SECOND SAMUEL

 

2 Samuel Chapter 13

1 ¶ Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and her half brother Amnon, another of David’s sons, loved her.

2 And Amnon was so distraught, that he made himself sick over his sister Tamar; because she was a virgin; and Amnon thought was impossible for him to talk to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very crafty man.

4 And he said to him, Why are you, the king’s son, wasting away 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 down on your bed, and pretend to be sick: and when your father comes to see you, say to him, I beg you, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and prepare it as I watch, so that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.

6 So Amnon lay down, and pretended to be sick: and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, I beg you, let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes as I watch, so I can eat from her hand.

7 Then David sent word home to Tamar, saying, Go at once to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare a meal for him.

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; where he was lying down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes as he watched, and baked the cakes.

9 And she took the pan, and emptied them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Send everyone out. And they all left him.

10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the bed chamber, so that I may eat from your hand. So Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and carried them into the bedroom to Amnon her brother.

11 And when she brought them to him, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister.

12 And she answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; such a thing should never be done in Israel: do not do this horrible thing.

13 How could I rid myself of the shame? and as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I beg you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.

14 However he would not listen to her: but, being stronger than her, forced her, and lay with her.

15 Afterward Amnon hated her so intensely; that the hatred he felt for her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Get up, and leave.

16 But she said, No: this great evil of sending me away is worse than what you have already done to me. But he would not listen to her.

17 Then he called his servant who waited on him, and said, Put this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her.

18 Now Tamar was wearing an ornamented garment: because that was the sort of robe the virgin daughters of the king wore. So his servant put her out, and bolted the door behind her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore the ornamented garment she was wearing, and laid her hand on her head, and went away crying.

20 Then Absalom her brother asked her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? calm yourself, my sister: he is your brother; do not let this deed upset you so. But Tamar remained heartsick living in the house of her brother Absalom.

21 ¶ Now when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 And Absalom would not say anything either good or bad to his brother Amnon: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had raped his sister Tamar.

23 Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all of the king’s sons.

24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Your servant has hired sheepshearers; let the king, I beg you, and his servants come with me.

25 And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, do not have us all go now, lest we be burdensome to you. Then Absalom urged David: however he would not go, but he blessed him.

26 If not, Absalom said, Please let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?

27 But Absalom urged him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Then Absalom instructed his servants, saying, Notice when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Strike Amnon; then kill him. Do not be afraid: are you not following my orders? be courageous, and be valiant.

29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one mounted his mule, and fled.

30 ¶ Now while they were on the way, David was told, 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 floor; and all his servants standing by tore their clothes.

32 But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke out and said, Do not assume my lord that they have killed all the king’s sons; for only Amnon is dead: for Absalom has planned this ever since the day that Amnon forced his sister Tamar.

33 Therefore my lord do not let the king take seriously the report that all the king’s sons are dead: for only Amnon is dead.

34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch looked up, and saw many people coming along the road from the hill behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, Look, the king’s sons are coming: just as your servant said.

36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived, and raised their voices in weeping: and the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 But Absalom escaped, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 But Absalom having fled, and gone to Geshur, was there three years.

39 And the spirit of king David longed to go to Absalom: for he had reconciled himself to the death of Amnon.