Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. 2 Samuel 13:19
Tamar came running from Amnon’s room absolutely devastated. Your heart goes out to her. Who can describe the pain she must have felt? You want to stop and cry with her.
She goes straight to her brother Absalom, and he tries to comfort her. What he says to her is not particularly helpful. But it is clear that Absalom cared for his sister, and she felt safe with him.
Absalom was furious and he determined that he was going to take revenge. “Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar” (13:22, NIV). Talk about dysfunctional! This terrible thing happened, but nobody is talking about it. Absalom will not speak to Amnon. If Amnon walks into the room, Absalom walks out.
That’s how it was for two years. Then one day Absalom was out supervising the shearing of his sheep, and when the work was done, Absalom thought it was time for a celebration. So he persuaded all the king’s sons to join him, including Amnon.
Then Absalom said to his men: “When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him” (13:28). That is exactly what happened, and the rest of the king’s sons jumped on their mules and fled. Nobody was surprised.
Jonadab reported this to the king saying, “This has been Absalom’s expressed intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar” (13:32). Notice the words, “expressed intention.” That means Absalom talked about it. He issued threats. He never said a word to Amnon, but everybody knew that Absalom was determined to get even.
Have you determined to take revenge for some wrong that was done to you or to someone you care about? Are you talking about it? Issuing threats?
