Rape of Tamar
Part of Life of David
October 8, 2023
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-7233
2 Samuel 13:1-9
Understanding the Passage
- Amnon falls in love with Tamar, his half-sister
- Amnon becomes obsessed with Tamar and pretends to be ill
- He devises a plan with his adviser to get Tamar alone
- Tamar prepares food for Amnon, but he refuses to eat
- Amnon seizes Tamar and rapes her
- After the rape, Amnon develops intense hatred towards Tamar and dismisses her
Contemporary Statistics
- Every 73 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.
- 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men in the United States have been raped at some point in their lives.
- 44% of all victims of sexual assault are under the age of 18.
- 2/3 of all sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
- Only 30% of sexual assaults are reported to the police.
- Only 6% of rapists are incarcerated.
Domestic Abuse
- 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
- 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
- Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.
- Domestic abuse accounts for 15% of all violent crime.
- Only 30% of domestic violence cases are reported to the police.
- Only 6% of domestic violence perpetrators are incarcerated.
Practical Steps
- Pray for victims and the resolution of abuse
- Stand up for those who have no voice
- Get involved and seek help for those suspected of being abused
- Offer support, listen, and help victims make safety plans
- Encourage victims to seek professional assistance from domestic violence agencies
- Be supportive regardless of the victim’s decisions
Next Steps