2Sa 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.
2Sa 13:2 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.
2Sa 13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah
David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
2Sa 13:4 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.
2Sa 13:5 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.
2Sa 13:6 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.
2Sa 13:7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's
house, and dress him meat.
2Sa 13:8 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.
2Sa 13:9 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.
2Sa 13:10 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.
2Sa 13:11 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.
2Sa 13:12 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.
2Sa 13:13 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.
2Sa 13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than
she, forced her, and lay with her.
2Sa 13:15 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.
2Sa 13:16 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.
2Sa 13:17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now
this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
2Sa 13:18 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.
2Sa 13:19 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.
2Sa 13:20 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.
2Sa 13:21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
2Sa 13:22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for
Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
2Sa 13:23 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.
2Sa 13:24 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.
2Sa 13:25 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.
2Sa 13:26 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?
2Sa 13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go
with him.
2Sa 13:28 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.
2Sa 13:29 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.
2Sa 13:30 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.
2Sa 13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and
all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
2Sa 13:32 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.
2Sa 13:33 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.
2Sa 13:34 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.
2Sa 13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy
servant said, so it is.
2Sa 13:36 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.
2Sa 13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of
Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
2Sa 13:38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
2Sa 13:39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was
comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.