Tamar's Plea – כִּי לֹא יִמְנָעֵנִי מִמֶּךָּ/2

Tamar's Plea

Exegetical Approaches

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Truth

Tamar was speaking the truth as there was no legal impediment to her marrying Amnon.

Sources:Rav in Bavli SanhedrinSanhedrin 21aAbout the Bavli, RashiShemuel II 13:1Shemuel II 13:13About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Attributed to R. Yosef KaraShemuel II 13:2About Attributed to R. Yosef Kara, TosafotSanhedrin 21aAbout Ba'alei HaTosafot, RadakShemuel II 13:1About R. David Kimchi, RidShemuel II 13:1-2About R. Yeshayah of Trani, RalbagShemuel II 13:12Shemuel II Toalot 13:13About R. Levi b. Gershom

Relationship to Avshalom – These sources split regarding whether Tamar was a full or half sibling of Avshalom:

• Full sibling – Rav in Sanhedrin, Rashi, Radak, and Ralbag assume that Avshalom and Tamar shared both a mother (Ma'akhah) and father (David).  However, they posit that Ma'akhah was a beautiful captive woman who bore Tamar from relations with David prior to her conversion, giving her a unique status.
• Half sibling – The commentary attributed to R"Y Kara, Tosafot and the Rid all suggest that Tamar was born from the same mother as Avshalom (Maakhah), but a different father.¹

Relationship to Amnon – In accordance with their positions above, these sources disagree regarding the relationship between Amnon and Tamar:

• Biological, but not halakhic, half sister – Rav, Rashi, Radak, and Ralbag claim that though David was the biological father of both Amnon and Tamar, since Tamar was conceived before Ma'akhah converted,² she was not legally considered David's daughter.  She had the status of a servant's child, and was thus not legally Amnon's half sister..
• No blood relation –  The other sources all maintain that Tamar and Amnon were not related at all, sharing neither a father nor a mother.

"תָּמָר אֲחֹתִי" – Tamar is referred to as Amnon's sister despite not

Tamar's goal:

Ruse

Tamar knew that David would never approve of the marriage, but was grasping at straws hoping that her words would convince Amnon to release her.

Sources:R. Yosef ibn KaspiShemuel II 13:13About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi #2, Abarbanel

Mistake

Tamar was unaware of the law, and truly believed that David would allow the marriage.

Sources:R. Yosef ibn KaspiShemuel II 13:13About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi #1, Hoil MosheShemuel II 13About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi

¹ Though these sources do not elaborate, they are likely assuming that Tamar was born to Maakhah before David married her, and Tamar was brought to the palace when David wed her mother.

² See above that they assume that Ma'akhah was a beautiful captive women who conceived Tamar when she had relations with David prior to her conversion.