DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 July 18
Image 1: Thamar (1875)
Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889)
Academic Style
Musee de Orsay, Paris, France
Image Source: Women in the Bible
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Image 2: The Banquet of Absalom (c. 1650)
Niccolo de Simone (died c. 1677?)
Dutch and Flemish Renaissance Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Bible Library
Explanation: 2 Samuel 13 describes the rape of Tamar by Ammon and the revenge of Absalom upon him. The first painting above depicts Tamar in a state of desolation. An alternate title for the painting is "Thamar and Absalom." If this is a correct alternate title, then it would depict Tamar in the house of her brother Absalom after she fled from Ammon, her half-brother who raped her. Otherwise, the painting can be interpreted as Ammon calling his guards to have her evicted, described more fully below. The second painting depicts Absalom's revenge upon Ammon by the hand of his soldiers.
Absalom's sister, Tamar, was a beautiful young virgin. Her half brother, Ammon, developed a lust for her that made him sick with desire. David's nephew, Jonadab, advised Ammon to lure Tamar into his room to minister to him in his sickness. David came to see him on his sickbed, and Ammon requested the ministration of Tamar, as Jonadab had suggested (1-6). David sent Tamar to him, as requested, and she made food for him in his presence. Ammon asked her to lie with him. She asked him not to do such a thing, but to request that David give her to him in marriage. But he forced her (7-14). He then demanded that she leave. She asked to stay, apparently wanting to do the honorable thing and be married. But he called the guards and had her thrust out. And she put ashes on her head, tore her clothes, laid her hand on her hear, and left crying (15-19). Absalom asked her to be at peace about this thing. And she abode in his house, desolate. David was filled with wrath when he heard these things. But Absalom said nothing good or bad to Ammon, silenced by his hatred for Ammon for what he had done to Tamar (20-22). Two years later, Absalom invited all the king's sons to a banquet which he gave at the end of his sheep shearing. He also invited David and all of his servants; but David declined since that would be too expensive for Absalom. But Absalom asked that his brother Ammon and all the kings's sons be sent. And, when Ammon was merry with wine, Absalom's servants killed Ammon, as Absalom had ordered them to do. And all the king's sons fled (23-29). News came to David that all of his sons had been killed; and he tore his garments and lay on the earth; and his servants stood with their garments torn. But Jonadab told David that Absalom had planned this all along as revenge for the rape of Tamar, and that only Ammon was dead (30-33). Absalom fled; and the rest of David's sons came to David. And Jonadab pointed out that this confirmed his words. David and the whole family wept (34-36). But Absalom fled to his grandfather, Talmai, king of Geshur. David mourned daily. Absalom was gone for three years; but David longed to bring him back (37-38).
2 Samuel 13
1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
13 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 withhold me from thee.
14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
16 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
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