-
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.
02 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 anything to her.
03 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was
Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and
Jonadab was a very subtil man.
04 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.
05 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.
06 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.
07 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now
to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
08 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.
09 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.
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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.
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