13:1 Tamar. Both Absalom and Tamar were children of Maacah, one of David’s many wives. Amnon was David’s eldest son, born of Ahinoam (II Samuel 3:2). The tragic events described in this chapter (Amnon’s rape of Tamar and murder by Absalom, followed by the scattering of David’s other sons) were at least in part an outgrowth of the polygamous relationships contracted by David. Even though he was a godly man in many respects, David took many wives and concubines, and he should have known this was not pleasing to God (Genesis 2:18,21-24).