Though the death of David’s first son with Bathsheba alerted me that I couldn’t categorize these events as punishments, it was another aspect of David’s personal karma from the hand of Jesus that made it apparent that something else was at play (2 Samuel 12:11, 12 NET).

I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household! Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight [Table]! Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight [Table].

The fulfillment of this promise began when Amnon, one of David’s sons, fell madly in love with his half-sister Tamar.  But she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.¹  In other words, it was much easier to seduce married, or shall I say sexually experienced, women in ancient Israel than virgins, especially a sister.  Amnon confided in a friend, Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah…a very crafty man.²  Jonadab had a plan Amnon executed flawlessly.

First, Amnon pretended to be ill.  When David came to Amnon’s house to visit his son, Amnon asked, Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can make a couple of cakes in my sight. Then I will eat from her hand.³  Apparently David sensed no guile in his son’s request.  Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him,⁴ he told his daughter Tamar.

Tamar did as she was told by her father.  She went to Amnon’s house, kneaded the dough and baked the cakes in front of him.  When she offered the pan to Amnon, he wouldn’t eat.  Get everyone out of here!⁵ he said.  After everyone left Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the cakes into the bedroom; then I will eat from your hand.⁶

Apparently Tamar sensed no guile in her brother’s request.  She followed Amnon into the bedroom.  As she brought the cakes to him, he grabbed her and said, Come on!  Get in bed with me, my sister!

No, my brother!  Tamar replied, Don’t humiliate me!  This just isn’t done in Israel!  Don’t do this foolish thing!  How could I ever be rid of my humiliation?  And you would be considered one of the fools in Israel!⁷

So far Tamar’s protest and the apparent social construct of her reality were congruent with the law:  If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.  They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity.⁸  And, You must not have sexual intercourse with your sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she is born in the same household or born outside it; you must not have sexual intercourse with either of them.⁹  But her protest ended with a stridently incongruent comment: Just speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.¹⁰

Was she a frightened girl saying whatever desperate thing popped into her head?  Or did she truly believe David would break the law for Amnon’s sake?  Did she have some unique insight into her father’s character?  I’ve never answered these questions to my own satisfaction, but the attempt has uncovered some interesting things I want to pursue here.

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, traveled with his uncle when Abraham set out to search for the land God promised him.  Eventually, Lot settled in Sodom.  After the destruction of Sodom, Lot lived with his two daughters in a cave in the mountains.  The girls, living at what must have seemed like the end of the world, got their father drunk on two successive nights and took turns sleeping with him to preserve their family line.  The older daughter had a son named Moab who became the ancestor of the Moabites.  The younger daughter had a son named Ben-Ammi, the ancestor of the Ammonites.

This story is from Genesis.¹¹  Thus far in the Bible there was nothing resembling a law of sexual regulation except the command, Be fruitful and multiply!¹²  It is interesting to note, however, that despite the lack of regulation and the fact that Lot had lost his wife, his daughters did not suppose that he would fall willingly into their scheme unless he was so drunk he didn’t know or remember what he had done.

The socially constructed reality these girls lived in was also notable for a rather curious human regulation.  It had not been that many days since their father offered them as rape victims to an angry mob to protect two guests who spent the night under his roof.  Something similar to this “law of the guest” is still practiced by the tribes that sheltered Osama bin Laden in the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan.  It is not proclaimed in the Bible as a command from God.  It is simply reported in the context of Sodom.  But apparently this man-made custom had such power over Lot that he would sooner see harm come to his own daughters than guests who had come under the protection of his roof.  I think it is safe to assume that girls socialized into that reality were more earthy regarding sexual matters than the prissy misses of a more chivalrous age.

So I can understand this rather odd story in the context of that socially constructed reality.  And apparently the genetic diseases and defects of evolution were not yet so predominant that incest necessarily gave them expression.  Considering the history of mate selection recorded in the Bible, Adam’s and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel, married their sisters, presumably, with impunity.  DNA was still fresh and pure.  I can imagine the social reality for Cain’s sons, let’s say.  The more traditional among them longed to grow up and marry a sister just like Dad.  But for the innovator there was a brand new exotic form of female, Uncle Abel’s daughters, cousins.  (Adam was rather prolific, so there were also young aunts to consider.)

In the next generation the ultra-orthodox might marry their sisters like Grandpa.  The traditional might marry cousins (or aunts) like Dad.  The innovator had even more varieties of exotic females to choose from.  And the innovator’s options only continued to expand.  Lot was more of an innovator.  His daughters were engaged to men from Sodom, men who laughed at him and refused to flee with him when he warned them of the city’s impending destruction.  Abraham, more of a traditionalist, sent his faithful servant back to his own country to his own relatives to acquire a wife for his son Isaac.  Yes, he went to a family reunion to pick up chicks, for his son.

It’s not too hard to imagine that when the Lord Jesus delivered the law against incest to Moses, it was received as rather scandalous.  It went against too many traditional and orthodox views of appropriate mate selection.  It favored the innovator as righteous.  I assume that ancient Israelites knew nothing of the recipe for human beings stored in DNA, the chance processes that alter that recipe to produce genetic defects and diseases, the recessive nature of those mutations, the Punnett square or any of the scientific rationale that bolsters anti-incest legislation today.  So when a child with a genetic defect was born to a couple that did not heed the law, what could they believe but that the Lord was punishing them for disobeying his law?

Amnon cared more for his passion than God’s law.  He overpowered [Tamar] and humiliated her by raping her.¹³

 

Addendum: November 11, 2020
I was surprised that the rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose ἠγάπησεν (a form of ἀγαπάω) to describe Amnon’s affection for Tamar: and Amnon the son of David loved (ἠγάπησεν) her (2 Kings 13:1b English Elpenor).  Granted, they had no access to Paul’s definition of ἀγάπη (1 Corinthians 13), but since Paul hadn’t mentioned sexual attraction I had all but banished it from my understanding of ἀγαπάω/ἀγάπη.

As I looked into it briefly I was just as surprised to discover that they had chosen ἐράσθητι (a form of ἐράω) for a children’s love for their parents’ teaching: And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love (ἐράσθητι) it, and it shall keep thee (Proverbs 4:6 English Elpenor).  It occurs to me that a study of ἀγαπάω/ἀγάπη and ἐράω/ἔρως in the Septuagint could be very illuminating.

If someone reading this is motivated to do the work to make the tables and analyze the occurrences in Hebrew and Greek, I’ll be happy to publish it in installments here under your name or anonymously as you wish.  The article on Eros on “the Love of God project” online is good place to start for source material.  The BLB Septuagint is searchable once you have the word forms down (and spelled correctly).

Such an undertaking requires a younger mind that cares more.  I am old.  I am single.  I can’t even imagine a woman who would tolerate my Bible study routine.

I wrote that “Amnon pretended to be ill,” but the Hebrew word was a form of חָלָה (chalah) translated into Greek with a form of ἀῤῥωστέω.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
2 Samuel 13:2 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:2 (NET)	2 Reigns 13:2 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:2 (Elpenor English)
And Amnon was so distressed that he fell sick (לְהִתְחַלּ֗וֹת) because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do any thing unto her.	But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick (chalah, להתחלות) over his sister Tamar.  For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.	And Amnon was tormented so as to be ill (ἀρρωστεῗν) because of Themar his sister, for she was a virgin, and it was excessive in Amnon’s sight to do anything to her.	And Amnon was distressed even to sickness (ἀρρωστεῖν), because of Themar his sister; for she was a virgin, and it seemed very difficult for Amnon to do anything to her.
2 Samuel 13:6 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:6 (NET)	2 Reigns 13:6 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:6 (English Elpenor)
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick (וַיִּתְחָ֑ל); and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king: ‘Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.’	So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick (chalah, ויתחל).  When the king came in to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can make a couple of cakes in my sight.  Then I will eat from her hand.”	And Amnon lay down and became ill (ἠρρώστησεν), and the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, “Do let Themar my sister come to me and roll two rolls in my sight, and I will eat from her hand.”	So Ammon lay down, and made himself sick (ἠρρώστησε); and the king came in to see him: and Amnon said to the king, Let, I pray thee, my sister Themar come to me, and make a couple of cakes in my sight, and I will eat them at her hand.

The final occurrence of a form of חָלָה (chalah) in this story is in Jonadab’s explanation of his scheme.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
2 Samuel 13:5 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:5 (NET)	2 Reigns 13:5 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:5 (Elpenor English)
And Jonadab said unto him: ‘Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick (וְהִתְחָ֑ל); and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him: Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.’	Jonadab replied to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick (chalah, והתחל).  When your father comes in to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can fix some food for me.  Let her prepare the food in my sight so I can watch.  Then I will eat from her hand.’”	And Ionadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and act weak (μαλακίσθητι), and your father will come in to see you, and you shall say to him, ‘Do let Themar my sister come and feed me some morsels, and let her prepare food in my sight so that I may see and eat from her hands.’”	And Jonadab said to him, Lie upon thy bed, and make thyself sick (μαλακίσθητι), and thy father shall come in to see thee; and thou shalt say to him, Let, I pray thee, Themar my sister come, and feed me with morsels, and let her prepare food before my eyes, that I may see and eat at her hands.

Here the rabbis translated it μαλακίσθητι (a form of μαλακίζω) in the Septuagint.  Nothing in these words or in any of the words around them implies that Amnon was pretending.  It isn’t necessary to mock him or ridicule this distress—וַיֵּ֨צֶר (yatsar) in Hebrew, translated was so distressed (Tanakh) and became frustrated (NET), ἐθλίβετο (a form of θλίβω) in Greek, translated was tormented (NET) and was distressed (English Elpenor)—to disapprove of his rape of Tamar.  The pain a man feels over a desirable woman he can’t have for whatever reason isn’t assuaged by pretending it isn’t real pain.

Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 1:3-6 NET):

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ¹⁴ overflows to you.  But if we are afflicted (θλιβόμεθα, another form of θλίβω), it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort¹⁵ that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

I mentioned the tribes in Afghanistan and Pakistan and then failed to footnote that remark.  The following quote is from the The Irish Times article online, “Meet the Pashtuns, the Afghani tribe who rule Pakistan’s’wild west,’” November 10, 2001:

The moral code [e.g., Pashtunwali] also enshrines a principle of hospitality and protection of guests, and this extends even to enemies under one’s roof who surrender their arms upon entering and come under the host’s protection.

“If you look at the Afghanistan crisis, Osama bin Laden is a guest of the Taliban and the Afghan nation who are protecting their guest. People are now dying there but the Afghan people still protect him,” says Badshah [Jan Badshah, a Pashtun from the settled Charsadda district, an all-Pashtun area outside Peshawar].

“If somebody killed a person who disgraced their guest, by Pakistani law he is a criminal. As far as we are concerned we do not consider him a criminal because he is upholding our norms.”

But the very same article calls into question whether Jan Badshah’s contemporaries would surrender their daughters to protect a guest:

At its most extreme, Pashtunwali dictates that a man is duty bound to defend the honour of women in his family or clan which may be violated by as little as an unwelcome lingering glance.

Tables comparing 2 Samuel 13:1; 13:2; 13:3; 13:6; 13:7; 13:9; 13:10; 13:11; 13:12; 13:13; Leviticus 18:9; Genesis 1:28; 2 Samuel 13:14 and 13:5 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing 2 Samuel (Reigns, Kings) 13:1; 13:2; 13:3; 13:6; 13:7; 13:9; 13:10; 13:11; 13:12; 13:13; Leviticus 18:9; Genesis 1:28; 2 Samuel (Reigns, Kings) 13:14 and 13:5 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  A table comparing 2 Corinthians 1:5, 6 in the NET and KJV follows those.

2 Samuel 13:1 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:1 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:1 (NET)
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.	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.	Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar.  In the course of time David’s son Amnon fell madly in love with her.

2 Samuel 13:1 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ τῷ Αβεσσαλωμ υἱῷ Δαυιδ ἀδελφὴ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει σφόδρα καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῇ Θημαρ καὶ ἠγάπησεν αὐτὴν Αμνων υἱὸς Δαυιδ	ΚΑΙ ἐγενήθη μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ τῷ ᾿Αβεσσαλὼμ υἱῷ Δαυὶδ ἀδελφὴ καλὴ τῷ εἴδει σφόδρα, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῇ Θημάρ, καὶ ἠγάπησεν αὐτὴν ᾿Αμνὼν υἱὸς Δαυίδ.
2 Reigns 13:1 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:1 (English Elpenor)
And it happened after this that Abessalom son of Dauid had a sister very beautiful in appearance, and her name was Themar, and Amnon son of Dauid loved her.	And it happened after this that Abessalom the son of David had a very beautiful sister, and her name [was] Themar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 Samuel 13:2 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:2 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:2 (NET)
And Amnon was so distressed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do any thing unto her.	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.	But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick over his sister Tamar.  For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.

2 Samuel 13:2 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐθλίβετο Αμνων ὥστε ἀρρωστεῗν διὰ Θημαρ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ ὅτι παρθένος ἦν αὐτή καὶ ὑπέρογκον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῗς Αμνων τοῦ ποιῆσαί τι αὐτῇ	καὶ ἐθλίβετο ᾿Αμνὼν ὥστε ἀρρωστεῖν διὰ Θημὰρ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι παρθένος ἦν αὕτη, καὶ ὑπέρογκον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ᾿Αμνὼν τοῦ ποιῆσαί τι αὐτῇ
2 Reigns 13:2 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:2 (English Elpenor)
And Amnon was tormented so as to be ill because of Themar his sister, for she was a virgin, and it was excessive in Amnon’s sight to do anything to her.	And Amnon was distressed even to sickness, because of Themar his sister; for she was a virgin, and it seemed very difficult for Amnon to do anything to her.

2 Samuel 13:3 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:3 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:3 (NET)
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.	But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.	Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah.  Jonadab was a very crafty man.

2 Samuel 13:3 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἦν τῷ Αμνων ἑταῗρος καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ιωναδαβ υἱὸς Σαμαα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ Δαυιδ καὶ Ιωναδαβ ἀνὴρ σοφὸς σφόδρα	καὶ ἦν τῷ ᾿Αμνὼν ἑταῖρος, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ ᾿Ιωναδάβ, υἱὸς Σαμαὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ Δαυίδ· καὶ ᾿Ιωναδὰβ ἀνὴρ σοφὸς σφόδρα
2 Reigns 13:3 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:3 (English Elpenor)
And Amnon had a companion, and his name was Ionadab son of Samaa the brother of Dauid, and Ionadab was a very crafty man.	And Amnon had a friend, and his name [was] Jonadab, the son of Samaa the brother of David: and Jonadab [was] a very cunning man.

2 Samuel 13:6 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:6 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:6 (NET)
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick; and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king: ‘Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.’	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.	So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick.  When the king came in to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can make a couple of cakes in my sight.  Then I will eat from her hand.”

2 Samuel 13:6 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐκοιμήθη Αμνων καὶ ἠρρώστησεν καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἰδεῗν αὐτόν καὶ εἶπεν Αμνων πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ἐλθέτω δὴ Θημαρ ἡ ἀδελφή μου πρός με καὶ κολλυρισάτω ἐν ὀφθαλμοῗς μου δύο κολλυρίδας καὶ φάγομαι ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς	καὶ ἐκοιμήθη ᾿Αμνὼν καὶ ἠρρώστησε, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἰδεῖν αὐτόν, καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αμνὼν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα· ἐλθέτω δὴ Θημὰρ ἡ ἀδελφή μου πρός με καὶ κολλυρισάτω ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου δύο κολλυρίδας, καὶ φάγομαι ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς
2 Reigns 13:6 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:6 (English Elpenor)
And Amnon lay down and became ill, and the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, “Do let Themar my sister come to me and roll two rolls in my sight, and I will eat from her hand.”	So Ammon lay down, and made himself sick; and the king came in to see him: and Amnon said to the king, Let, I pray thee, my sister Themar come to me, and make a couple of cakes in my sight, and I will eat them at her hand.

2 Samuel 13:7 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:7 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:7 (NET)
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying: ‘Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him food.’	Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.	So David sent Tamar to the house saying, “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.”

2 Samuel 13:7 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Θημαρ εἰς τὸν οἶκον λέγων πορεύθητι δὴ εἰς τὸν οἶκον Αμνων τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου καὶ ποίησον αὐτῷ βρῶμα	καὶ ἀπέστειλε Δαυὶδ πρὸς Θημὰρ εἰς τὸν οἶκον λέγων· πορεύθητι δὴ εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου καὶ ποίησον αὐτῷ βρῶμα
2 Reigns 13:7 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:7 (English Elpenor)
And Dauid sent to Themar, to the house, saying, “Do go to the house of Amnon your brother, and prepare food for him.”	And David sent to Themar to the house, saying, Go now to thy brother’s house, and dress him food.

2 Samuel 13:9 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:9 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:9 (NET)
And she took the 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.	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.	But when she took the pan and set it before him, he refused to eat.  Instead Amnon said, “Get everyone out of here!”  So everyone left.

2 Samuel 13:9 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸ τήγανον καὶ κατεκένωσεν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν φαγεῗν καὶ εἶπεν Αμνων ἐξαγάγετε πάντα ἄνδρα ἐπάνωθέν μου καὶ ἐξήγαγον πάντα ἄνδρα ἀπὸ ἐπάνωθεν αὐτοῦ	καὶ ἔλαβε τὸ τήγανον καὶ κατεκένωσεν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησε φαγεῖν. καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αμνών· ἐξαγάγετε πάντα ἄνδρα ἀπὸ ἐπάνωθέν μου· καὶ ἐξήγαγον πάντα ἄνδρα ἐπάνωθεν αὐτοῦ
2 Reigns 13:9 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:9 (English Elpenor)
And she took the frying-pan and emptied it out before him, but he did not want to eat.  And Amnon said, “Lead out every man from upon me.”  And they led out every man from upon him.	And she took the frying pan and poured them out before him, but he would not eat.  And Amnon said, Send out every man from about me.  And they removed every man from about him.

2 Samuel 13:10 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:10 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:10 (NET)
And Amnon said unto Tamar: ‘Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat of thy hand.’  And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.	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.	Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the cakes into the bedroom; then I will eat from your hand.”  So Tamar took the cakes that she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom.

2 Samuel 13:10 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Αμνων πρὸς Θημαρ εἰσένεγκε τὸ βρῶμα εἰς τὸ ταμίειον καὶ φάγομαι ἐκ τῆς χειρός σου καὶ ἔλαβεν Θημαρ τὰς κολλυρίδας ἃς ἐποίησεν καὶ εἰσήνεγκεν τῷ Αμνων ἀδελφῷ αὐτῆς εἰς τὸν κοιτῶνα	καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αμνὼν πρὸς Θημάρ· εἰσένεγκε τὸ βρῶμα εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον, καὶ φάγομαι ἐκ τῆς χειρός σου. καὶ ἔλαβε Θημὰρ τὰς κολλυρίδας, ἃς ἐποίησε, καὶ εἰσήνεγκε τῷ ᾿Αμνὼν ἀδελφῷ αὐτῆς εἰς τὸν κοιτῶνα
2 Reigns 13:10 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:10 (English Elpenor)
And Amnon said to Themar, “Bring the food into the chamber, and I will eat from your hand.”  And Themar took the rolls that she had prepared and brought them to Amnon her brother, into the bedroom.	And Amnon said to Themar, Bring in the food into the closet, and I will eat of thy hand.  And Themar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to her brother Amnon into the chamber.

2 Samuel 13:11 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:11 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:11 (NET)
And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her: ‘Come lie with me, my sister.’	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.	As she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said to her, “Come on!  Get in bed with me, my sister!”

2 Samuel 13:11 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ προσήγαγεν αὐτῷ τοῦ φαγεῗν καὶ ἐπελάβετο αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ δεῦρο κοιμήθητι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἀδελφή μου	καὶ προσήγαγεν αὐτῷ τοῦ φαγεῖν, καὶ ἐπελάβετο αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· δεῦρο κοιμήθητι μετ’ ἐμοῦ, ἀδελφή μου.
2 Reigns 13:11 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:11 (English Elpenor)
And she brought them to him to eat, and he took hold of her and said to her “Come on, lie with me, my sister!”	And she brought [them] to him to eat, and he caught hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.

2 Samuel 13:12 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:12 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:12 (NET)
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 wanton deed.	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.	But she said to him, “No, my brother! Don’t humiliate me!  This just isn’t done in Israel!  Don’t do this foolish thing!

2 Samuel 13:12 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ μή ἄδελφέ μου μὴ ταπεινώσῃς με διότι οὐ ποιηθήσεται οὕτως ἐν Ισραηλ μὴ ποιήσῃς τὴν ἀφροσύνην ταύτην	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· μή, ἀδελφέ μου· μὴ ταπεινώσῃς με, διότι οὐ ποιηθήσεται οὕτως ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ, μὴ ποιήσῃς τὴν ἀφροσύνην ταύτην
2 Reigns 13:12 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:12 (English Elpenor)
And she said to him, “No, my brother, do not humiliate me; for it shall not be done in this way in Israel; do not do this folly!	And she said to him, Nay, my brother, do not humble me, for it ought not to be so done in Israel; do not this folly.

2 Samuel 13:13 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:13 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:13 (NET)
And I, whither shall I carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wilt be as one of the base men in Israel.  Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.’	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.	How could I ever be rid of my humiliation?  And you would be considered one of the fools in Israel!  Just speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

2 Samuel 13:13 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐγὼ ποῦ ἀποίσω τὸ ὄνειδός μου καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ ὡς εἷς τῶν ἀφρόνων ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ νῦν λάλησον δὴ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ὅτι οὐ μὴ κωλύσῃ με ἀπὸ σοῦ	καὶ ἐγὼ ποῦ ἀποίσω τὸ ὄνειδός μου; καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ ὡς εἷς τῶν ἀφρόνων ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ· καὶ νῦν λάλησον δὴ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, ὅτι οὐ μὴ κωλύσῃ με ἀπὸ σοῦ
2 Reigns 13:13 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:13 (English Elpenor)
And I, where will I carry away my shame?  And you, you shall be as one of the fools in Israel.  And now, do speak to the king; for surely he shall not withhold me from you.”	And I, whither shall I remove my reproach? and thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel.  And now, speak, I pray thee, to the king, for surely he will not keep me from thee.

Leviticus 18:9 (Tanakh)	Leviticus 18:9 (KJV)	Leviticus 18:9 (NET)
The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.	The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.	You must not have sexual relations with your sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she is born in the same household or born outside it; you must not have sexual relations with either of them.

Leviticus 18:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Leviticus 18:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀσχημοσύνην τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου ἐκ πατρός σου ἢ ἐκ μητρός σου ἐνδογενοῦς ἢ γεγεννημένης ἔξω οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς	ἀσχημοσύνην τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου ἐκ πατρός σου ἢ ἐκ μητρός σου ἐνδογενοῦς ἢ γεγεννημένης ἔξω, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν
Leviticus 18:9 (NETS)	Leviticus 18:9 (English Elpenor)
You shall not uncover her shame—the shame of your sister, from your father or from your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.	The nakedness of thy sister by thy father or by thy mother, born at home or abroad, their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

Genesis 1:28 (Tanakh)	Genesis 1:28 (KJV)	Genesis 1:28 (NET)
And G-d blessed them; and G-d said unto them: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth’.	And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.	God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply!  Fill the earth and subdue it!  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 1:28 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 1:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ηὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ θεὸς λέγων αὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθύνεσθε καὶ πληρώσατε τὴν γῆν καὶ κατακυριεύσατε αὐτῆς καὶ ἄρχετε τῶν ἰχθύων τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ τῶν πετεινῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ πάσης τῆς γῆς καὶ πάντων τῶν ἑρπετῶν τῶν ἑρπόντων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς	καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεός, λέγων· αὐξάνεσθε καὶ πληθύνεσθε καὶ πληρώσατε τὴν γῆν καὶ κατακυριεύσατε αὐτῆς καὶ ἄρχετε τῶν ἰχθύων τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ τῶν πετεινῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ πάντων τῶν κτηνῶν καὶ πάσης τῆς γῆς καὶ πάντων τῶν ἑρπετῶν τῶν ἑρπόντων ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς
Genesis 1:28 (NETS)	Genesis 1:28 (English Elpenor)
And God blessed them, saying, “Increase, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky and all the cattle and all the earth and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth.”	And God blessed them, saying, Increase and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the seas and flying creatures of heaven, and all the cattle and all the earth, and all the reptiles that creep on the earth.

2 Samuel 13:14 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:14 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:14 (NET)
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.	Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.	But he refused to listen to her. He overpowered her and humiliated her by raping her.

2 Samuel 13:14 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν Αμνων τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς καὶ ἐκραταίωσεν ὑπὲρ αὐτὴν καὶ ἐταπείνωσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετ᾽ αὐτῆς	καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησεν ᾿Αμνὼν τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῆς καὶ ἐκραταίωσεν ὑπὲρ αὐτὴν καὶ ἐταπείνωσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετ’ αὐτῆς
2 Reigns 13:14 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:14 (English Elpenor)
But Amnon did not want to listen to her voice, and he prevailed over her and humiliated her and lay with her.	But Amnon would not hearken to her voice; and he prevailed against her, and humbled her, and lay with her.

2 Samuel 13:5 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 13:5 (KJV)	2 Samuel 13:5 (NET)
And Jonadab said unto him: ‘Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick; and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him: Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.’	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.	Jonadab replied to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick.  When your father comes in to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can fix some food for me.  Let her prepare the food in my sight so I can watch.  Then I will eat from her hand.’”

2 Samuel 13:5 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 13:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ιωναδαβ κοιμήθητι ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης σου καὶ μαλακίσθητι καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ πατήρ σου τοῦ ἰδεῗν σε καὶ ἐρεῗς πρὸς αὐτόν ἐλθέτω δὴ Θημαρ ἡ ἀδελφή μου καὶ ψωμισάτω με καὶ ποιησάτω κατ᾽ ὀφθαλμούς μου βρῶμα ὅπως ἴδω καὶ φάγω ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ᾿Ιωναδάβ· κοιμήθητι ἐπὶ τῆς κοίτης σου καὶ μαλακίσθητι, καὶ εἰσελεύσεται ὁ πατήρ σου τοῦ ἰδεῖν σε, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτόν· ἐλθέτω δὴ Θημὰρ ἡ ἀδελφή μου καὶ ψωμισάτω με καὶ ποιησάτω κατ’ ὀφθαλμούς μου βρῶμα, ὅπως ἴδω καὶ φάγω ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς
2 Reigns 13:5 (NETS)	2 Kings 13:5 (English Elpenor)
And Ionadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and act weak, and your father will come in to see you, and you shall say to him, ‘Do let Themar my sister come and feed me some morsels, and let her prepare food in my sight so that I may see and eat from her hands.’”	And Jonadab said to him, Lie upon thy bed, and make thyself sick, and thy father shall come in to see thee; and thou shalt say to him, Let, I pray thee, Themar my sister come, and feed me with morsels, and let her prepare food before my eyes, that I may see and eat at her hands.

2 Corinthians 1:5, 6 (NET)	2 Corinthians 1:5, 6 (KJV)
For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.	For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι καθὼς περισσεύει τὰ παθήματα τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἡμᾶς, οὕτως διὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ περισσεύει καὶ ἡ παράκλησις ἡμῶν	οτι καθως περισσευει τα παθηματα του χριστου εις ημας ουτως δια χριστου περισσευει και η παρακλησις ημων	οτι καθως περισσευει τα παθηματα του χριστου εις ημας ουτως δια του χριστου περισσευει και η παρακλησις ημων

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
εἴτε δὲ θλιβόμεθα, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑμῶν παρακλήσεως καὶ σωτηρίας· εἴτε παρακαλούμεθα, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑμῶν παρακλήσεως τῆς ἐνεργουμένης ἐν ὑπομονῇ τῶν αὐτῶν παθημάτων ὧν καὶ ἡμεῖς πάσχομεν	ειτε δε θλιβομεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας της ενεργουμενης εν υπομονη των αυτων παθηματων ων και ημεις πασχομεν ειτε παρακαλουμεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας και η ελπις ημων βεβαια υπερ υμων	ειτε δε θλιβομεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας της ενεργουμενης εν υπομονη των αυτων παθηματων ων και ημεις πασχομεν και η ελπις ημων βεβαια υπερ υμων ειτε παρακαλουμεθα υπερ της υμων παρακλησεως και σωτηριας