When It Comes to Abuse, It Takes a Village

“His name was synonymous with integrity. He was the kingdom’s next big thing, a figure spoken of in messianic terms. And he was a disgusting sexual predator.

This is the story of Amnon, the son of David and crown Prince of Israel, who in 2 Samuel 13 rapes his half-sister, Tamar.

Yet it’s not just Amnon. It takes an entire corrupt system to plot the evil, perpetrate it, silence the victim, and cover it up. The devastation of Tamar takes a wicked opportunist, Amnon, but it also takes a diabolical adviser, Jonadab, an impotent king, David, and a cowardly brother, Absalom. All of them play a role in creating or maintaining this perverse ecosystem.”