Amnon (I)

I. AMNON, the eldest Son of David and Ahinoam his second Wife, having conceived a violent passion for his Sister Tamar, who was the Daughter of David and Maachah, and Absalom’s Sister, grew very 2 Sam. xiii. 1, 2, &c. In the Year of the World 2972, before J. C. 1028, before the vulgar Æra 1032.uneasy and consumptive; which being observed by Jonadab the Son of Shimeah, David’s Brother, and a great friend to Amnon, he said, Why art thou, being the King’s Son, lean from day to day? Amnon discovered his passion to him, and the impossibility there seemed to be of satisfying it. Jonadab advised him to counterfeit sickness, and said, When the King thy Father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee let my Sister Tamar come and give me meat, and dress me meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. Amnon followed this advice, and the King easily granted his request. When Tamar came to the Apartment where her Brother Amnon lay, she took flour, kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. And she took a pan and poured them out before him.

But Amnon would eat nothing. He ordered every body out of his room; and calling his Sister to him in the most private part of the chamber, where his bed was, he would have offered violence to her. But Tamar said to him, Nay, my Brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel; do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? And as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore I pray thee, speak unto the King, for he will not with-hold me from thee¹.

But Amnon hearkening only to the dictates of his passion, forced her, and abused her: after which his aversion to her was more excessive than his love had been. He would have obliged her to leave the room, but she making some resistance, he called in one of his servants, ordered him to turn her out, and shut the door after her. Her Brother Absalom meeting her all in tears, making sad outcries, and having her head covered with ashes, comforted her, and advised her to be silent. David, vid, upon information of what had passed, was extremely afflicted. But as he loved Amnon, who was his eldest Son, very tenderly, he was unwilling to do any thing that might grieve him.

Absalom kept his resentment of this affront close within his heart for two years, waiting an opportunity to revenge it. One day he invited the King his Father, and all his Brothers, to an entertainment which he made at Baal-hazor, upon the shearing of his sheep. The King thanked him: but Absalom entreated him with so much earnestness, that he permitted him to carry with him the Princes his Sons, and particularly Amnon. Absalom gave his orders to his people, charging them that when they saw Amnon disordered with wine, upon the signal given, they should strike and kill him: Fear not, said he, have not I commanded you? The Officers executed what their Master had directed them to do, and Amnon was dispatched in the midst of his good cheer, at his Brother Absalom’s house, in the year of the World 2974. before J. C. 1026. before the vulgar Æra 1030.

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