AMNON (Hebrew «Faithful»). - Firstborn son of David, by his second wife Ahinoam of Jezreel, born in Hebron (II Sam. 3:2). Seized by a wicked passion for his sister Tamar, daughter of David and Maacah, who like David's other daughters lived in a separate house, on the advice of Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, A. took to his bed, feigning a grave illness, and begged his father David to have Tamar come to prepare a savory dish (lêbhihôth) in his presence. Tamar came, and A., left alone with his sister, after Tamar's refusals, she having suggested that he ask the father for her in marriage, violated her; then he brutally drove her out. She tore the tunic of the virgins, covered her head with ashes, and went about the house weeping. She revealed the outrage at once to Absalom, her full brother, who took her into his house. David, having learned of the incest, was angered (according to the Hebrew text), but did not punish A., whom he favored (II Sam. 13:21b is an addition of the Septuagint and Vulgate). Absalom, dissembling his hatred for A., sought to avenge the offense. Two years later, on the occasion of the sheep-shearing, he invited the father and all the brothers to Baal-hazor, near Ephraim. The brothers accepted. When A. was drunk, during the banquet, at Absalom's command the servants killed him. The other brothers fled. David grieved over what had happened, the reason for which Jonadab explained to him (II Sam. 13).
Bibliography
Francesco Sole