Sibling Drama - The Book of 2 Samuel

In this Bible Story, we peer into the difficult relationships within David’s family. One of David’s sons, Amnon, rapes his half sister Tamar. And as an act of revenge, Absalom murders him. This story is inspired by 2 Samuel 13. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.

Today's Bible verse is 2 Samuel 13:30 from the King James Version.

Episode 104: David was blessed with many children, yet because of his many marriages, this made for dysfunction rather than joy; such as the lust that Amnon had for his half-sister Tamar. He schemed with his friend Jonadab to feign sickness and raped her as she was caring for him. Running in shame to her brother Absalom she told him all that had happened. He took her in and cared for her but he also took the spirit of revenge in and nursed it in his heart. Two years later he killed Amnon and fled to Geshur.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, and it came to pass while they
were in the way, that Tidings came to David saying,
Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is
not one of them left Second Samuel thirteen thirty. Dear Lord,
as the tragedy in Second Samuel thirteen comes to light,

(00:21):
I thank you that you are setting a hedge of
protection around me, so that I am protected from others
taking advantage of me and my kindness. When the grip
of manipulation seems to overpower me, I lean on the
fact that you will provide a way of escape, even
when the amnons of this world seem to have the

(00:42):
upper hand. I choose to praise you because in the end,
you will always vindicate and validate me. Because I am
your child. With this truth, I know that whatever is
done too or against me will not stop the plan
you have for my life, because you are careful to

(01:03):
bring every word you speak to fruition. It's through your
power and through your might that I can boldly speak
this over my life in Jesus' name. Amen, thank you
for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible

(01:26):
Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year dot.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Com sibling drama. In our last story, we saw the
restoration of David after a heinous sin. He had an
affair with one of his most trusted soldier's wife. When

(01:52):
she became pregnant, he covered it up by murdering him.
As a result, David's heart grew hardened and dist from God.
Nathan showed David the error of his ways, which began
the process of bringing David back to God. Sadly, the
child he had had with Bathsheba passed away from sickness,

(02:13):
but a new son was born whom God would use
to do great things. In this story, we learned about
the descent of David's family as predicted by Nathan. Conflict
and sin breaks out among David's children, and the neglect
of David creates brokenness among his family, as inspired by
the Book of Second Samuel.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
This is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode, we
heard how Nathan confronted David for his sin of adultery
and then murder and then the cover up. God would
spare David's life because of his repentance, but he took
the son conceived in sin and promised that there would

(02:58):
be acrimony and war and chaos in his household. David
repented and turned back to God, worshiping him and drawing near,
and found comfort and strength and assurance in his grief.
But while God had forgiven the sin, there would be
consequences for David's choices, And today we'll see how David's
failure creates conflict and drama among his children. It is

(03:21):
a lesson on the brokenness that is caused by sin,
not only David's sin with Bathsheba, but his choice to
marry many wives and disregard God's design for marriage between
one man and one woman. So let's listen now to
today's reading.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
David was blessed with many children, yet because he had
taken several wives, the family lines were blurred and skewed.
Just as his ancestors Abraham and Jacob, David found himself
in the middle of a civil war between his wives
and children. Tamar, David's daughter, was incredibly beautiful and sought

(03:59):
out after by many men throughout Israel. Amnon, David's son
and Tamar's half brother, lusted after her with great passion.
He would watch her from a distance, pining after her relentlessly.
He was tormented by his desires and greatly disturbed. Amnon
vented to his friend Jonadab. Jonadab was a crafty man

(04:22):
and had an unashamed darkness in his heart. My silly prince,
Jonadab scoffed, here is what you shall do. Pretend to
be ill, near death in bed. Ask for her to
come and bring you food, and when she does, you
can make your move. Amnon did as Jonadab suggested. He

(04:42):
lay in his bed, coughing and feverish. Tamar dabbed his
head with a wet cloth and fed him stew from
a spoon. Amnon could barely hold himself together. Around her,
the smell of her hair, the delicate touch of her skin.
Amnon leaned over to Tamar and touched her leg. Lie
with me, he whispered. Tamar swatted his hand away and said,

(05:05):
how could you ask such a thing? You shall not
violate me in that way. Where would I be able
to go with that type of shame? You would be
the greatest fool in all of Israel. Amnon's blood boiled
within him at her words. He grabbed her leg harshly
and threw her beneath him on the bed. Amnon was
far stronger than Tamar, so he had his way with her.

(05:27):
Nobody could hear her whimpering through the chamber doors. After
Amnon was through, he threw Tamar off of the bed
and said get out of here. Because she rejected him,
he hated her with a greater intensity than he ever
loved her. Tears filled her eyes as Amnon's servant was
called in to throw her out of his home. She

(05:47):
went to a secret place and wept before God. Ashamed
of what had happened, she ran to her brother Absalom
and told him all that had happened. So she stayed
with her brother and abe Absalam plotted his revenge against Amnon.
Two full years had passed and Amnon had nearly forgotten
his terrible crimes against Tamar. Yet Absalom did not. He

(06:11):
could never forgive him. He invited all his brothers to
feast in celebration of the sheep shearing festival. Together they ate,
drank and celebrated with music. But Absalom drank nothing. He
ate nothing. Instead, he observed Amnon closely. Amnon drank until
his heart was merry. Without a care in the world.

(06:31):
He danced and stumbled about, enjoying the company of his brothers.
Soon he passed out among the sheep. After this, the
other brothers departed to leave Absalom alone with Amnon. He
nudged Amnon awake. Amnon opened his eyes to see Absalom
standing above him with his sword in his hand. Before

(06:52):
he could say a word, a blade was driven straight
through his heart. David was given word that Absalom had
killed Amnon, and was greatly disturbed. At first, he had
thought that Absalom killed all of his sons, but was
quickly comforted to know that Absalom had only killed Amnon.
He was not surprised by Absalom's actions, for he knew

(07:12):
that his son was capable of great violence. Nevertheless, he
mourned his son's death and awaited the return of his
other sons. Absalom, however, did not return. He remained in Geshur.
A darkness had been unleashed that night in Absalom's heart,
A bitterness towards his father arised it was David that

(07:32):
should have killed Amnun. Instead, he did nothing, so Absalom
remained there for a while plotting to seek revenge on
his father, David.

Speaker 3 (07:46):
Today's scripture opens with the echoes of Abraham and Jacob,
but for all the wrong reasons. Like the patriarchs before him,
David had not denied himself the pleasure of taking many. Wise,
he was not ignorant of the sacredness of marriage. That
God's design was for man to cleave to his wife,
to be one flesh with her. But he was simply

(08:08):
unwilling to deny himself the beautiful women that were available
to him as a decorated warrior and a powerful king.
And just as had happened with the men before him,
David's choices produced a fertile ground for divided loyalties, family dysfunction,
and animosity among siblings. God's design for marriage is not

(08:28):
a trivial rule meant to deprive us of enjoyment. It
is a wise guardrail to protect his own children, to
produce flourishing in the family and peace in the community
and world. And when it is violated, there will always
be problems and terrible consequences. There's no greater reminder of
this than the history of Amnon, Tamar and Absalom. Amnon

(08:53):
burned with desire for his own sister, and he listened
to a wicked friend who told him to just take
what he wanted, even giving him a plan for how
to go about it. It's no mistake that the Book
of Proverbs opens with the truth that blessed are those
who do not walk in the council of the wicked.
But Amnon listened to the counsel of the ungodly and
lured his sister into his room. When she properly rejected

(09:16):
his advances, Amnon raped her then cast her away, hating
her for the rejection. So Tamar fled to another brother's home,
the home of Absalom, and told him what had happened,
And what about David? Was he even aware of what
was happening? Second Samuel thirteen twenty one gives us the answer.
When King David heard of all these things, he was

(09:39):
very angry, so he did know what happened, But apparently
he does nothing again, like others before him, men like
Isaac and Jacob, David saw the strife and the sin
of his own children but did nothing to intervene. But
Absalom was not going to sit idly by. Absalom is

(09:59):
in a rage because what has happened to his sister,
and he is about to take revenge on his brother.
One day, he called his siblings to a feast. He
waited until Amnon was good and drunk, and then he
sent his servants to kill Amnon. His other brothers fled
in fear of their brother. David received word of what
had happened and tore his clothing and mourning, thinking that

(10:21):
all of his sons were dead. But Jonadab let him
know that only Amnon had died as punishment for violating Tamar.
Absalom knew now that he would be persona on grata
in the kingdom and with the king. So he fled
where he hid, letting his hatred and bitterness toward his
father grow. He would one day return to Jerusalem, but

(10:43):
would not find his father waiting in open arms, and
this rejection would fill his heart with murderous intent. We'll
hear about Absalom's return the next time. Dear Lord, we
are reminded in this passage of scripture that there are
always consequences for sin, and we pray that therefore we
would turn from sin and never allow sinful choices to

(11:06):
destroy our lives and our families. We do pray for
grace and mercy for those who have failed, that each
one of us would find in You and your grace
and love displayed at the cross eternal life and salvation.
We thank you that there is no sin that you
cannot forgive, and that your blood, the blood of Jesus Christ,

(11:26):
cleanses us from every sin. So Lord, we turn to you,
and we trust in you, and we find mercy and
grace in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for listening to
today's Bible in a Year podcast. I hope you are
enjoying it as much as i am. This is Pastor
Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray

(11:49):
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(12:10):
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