2 Samuel 13:16

Study note

Setting — Tamar speaks to Amnon immediately after he declares his former love has turned to intense hatred and commands her to leave his presence (2 Samuel 13:15). She pleads against his demand to send her away while he remains in his room.

The words — The phrase אַל־אוֹדָת הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת מֵאַחֶרֶת ('al-'odot ha-ra'ah ha-gdolah ha-zot me-'achereet) uses אַל־ ('al-) meaning "may not" and אוֹדֹת ('odot) meaning "the causes of" or "wrongdoing" (H182). It literally frames her objection around the severity of the specific evil he has already committed.

The thread — This verse continues the immediate narrative of sexual violence and rejection in 2 Samuel 13, tracing the progression from Amnon’s lust to his contempt and finally to his violent expulsion of Tamar (2 Samuel 13:17). The theme of violated kinship and the breakdown of familial protection recurs in the subsequent conflict between Amnon and Absalom (2 Samuel 13:28–29).

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that institutional or social silence enables ongoing harm when the victim’s protest is ignored. It asks the reader to confront how the refusal to listen to a wronged party perpetuates the original injustice.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.