2Sam 13
1
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose
name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
2
And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was
a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
3
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David`s brother;
and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
4
And he said to him, Why, O son of the king, are you thus lean from day to day? will
you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom`s sister.
5
And Jonadab said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when
your father comes to see you, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray you, and
give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it
from her hand.
6
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him,
Amnon said to the king, Let her sister Tamar come, I pray you, and make me a couple
of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.
7
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon`s house, and dress
him food.
8
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon`s house; and he was laid down. And she took dough,
and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9
And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon
said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
10
And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your
hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber
to Amnon her brother.
11
And when she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to
her, Come, lie with me, my sister.
12
And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to
be done in Israel: do not you this folly.
13
And I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the fools
in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold
me from you.
14
Nevertheless he would not hearken to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced
her, and lay with her.
15
Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated
her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Arise,
be gone.
16
And she said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is [worse]
than the other that you did to me. But he would not hearken to her.
17
Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out
from me, and bolt the door after her.
18
And she had a garment of divers colors upon her; for with such robes were the king`s
daughters that were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted
the door after her.
19
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on
her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
20
And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? but now
hold your peace, my sister: he is your brother; take not this thing to heart. So Tamar
remained desolate in her brother Absalom`s house.
21
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22
And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because
he had forced his sister Tamar.
23
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor,
which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king`s sons.
24
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, your servant has sheep-shearers;
let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your servant.
25
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome
to you. And he pressed him: nevertheless he would not go, but blessed him.
26
Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king
said to him, Why should he go with you?
27
But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king`s sons go with him.
28
And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now, when Amnon`s heart is merry
with wine; and when I say to you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I
commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29
And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king`s
sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying,
Absalom has slain all the king`s sons, and there is not one of them left.
31
Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants
stood by with their clothes rent.
32
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David`s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord
suppose that they have killed all the young men the king`s sons; for Amnon only is
dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that
he forced his sister Tamar.
33
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that
all the king`s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.
34
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked,
and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side behind him.
35
And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king`s sons are come: as your servant said,
so it is.
36
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the
king`s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his
servants wept very sore.
37
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And [David]
mourned for his son every day.
38
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39
And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning
Amnon, seeing he was dead.