שמואל ב, פרק י״ג, פסוק ט״ז

A broken victim stands before her attacker, revealing a tragic reality: the aftermath of a violation can sometimes bring more devastation than the act itself. Tamar begs Amnon not to cast her out in disgrace. She warns him against committing the cruel act of sending her away [רש"י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, her plea can be understood as an outcry about the terrible evil of the expulsion itself [רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. She views being thrown out of his home as a greater and more severe wrong than the horrific assault she just endured.

There are two complementary reasons why this expulsion is so devastating. First, the initial violation took place in secret, but casting her into the street for all to see transforms her private trauma into a public disgrace [רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. She likely wants to remain in the house just long enough to compose herself, hoping to slip away later without being seen by anyone [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Second, expelling her violates both basic decency and biblical law. According to the law, a man who assaults an unmarried woman is obligated to marry her and is forbidden from ever sending her away. Tamar wishes to marry Amnon to conceal her shame [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ], remaining in his house to compel him to fulfill this obligation [מלבי"ם]. She presents a deeply moral and logical argument: the initial assault is the precise reason he must never cast her out. It is unthinkable that the very act of ruining her should now serve as his excuse to discard her [מלבי"ם].

Despite her desperate pleas, Amnon's response is cruel and absolute. He refuses to listen to her. There is a subtle but profound shift in his behavior compared to before the assault. Earlier, driven by his desires, he heard her protests but simply refused to accept them. Now, consumed by an intense and sudden hatred, he refuses to even let her speak, shutting his ears to her completely [מלבי"ם].