She was 15 years old and exceptionally beautiful to look upon. You might say her beauty was a fatal flaw (if I may call it a flaw); the daughter of King David. That alone carried with it great prestige.
She, along with other virgins, was kept secure to avoid the foolish ones of Israel from taking her over. Israel’s high standards of morals did not excuse immoral behavior.
In the book of Deuteronomy, it describes what happens to those who trespass on moral principles related to rape. If a man seizes an unengaged virgin and lies with her and it becomes known, the man must pay money to the virgin’s father.
The raped girl and the man are forced into marriage because he has violated her, and they must stay married without the choice of divorce. No such law nowadays. Imagine if you can be forced to be forever married to someone who has raped you.
Tamar’s situation is different but devastating. Her day-to-day companions are friends who are also virgins. They are protected. Tamar has three brothers, Amnon, 22 years old, Absalom, 20 years old, and Solomon (that’s right the writer of wisdom scriptures-who we know) is two years old.
Amnon’s friend, Jonadab is mischievous-minded and sways Amnon’s mind on how to perpetrate this horrible crime on Tamar. Amnon is weak and subject to his weak nature because he doesn’t resist temptations. Amnon is in his quarters and receives permission to be a part of the plot he and Jonadab have calculated. David has permitted Tamar to visit Amnon, make the cakes, and feed them to him by her own hands.
When Tamar comes close to feeding him, he seizes her and says, “Come lie with me.” She rejects him! He forces her. She tries to reason with him. He won’t be reasonable and come to what little sense of morality he has. He was set to violate her regardless of the consequences. She tells him, “Nay, my brother. Where will I be able to go and explain this away?” “Tell the king, he will give me to you. That will avoid the severe consequences which will come upon both of us.”
She further protests, “Where can I go with this shame, and you will have consequences too like other fools in Israel who go against the laws.” He replies, “I pray thee. Go to the king, he will not withhold me from you.”
But Amnon was a strong young buck. She could not match his strength. He forced her and lay with her against her will. She fought and tried to persuade him of his evil lust.
One of the Old Testament scriptures speaks about the consequences of death for him. After the commission of the crime, he hates her more than the love he had for her. She said, “You can’t do anything with this kind of trespass you have done! What will happen to me? You know I will be desolate and excluded with no place to go. I will have no income.”
In one law in such a case, the man and his family must pay for her upkeep. It is according to the time during which the crime is committed. Amnon further expresses his disdain for her by ordering his attendants to put her out and bolt the door behind her.
She’s devastated in grief. She puts ashes on her head and rents (tears) her garment of royal attire that now identifies her that she is no longer a virgin.
Being a virgin comes from high marks and value. There were consequences if the virgin married and found not to be a virgin. If found to be true, the meeting of elders is held the guilty or not guilty will be made known.
Tamar goes away screaming in grief after the commission of the crime. She knows her life will be “hell” after this. Continued next week, Part 4: What happens next!
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Errors? Or Questions? Please let me know. Join Sundays for music and message at 11:30 a.m. by calling (712) 775-8971, code 266751. References: The Holy Bible – II Samuel 13 & 14, Cyclopedia of Biblical Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, Jewish Study Bible, Companion Bible. Don’t stop praying and hoping. “Today is another great day to do good and be successful.
