act will not fall upon you, as you are expected to simply fulfill my commands. Be strong, and be valiant men.

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ נַעֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם לְאַמְנוֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיָּקֻמוּ כָּל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּרְכְּבוּ אִישׁ עַל פִּרְדּוֹ וַיָּנֻסוּ

Indeed, during the celebration, Avshalom’s lads did to Amnon as Avshalom had commanded. When they saw this murder carried out in front of their eyes, all the king’s other sons rose; each man rode on his mule and fled.

וַיְהִי הֵמָּה בַדֶּרֶךְ וְהַשְּׁמֻעָה בָאָה אֶל דָּוִד לֵאמֹר הִכָּה אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת כָּל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְלֹא נוֹתַר מֵהֶם אֶחָד

It was when they were still on the way, and it is possible that due to their fear and shock they did not take the quickest route home, that the rumor came to David, saying: Avshalom has smitten all the king’s sons, and not one of them remains. David received the message that there had been murder among his sons, and although none of his sons had returned home yet, the message received was erroneous, that Avshalom had killed them all.

וַיָּקָם הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּקְרַע אֶת בְּגָדָיו וַיִּשְׁכַּב אָרְצָה וְכָל עֲבָדָיו נִצָּבִים קְרֻעֵי בְגָדִים

The king rose and rent his garments and lay on the ground; all his servants were standing by him with rent garments, due to the horrific tragedy that had struck the royal household.

וַיַּעַן יוֹנָדָב בֶּן שִׁמְעָה אֲחִי דָוִד וַיֹּאמֶר אַל יֹאמַר אֲדֹנִי אֵת כָּל הַנְּעָרִים בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הֵמִיתוּ כִּי אַמְנוֹן לְבַדּוֹ מֵת כִּי עַל פִּי אַבְשָׁלוֹם הָיְתָה שׂוּמָה מִיּוֹם עַנֹּתוֹ אֵת תָּמָר אֲחֹתוֹ

Yonadav, son of Shima, David’s brother, spoke up and said: Let my lord not say that they have put all the lads, sons of the king, to death, as I would assume that Amnon alone is dead. Avshalom had no reason to kill the other sons of the king, whereas he had a clear motive to kill Amnon; for according to Avshalom it has been determined from the day that he violated Tamar his sister. Avshalom has been planning to kill Amnon since the day that he raped Tamar.

וְעַתָּה אַל יָשֵׂם אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל לִבּוֹ דָּבָר לֵאמֹר כָּל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ מֵתוּ כִּי אַמְנוֹן לְבַדּוֹ מֵת

Now let my lord, the king, not set a matter in his heart, saying: All the sons of the king have died, for Amnon alone is dead. Yonadav’s cleverness is again manifest in his comments here; of course, he did not reveal his part in the original plot.

וַיִּבְרַח אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיִּשָּׂא הַנַּעַר הַצֹּפֶה אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה עַם רַב הֹלְכִים מִדֶּרֶךְ אַחֲרָיו מִצַּד הָהָר

Avshalom fled in a different direction than the rest of the king’s sons, as he was afraid that he would be punished harshly for his actions. The lad who was the lookout on top of the city wall, whose job was to relay what was happening from afar, lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, a large group of people was traveling from the road to his rear [ah·], along the hillside. Alternatively, this phrase may be translated to mean that they were coming from the west as, in the Bible, kedem, meaning before, connotes east, while aḥor, meaning behind, connotes west. He could not identify the people in the crowd.

וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹנָדָב אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ הִנֵּה בְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בָּאוּ כִּדְבַר עַבְדְּךָ כֵּן הָיָה

Yonadav said to the king: Behold, the king’s sons have come; in accordance with the words of your servant, so it was. My prediction has been proven correct.

וַיְהִי כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר וְהִנֵּה בְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בָּאוּ וַיִּשְׂאוּ קוֹלָם וַיִּבְכּוּ וְגַם הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל עֲבָדָיו בָּכוּ בְּכִי גָּדוֹל מְאֹד

It was as he concluded to speak, and behold, the king’s sons came. They raised their voice and wept, and also the king and all his servants wept a very great weeping. They were all shocked about Amnon’s death, and the fact that a murder had occurred within the family.

וְאַבְשָׁלוֹם בָּרַח וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל תַּלְמַי בֶּן עַמִּיהוּד מֶלֶךְ גְּשׁוּר וַיִּתְאַבֵּל עַל בְּנוֹ כָּל הַיָּמִים

Avshalom fled and went to Talmai, son of Amihud, king of Geshur, who was apparently his grandfather. Avshalom’s mother was from Geshur, and therefore he was confident that the king would not extradite him. He, David, mourned for his son Amnon every day. It is likely that he was also quite upset about his son Avshalom’s actions. Furthermore, David’s sorrow was presumably amplified by his own unknowing role in the sequence of events. It was David who sent Tamar to Amnon (verse 7) and who sent Amnon to Avshalom (verse 27). In addition, he had not demanded redress of Tamar’s humiliation.

וְאַבְשָׁלוֹם בָּרַח וַיֵּלֶךְ גְּשׁוּר וַיְהִי שָׁם שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים

Avshalom fled and went to Geshur, and he was there three years.

וַתְּכַל דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ לָצֵאת אֶל אַבְשָׁלוֹם כִּי נִחַם עַל אַמְנוֹן כִּי מֵת

King David yearned to go out to Avshalom, for he was consoled over Amnon, as he was dead. As demonstrated in the previous story as well, even when David mourned his dead children he realized that they would not return, and that it was necessary to continue with life. Consequently, his mourning for Amnon dimmed with time, whereas his longing for Avshalom remained at full strength.