Topical Encyclopedia
Amnon is a significant yet tragic figure in the Old Testament, known primarily for his role in the events that led to turmoil within King David's family. He was the firstborn son of King David and his wife Ahinoam of Jezreel, making him the crown prince and heir apparent to the throne of Israel (
2 Samuel 3:2).
Family and BackgroundAmnon's position as the eldest son of David placed him in a prominent role within the royal family. His mother, Ahinoam, was one of David's wives, and he had several half-siblings, including Absalom and Tamar, who were the children of David and Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur (
2 Samuel 3:3).
The Sin Against TamarAmnon's most infamous act, which is recorded in
2 Samuel 13, was his violation of his half-sister Tamar. Amnon developed an intense and sinful desire for Tamar, which he confided to his cousin Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab, described as a shrewd man, devised a plan for Amnon to feign illness and request that Tamar attend to him and prepare food in his presence (
2 Samuel 13:3-5).
When Tamar came to care for him, Amnon seized the opportunity to fulfill his lustful desires. Despite Tamar's protests and her plea for him to consider the disgrace and consequences of such an act, Amnon overpowered her and committed the heinous act of rape (
2 Samuel 13:11-14). Afterward, his feelings turned to hatred, and he callously sent her away, further compounding her shame and distress (
2 Samuel 13:15-17).
Consequences and DeathThe aftermath of Amnon's sin had far-reaching consequences. Tamar's brother Absalom took her into his home and harbored a deep-seated hatred for Amnon. King David, upon hearing of the incident, was furious but took no immediate action against Amnon, which may have been due to his own moral failings and the complexities of royal family dynamics (
2 Samuel 13:21).
Two years later, Absalom exacted revenge by orchestrating Amnon's murder during a feast at Baal Hazor. Absalom commanded his servants to kill Amnon when he was in high spirits from wine, fulfilling his long-held desire for vengeance (
2 Samuel 13:28-29). This act of fratricide led to Absalom's flight to Geshur, where he stayed for three years (
2 Samuel 13:37-38).
LegacyAmnon's life and actions serve as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of unchecked desires and the devastating impact of sin within a family. His account is a somber reminder of the importance of righteousness, justice, and the consequences of failing to uphold these values. The events surrounding Amnon contributed to the eventual rebellion of Absalom and the further unraveling of King David's household, highlighting the intricate and often tragic nature of human relationships and the need for divine guidance and forgiveness.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Amnonfaithful and true; tutor
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Amnon(faithful).
- Eldest son of David. (B.C. 1052.) He dishonored his half-sister Tamar, and was in consequence murdered by her brother. (2 Samuel 13:1-29)
- Son of Shimon. (1 Chronicles 4:20)
ATS Bible Dictionary
AmnonThe eldest son of David, by Ahimoam of Jezreel. He is known only by his guilt in violating his sister; for which Absalom, two years after, caused him to be assassinated,2 Samuel 13:1-39.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Faithful.
(1.) One of the sons of Shammai, of the children of Ezra (1 Chronicles 4:20; Comp. 17).
(2.) The eldest son of David, by Ahinoam of Jezreel (1 Chronicles 3:1;2 Samuel 3:2). Absalom caused him to be put to death for his great crime in the matter of Tamar (2 Samuel 13:28, 29).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AMNONam'-non ('amnon, faithful; compare 'aminon, 2 Samuel 13:20, which is probably a diminutive. Wellhausen (IJG, II, 24, note 2) resolves 'amiynown into 'immi, and nun, my mother is the serpent; compare NUN):
(1) The eldest son of David and Ahinoam, the Jezreelites (compare 2 Samuel 3:2). As the crown prince and heir presumptive to the throne, he was intensely hated by Absalom, who was, therefore, doubly eager to revenge the outrage committed by Amnon upon his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 3:2; 13:1; 1 Chronicles 3:1).
(2) A name in the genealogy of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:20).
Strong's Hebrew
550.Amnon -- "faithful," two Israelites...Amnon. 551 . "faithful," two Israelites. Transliteration:
Amnon Phonetic Spelling:
(am-nohn') Short Definition:
Amnon.
... NASB Word Usage
Amnon (25),
Amnon's (3).
...532b. Aminon -- Aminon
... 532a, 532b. Aminon. 533 . Aminon. Transliteration: Aminon Short Definition:
a. Word Origin the same asAmnon, qv. 532a, 532b. Aminon. 533 . Strong's Numbers
Library
How Absalom MurderedAmnon, who had Forced his Own Sister; and How...
... CHAPTER 8. How Absalom MurderedAmnon, Who Had Forced His Own Sister;
And How He Was Banished And Afterwards Recalled By David....
The First Great Deception.
... instantly by an accident, a Universalist minister selected as his text the Scripture
statement concerning David, "He was comforted concerningAmnon, seeing he...
The First Great Deception
... instantly by an accident, a Universalist minister selected as his text the Scripture
statement concerning David: "He was comforted concerningAmnon, seeing he...
The History of David
... After this David had much war and trouble and anger, insomuch that on a
timeAmnon, oldest son of David, loved Thamar his sister....
Admonitory History of the Incestuous Children of David.
... Chapter XI."Admonitory History of the Incestuous Children of David. Hast thou
not read concerningAmnon and Tamar, the children of David?...
The Second Book
... misfortunes haunted his household. Thamar was seduced by the mad act of
Amnon, andAmnon slain by Absalom. A great crime indeed...
A Man Expects to Reap the Same Kind as He Sows.
... The decree came: "I will raise up evil in thy family and the sword shall never leave
thy house."Amnon, David's son, commits adultery with David's own daughter...
Adonijah
... infant innocence. David's eldest son,Amnon, after committing a terrible
crime, was assassinated by his brother Absalom. In his...
2 Sam. 23:4-5. Without Clouds.
... as Joab and Ahithophel, " trials from a wife, even that Michal who once loved him
so much,"trials from his children, such as Absalom,Amnon, and Adonijah...
No Sorrow Like Messiah's Sorrow
... Thus, for instance, if the question of Jonadab toAmnon (2 Samuel 13:4) , were chosen
for the subject of discourse, Why art thou, being a king's son, lean from...
Thesaurus
Amnon (23 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
AMNON. am'-non ('
amnon, faithful; compare 'aminon,
2 Samuel 13:20, which is probably a diminutive.
...Amnon (23 Occurrences).
...Amnon's (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceAmnon's (5 Occurrences).... 2 Samuel 13:8 So Tamar
went to her brotherAmnon's house; and he was laid down....
Ab'salom (85 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 13:1 It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful
sister, whose name was Tamar; andAmnon the son of David loved her....
Tamar (28 Occurrences)
... (3.) A daughter of David (2 Samuel 13:1-32; 1 Chronicles 3:9), whomAmnon shamefully
outraged and... This brought uponAmnon the terrible revenge of Absalom....
Jehonadab (2 Occurrences)
... It was he who gave the fatal wicked advice toAmnon, the heir to the throne
(2 Samuel 13:3-6). He was very "subtil," but unprincipled....
Ahinoam (7 Occurrences)
... (2.) A Jezreelitess, the first wife of David (1 Samuel 25:43; 27:3). She was the
mother ofAmnon (2 Samuel 3:2). (See 1 Samuel 30:5, 18; 2 Samuel 2:2.). Int....
Adonijah (28 Occurrences)
... (1.) The fourth son of David (2 Samuel 3:4). After the death of his elder brothers,
Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne....
Absalom's (16 Occurrences)
... to day? Won't you tell me?"Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother
Absalom's sister." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NIV). 2...
Absalom (93 Occurrences)
... The first public act of his life was the blood-revenge he executed againstAmnon,
David's eldest son, who had basely wronged Absalom's sister Tamar....
Violated (23 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). 2 Samuel 13:22 Absalom spoke toAmnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom
hatedAmnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. (See NAS)....
Resources
Why did Amnon rape Tamar? Why didn't David punish Amnon? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Amnon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Absalom in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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