| 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 because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything unto 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 | And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus 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 feign thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, 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 unto the king, Let her sister Tamar come, I pray thee, 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 thy brother Amnon`s house, and dress him food. |
| 8 | So Tamar went to her brother Amnon`s house; and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. |
| 9 | And she took the 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 food into the chamber, that I may eat from thy 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 near 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 carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wilt 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, he forced her, and lay with her. |
| 15 | Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for 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, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is [worse] 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 colors 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 colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. |
| 20 | And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; take not 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 wroth. |
| 22 | And Absalom spake unto 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 sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, 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 sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant. |
| 25 | And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome 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, and he let Amnon and all the king`s sons go with him. |
| 28 | And Absalom 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 the 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 rent 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 killed 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 are 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 Ammihur, 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. |
