13
1 After
this, Absalom the
son of David
had a
beautiful sister, whose
name was Tamar;
and Amnon the son
of David loved her.
2 Amnon was
so troubled that
he became 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 He said
to him, “Why,
son of the
king, are you
so sad from day
to day? Won’t you
tell me?”
Amnon said to him, “I
love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s
sister.”
5 Jonadab said
to him, “Lay
down on your
bed and pretend
to be sick.
When your father comes
to see you,
tell him, ‘Please
let my sister
Tamar come and
give me bread
to eat, and
prepare the food
in my sight,
that I may
see it and
eat it from
her hand.’ ”
6 So Amnon
lay down and faked
being sick. When
the king came
to see him, Amnon
said to the king,
“Please let
my sister Tamar
come 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
prepare food for
him.”
8 So
Tamar went to
her brother Amnon’s house;
and he was
lying down. She
took dough,
kneaded it, made
cakes in his
sight, and baked
the cakes.
9 She
took the pan
and poured them
out before him,
but he refused
to eat. Amnon said, “Have
all men leave
me.” Then every
man went out
from him.
10 Amnon said
to Tamar, “Bring
the food into
the room, that
I may eat
from your hand.”
Tamar took the
cakes which she had
made, and brought
them into the
room to Amnon
her brother.
11 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 She answered
him, “No,
my brother, do not
force me! For
no such thing
ought to be
done in Israel.
Don’t you do this
folly!
13 As
for me, where
would I carry
my shame? And
as for you,
you will be
as one of
the fools in
Israel. Now
therefore, please
speak to the
king; for he
will not withhold
me from you.”
14 However,
he would not
listen to her
voice; but being
stronger than she,
he forced her
and lay with
her.
15 Then Amnon
hated her with
exceedingly great
hatred; for the
hatred with which
he hated her
was greater than
the love with
which he had loved
her. Amnon said to
her, “Arise, be
gone!”
16 She
said to him, “Not
so, because this
great wrong in
sending me away
is worse than
the other that
you did to
me!”
But he would
not listen to
her.
17 Then
he called his
servant who
ministered to him,
and said, “Now
put this woman out
from me, and
bolt the door
after her.”
18 She
had a garment
of various colors on
her, for the
king’s daughters
who were virgins
dressed in such
robes. Then his
servant brought
her out and
bolted the door
after her.
19 Tamar
put ashes on her
head, and tore
her garment
of various colors that
was on her;
and she laid
her hand on
her head and
went her way,
crying aloud as
she went.
20 Absalom
her brother said
to her, “Has Amnon
your brother been
with you? But
now hold your
peace, my sister.
He is your brother.
Don’t take 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 angry.
22 Absalom
spoke to Amnon
neither good nor
bad; for Absalom
hated Amnon, because
he had forced
his sister Tamar.
23 After two
full years, Absalom
had sheep shearers
in Baal Hazor, which
is beside Ephraim;
and Absalom invited
all the king’s
sons.
24 Absalom
came to the
king and said, “See
now, your servant
has sheep shearers.
Please let the
king and his
servants go with
your servant.”
25 The
king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let’s
not all go, lest
we be burdensome
to you.” He
pressed him; however
he would not
go, but blessed
him.
26 Then Absalom
said, “If not, please
let my brother Amnon
go with us.”
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 Absalom
commanded his
servants, saying, “Mark
now, when Amnon’s
heart is merry
with wine; and
when I tell
you, ‘Strike Amnon,’
then kill him.
Don’t be afraid. Haven’t
I commanded you?
Be courageous, and
be valiant!”
29 The
servants of Absalom
did to Amnon
as Absalom had
commanded. Then
all the king’s
sons arose, and
every man got
up on his
mule and fled.
30 While
they were on
the way, the
news 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 tore
his garments, and
lay on the earth;
and all his
servants stood by
with their clothes
torn.
32 Jonadab
the son of
Shimeah, David’s brother,
answered, “Don’t let
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 don’t let
my lord the king
take the thing
to his heart,
to think that
all the king’s
sons are dead;
for only Amnon is
dead.”
34 But Absalom
fled. The young
man who kept the
watch lifted up
his eyes and
looked, and behold,
many people were
coming by way
of the hillside
behind him.
35 Jonadab
said to the
king, “Behold, the
king’s sons are
coming! It is
as your servant
said.”
36 As soon
as he had
finished speaking,
behold, the king’s
sons came, and
lifted up their
voices and wept.
The king also
and all his
servants wept
bitterly.
37 But Absalom
fled and went
to Talmai the
son of Ammihur,
king of Geshur.
David mourned for
his son every
day.
38 So Absalom
fled and went
to Geshur, and
was there three
years.
39 King
David longed to
go out to Absalom,
for he was
comforted concerning Amnon,
since he was
dead.