Talk:Tamar (David's daughter)

Absalom and Tamar
I was just wondering if there was a reason why Absalom had a daughter also named Tamar, the same name as his sister. Was it a traditional thing (because when Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, people expected him to be named after his father) or was it a sign of his love for her? I just find it interesting because daughters aren't given much attention in the Bible, (I believe...), but for Absalom's daughter, they found her more noteworthy than her brothers and said "she was a woman of a fair countenance." while nothing is said for the boys (at least in that chapter). --Sage Endeavour (talk) 20:40, October 17, 2016 (UTC)


 * Thank you, Sage, for the question.  There are three holders of this name, which means "Palm Tree." The first was the daugher-in-law of Judah to whom was born the twins Perez and Zerah.  Judah had held back his youngest son from the widowed Tamar, resulting in her tricking him into sirring his own "grandsons."  In doing this, she provided a link in the long Messianic line that ended with Jesus Christ.


 * As you mentioned, Absalom's sister and daughter shared this name.  It could have been just that "Tamar" was such a pretty name.  I doubt if David and his wife Maacah had the original Tamar in mind when they named their daughter.  However, Absalom's love for his sister may well have played into naming his daughter.  The practice of using names of relatives and ancestors is a time-honored tradition. SouthWriter (talk) 21:42, October 18, 2016 (UTC)


 * Thank you for answering my question. I was always struck by the story of Tamar and Absalom and wanted to know this. I think it would be nice if he had named his daughter after his sister. --Sage Endeavour (talk) 04:37, October 20, 2016 (UTC)