Tamar תָּמָר
David's daughter, raped by her half-brother Amnon
Who is Tamar in the Bible?
Tamar was the beautiful daughter of King David and sister of Absalom, whose tragic story is recorded in 2 Samuel 13. She was raped by her half-brother Amnon, who afterward rejected and humiliated her, leaving her devastated and desolate. This violent assault set off a chain of tragic events, including Absalom's murder of Amnon and his subsequent rebellion against their father David (2 Samuel 13:20-39). Tamar's account illustrates the moral corruption and devastating family violence that plagued David's household, serving as a sobering narrative about the consequences of unchecked sin and the suffering of those victimized by it.
Biography
Tamar was the beautiful daughter of King David and full sister of Absalom (2Sa.13.1; 1Ch.3.9). She was raped by her half-brother Amnon, who then rejected her (2Sa.13.1-19). Tamar's tragedy led to Absalom's murder of Amnon and eventual rebellion against David (2Sa.13.20-39). Her story illustrates the dysfunctional relationships and violence within David's family.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Amnon Tribe of JudahDavid's sonDavid's firstborn son, killed by AbsalomView full profile →
- Chileab Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of David and Abigail the CarmelitessView full profile →
- Absalom Tribe of JudahDavid's sonDavid's rebellious son who tried to usurp the throne.View full profile →
- Adonijah MaleLevite sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the LawView full profile →
- Shephatiah MaleDavid's warriorBenjamite warrior who joined DavidView full profile →
- Ithream Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of David, born in Hebron to Eglah.View full profile →
- Shammua Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of David born in JerusalemView full profile →
- Shobab Tribe of JudahSon of CalebSon of Caleb and Azubah.View full profile →
- Nathan Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of David and Bathsheba, ancestor of Jesus.View full profile →
- Solomon Tribe of JudahKing of JudahSon of David, king of Israel, known for his wisdom.View full profile →
- Ibhar Tribe of JudahDavid's sonOne of King David's sons born in Jerusalem.View full profile →
- Elishua Tribe of JudahDavid's sonA son of David born in Jerusalem.View full profile →
- Nepheg Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of King David, born in Jerusalem.View full profile →
- Japhia Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of David, born in JerusalemView full profile →
- Elishama Tribe of JudahSon of JekamiahA descendant of Jerahmeel from the tribe of Judah.View full profile →
- Eliada Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of David born in JerusalemView full profile →
- Eliphelet Tribe of BenjaminSaul's familyA descendant of King Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.View full profile →
- Elpelet Tribe of JudahDavid's sonA son of David born in Jerusalem.View full profile →
- Nogah Tribe of JudahDavid's sonSon of DavidView full profile →
- Jerimoth MaleDavid's warriorOne of David's warriors from the tribe of Benjamin.View full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 13:1
"After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom."
- 2 Samuel 13:2
"Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her."
- 2 Samuel 13:4
"and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”"
- 2 Samuel 13:5
"Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’”"
- 2 Samuel 13:6
"So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”"
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:9
"These were all the sons of David, besides the sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | תָּמָר |
Tamar (2)
8:28). The Dead Sea is the eastern border; and the southern boundary runs from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth-kadesh to the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea. The place therefore lay somewhere to the Southwest of the Dead Sea. "Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi)" (2Ch 20:2) is of course out of the question, being much too far to the North. Eusebius (in Onomasticon) mentions Asasonthamar, with which Thamara was identified. This place was a village with fortress and Roman garrison, a day's journey from Mampsis on the way from Hebron to Elath. It is the Thamaro mentioned by Ptolemy (v.16, 8), as a military station on the road from Hebron to Petra. It is named also in the Peutinger Tables. Neither Mampsis nor Thamaro has been identified.
(2) Among the towns "built" or fortified by Solomon, named in 1Ki 9:18, is Tamar (the Revised Version (British and American) following Kethibh), or Tadmor (the King James Version following Qere; compare 2Ch 8:4). Gezer, Beth-horon and Baalath, named along with it, are all in Southern Palestine, while Tamar is described as in the wilderness in the land, pointing to the Negeb or to the Wilderness of Judah. It was probably intended to protect the road for trade from Ezion-geber to Jerusalem. We may with some confidence identify it with (1) above. It is interesting to note that the Chronicler (2Ch 8:4) takes it out of connection with the other cities (2Ch 8:5), and brings its building into relation with Solomon's conquest of Hamath-zobah. Clearly in his mind it denoted the great and beautiful city of Palmyra, which has so long been known as "Tadmor in the Wilderness."
W. Ewing
(1) 'eshel (Ge 21:33, the King James Version "grove," margin "tree"; 1Sa 22:6, the King James Version "tree," margin "grove