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 for his sister Tamar; for she was a
virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
3 But
Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's
brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4 And
he said unto him, Why art thou, being the
king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto
him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
5 And
Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and
when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister
Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
6 So
Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him,
Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a
couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7 Then
David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and
dress him meat.
8 So
Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took
flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight,
and did bake the cakes.
9 And
she took a 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 unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine
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 unto him to eat, he took hold of her,
and said unto 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 thou this folly.
13 And
I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one
of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he
will not withhold me from thee.
14 Howbeit
he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her,
and lay with her.
15 Then
Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater
than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be
gone.
16 And
she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater
than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
17 Then
he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out
from me, and bolt the door after her.
18 And she had a
garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's
daughters that were virgins
apparelled. 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 colours that was on
her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
20 And
Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but
hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. 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 spake unto his brother 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 sheepshearers in
Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited
all the king's sons.
24 And
Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers;
let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
25 And
the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be
chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed
him.
26 Then
said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the
king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But
Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
28 Now
Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is
merry with wine, and when I say unto 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 unto 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 tidings came to David,
saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them
left.
31 Then
the king arose, and tare 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 slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by
the appointment of Absalom this hath 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 unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy 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 Ammihud, 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 unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon,
seeing he was dead.
