Tamar daughter of David תָּמָר בַּת־דָּוִד

David's daughter, Absalom's sister. The book calls her "a beautiful sister" and says at once that Amnon, her half-brother, "was so distressed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar."

When she was called to cook for the sick man she came and kneaded and baked before his eyes. Then came what happened; and her words before it: "Do not do this wanton deed in Israel… and I, where shall I carry my shame?" (II Samuel 13:12–13).

The many-coloured tunic. "And she had a many-coloured tunic upon her, for so were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her. And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the many-coloured tunic that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying" (13:18–19). The same words—ketonet passim—stand in the Torah for Joseph's coat: in both places it means being singled out, and in both it is torn.

"So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house" (13:20). The book says no more of her. Absalom named his daughter after her (14:27).