Single lesson
Amnon and Tamar
2 Samuel 13:1–22
A painful part of David’s family story shows Tamar being deceived, assaulted, and left in deep sorrow.
Before you teach
Absalom, David’s son, had a sister named Tamar. She was beautiful, and Amnon, another of David’s sons, said he loved her. He became so troubled that he seemed sick. His friend Jonadab noticed and asked what was wrong. When Amnon told him about Tamar, Jonadab suggested a plan to bring her to him. Amnon pretended to be sick. When King David came to see him, Amnon asked for Tamar to come and make food for him there in front of him. David sent word to Tamar, and she went to…
Explain the central teaching of Amnon and Tamar, using two details from the reading. A painful part of David’s family story shows Tamar being deceived, assaulted, and left in deep sorrow.
Welcome: Amnon and Tamar
5 minIntroduce “Amnon and Tamar” and locate 2 Samuel 13:1–22. A painful part of David’s family story shows Tamar being deceived, assaulted, and left in deep sorrow. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
2 Samuel 13:1, 2 Samuel 13:12, 2 Samuel 13:22
Read and explain the passage
12 minAbsalom, David’s son, had a sister named Tamar. She was beautiful, and Amnon, another of David’s sons, said he loved her. He became so troubled that he seemed sick. His friend Jonadab noticed and asked what was wrong. When Amnon told him about Tamar, Jonadab suggested a plan to bring her to him.
Then Amnon sent everyone else out. He told Tamar to bring the food into the inner room. When she came near, he grabbed her and told her to lie with him. Tamar pleaded with him not to force her. She spoke of the shame and wrong of it, but he would not listen. Because he was stronger, he forced her.
Absalom asked Tamar whether Amnon had been with her. He told her to keep silent, and Tamar stayed, desolate, in Absalom’s house. When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. Absalom said nothing to Amnon, but he hated him because he had forced Tamar. What does this passage show about the deep harm caused by deceit and violence within a family?
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Amnon and Tamar”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
2 Samuel 13:2, 2 Samuel 13:1, 2 Samuel 13:3, 2 Samuel 13:16, 2 Samuel 13:10, 2 Samuel 13:14, 2 Samuel 13:20, 2 Samuel 13:21, 2 Samuel 13:22
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Amnon pretended to be sick.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. A painful part of David’s family story shows Tamar being deceived, assaulted, and left in deep sorrow. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
2 Samuel 13:6, 2 Samuel 13:8, 2 Samuel 13:5, 2 Samuel 13:16, 2 Samuel 13:10, 2 Samuel 13:14, 2 Samuel 13:20, 2 Samuel 13:21, 2 Samuel 13:22
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Amnon and Tamar: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Amnon and Tamar” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
2 Samuel 13:1, 2 Samuel 13:12, 2 Samuel 13:22
Closing: return to Amnon and Tamar
3 minRevisit 2 Samuel 13:1–22. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Amnon and Tamar and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
2 Samuel 13:1, 2 Samuel 13:12, 2 Samuel 13:22
Questions to explore
“Amnon pretended to be sick.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Amnon pretended to be sick. When King David came to see him, Amnon asked for Tamar to come and make food for him there in front of him. David sent word to Tamar, and she went to Amnon’s house. She took dough, made cakes in his sight, and baked them.
2 Samuel 13:6, 2 Samuel 13:8, 2 Samuel 13:5
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “Then Amnon sent everyone else out.”?
Then Amnon sent everyone else out. He told Tamar to bring the food into the inner room. When she came near, he grabbed her and told her to lie with him. Tamar pleaded with him not to force her. She spoke of the shame and wrong of it, but he would not listen. Because he was stronger, he forced her.
2 Samuel 13:16, 2 Samuel 13:10, 2 Samuel 13:14
What does this passage show about the deep harm caused by deceit and violence within a family?
Absalom asked Tamar whether Amnon had been with her. He told her to keep silent, and Tamar stayed, desolate, in Absalom’s house. When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. Absalom said nothing to Amnon, but he hated him because he had forced Tamar.
2 Samuel 13:20, 2 Samuel 13:21, 2 Samuel 13:22
Make, think or respond
Amnon and Tamar: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 2 Samuel 13:1–22. Use “Amnon and Tamar” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Amnon and Tamar connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Amnon and Tamar” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of 2 Samuel 13:1–22. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 2 Samuel 13:1–22. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Samuel 13
1 After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
4 He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ”
6 So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9 She took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Then every man went out from him.
10 Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.
11 When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!”
12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don’t you do this folly!
13 As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”
14 However, he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”
16 She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!” But he would not listen to her.
17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”
18 She had a garment of various colors on her, for the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.
19 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
20 Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.