Tamar (daughter of David)

Tamar (Hebrew: [taˈmaʁ]; Biblical Hebrew: תָּמָר, lit. 'date') was an Israelite princess. Born to David and Maacah, who was from Geshur, she was the only full sibling of Absalom. She is described in the Hebrew Bible as being exceptionally beautiful, as is her brother. In the narrative of 2 Samuel 13, she is raped by her paternal half-brother Amnon (born to David and Ahinoam of Jezreel) before fleeing with torn robes to Absalom's house; David is angered by the incident, but does nothing, as Amnon is his heir apparent. Absalom, infuriated by the rape and David's inaction, keeps Tamar in his care and later assassinates Amnon to avenge her, subsequently fleeing to Geshur, which is ruled by his and Tamar's maternal grandfather Talmai. Three years later, he returns to Israel and leads an armed revolt against the House of David, but is killed by David's nephew and army commander Joab during the Battle of the Wood of Ephraim. Tamar is described as being left "a desolate woman in her brother's house" and the sole guardian of her orphaned niece, who is also named Tamar.

Early life and family

Tamar's mother, Maacah, was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. Her only full sibling was Absalom. The Hebrew Bible does not speak of Tamar's early life; however, in 2 Samuel 13, she is wearing a "richly ornamental robe [...] for this is how the virgin daughters of the king were clothed in earlier times." Her half-brother Amnon, by whom she was raped, was the son of Ahinoam, who was from Jezreel.