[1] It happened after this, that 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 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] He said to him, Why, son of
the king, are you thus lean 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 you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when your father
comes to see you, tell him, Please let my sister Tamar come 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, Please let her 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 dress him food. [8] So Tamar went to her brother Amnon`s
house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes
in his sight, and did bake the cakes. [9] She took the pan, and poured them
out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, Have out all men from
me. They went out every man from him. [10] Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the
food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes
which she had made, and brought them into the chamber 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] I, where shall 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 exceeding 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 putting me forth 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, Put now this woman out from me,
and bolt the door after her. [18] She had a garment of various colors on
her; for with such robes were the king`s daughters who were virgins
dressed. 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]
It happened 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] Absalom came to the king, and said, See now, your servant has
sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your
servant. [25] The king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest
we be burdensome to you. He pressed him: however he would not go, but
blessed him. [26] Then said Absalom, 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 you now, when Amnon`s heart is
merry with wine; and when I tell you, Smite 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 him up on his mule, and fled. [30] It
happened, while they were in the way, that 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
Amnon only is dead. [34] But Absalom fled. The young man who 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] Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the
king`s sons are come: as your servant said, so it is. [36] It happened, 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. [David] mourned for his son every day. [38] So
Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. [39] [the soul
of] king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted
concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
