1Now it was afterthisthat Absalomthe sonof Davidhad a beautifulsisterwhose namewas Tamar,and Amnonthe sonof Davidlovedher.2Amnonwas so frustratedbecauseof his sisterTamarthat he madehimself ill,for she was a virgin,and it seemedhardto Amnonto doanythingto her.3But Amnonhad a friendwhose namewas Jonadab,the sonof Shimeah,David'sbrother;and Jonadabwas a veryshrewdman.4He saidto him, "O sonof the king,whyare you sodepressedmorningafter morning?Will you not tellme?" Then Amnonsaidto him, "I am in lovewith Tamar,the sisterof my brotherAbsalom."5Jonadabthen saidto him, "Liedownon your bedand pretendto be ill;when your fathercomesto seeyou, sayto him, 'Pleaselet my sisterTamarcomeand give me [some] foodto eat,and let her preparethe foodin my sight,that I may see[it] and eatfrom her hand.'"6So Amnonlaydownand pretendedto be ill;when the kingcameto seehim, Amnonsaidto the king,"Pleaselet my sisterTamarcomeand makeme a coupleof cakesin my sight,that I may eatfrom her hand."
7Then Davidsentto the housefor Tamar,saying,"Gonowto your brotherAmnon'shouse,and preparefoodfor him."8So Tamarwentto her brotherAmnon'shouse,and he was lyingdown.And she tookdough,kneaded[it], madecakesin his sight,and bakedthe cakes.9She tookthe panand dished[them] out beforehim, but he refusedto eat.And Amnonsaid,"Have everyonegoout from me." So everyonewentout from him.10Then Amnonsaidto Tamar,"Bringthe foodinto the bedroom,that I may eatfrom your hand."So Tamartookthe cakeswhichshe had madeand broughtthem into the bedroomto her brotherAmnon.11When she brought[them] to him to eat,he tookholdof her and saidto her, "Come,liewith me, my sister."12But she answeredhim, "No,my brother,do not violateme, for sucha thingis not donein Israel;do not dothisdisgracefulthing!13"As for me, wherecould I getridof my reproach?And as for you, you will be like oneof the foolsin Israel.Nowtherefore, pleasespeakto the king,for he will not withholdme from you."14However, he wouldnot listento her; since he was strongerthanshe, he violatedher and laywith her.
15Then Amnonhatedher with a verygreathatred;for the hatredwith whichhe hatedher was greaterthanthe lovewith whichhe had lovedher. And Amnonsaidto her, "Getup, goaway!"16But she saidto him, "No,becausethiswrongin sendingme awayis greaterthanthe otherthat you have doneto me!" Yet he wouldnot listento her.17Then he calledhis youngmanwho attendedhim and said,"Nowthrowthiswomanout of my [presence], and lockthe doorbehindher."18Now she had on a long-sleevedgarment;for in thismannerthe virgindaughtersof the kingdressedthemselves in robes.Then his attendanttookher out and lockedthe doorbehindher.19Tamarputasheson her headand toreher long-sleevedgarmentwhich[was] on her; and she puther handon her headand wentaway, cryingaloudas she went.
20Then Absalomher brothersaidto her, "Has Amnonyour brotherbeenwith you? But nowkeepsilent,my sister,he is your brother;do not takethismatterto heart."So Tamarremainedand was desolatein her brotherAbsalom'shouse.21Now when KingDavidheardof allthesematters,he was veryangry.22But Absalomdid not speakto Amnoneithergoodorbad;for AbsalomhatedAmnonbecausehe had violatedhis sisterTamar.
23Now it cameabout after two fullyearsthat Absalomhadsheepshearersin Baal-hazor,whichis nearEphraim,and Absalominvitedallthe king'ssons.
24Absalomcameto the kingand said,"Beholdnow,your servanthas sheepshearers;pleaselet the kingand his servantsgowith your servant."25But the kingsaidto Absalom,"No,my son,we should not allgo,for we will be burdensometo you." Although he urgedhim, he wouldnot go,but blessedhim.26Then Absalomsaid,"If not, pleaselet my brotherAmnongowith us." And the kingsaidto him, "Whyshould he gowith you?"27But when Absalomurgedhim, he letAmnonand allthe king'ssonsgowith him.
28Absalomcommandedhis servants,saying,"Seenow,when Amnon'sheartis merrywith wine,and when I sayto you, 'StrikeAmnon,'then puthim to death.Do not fear;have not I myselfcommandedyou? Be courageousand be valiant."29The servantsof Absalomdidto Amnonjustas Absalomhad commanded.Then allthe king'ssonsaroseand eachmountedhis muleand fled.
30Now it was while they were on the waythat the reportcameto David,saying,"Absalomhas struckdownallthe king'ssons,and not oneof them is left."31Then the kingarose,torehis clothesand layon the ground;and allhis servantswere standingby with clothestorn.32Jonadab,the sonof Shimeah,David'sbrother,responded,"Do not let my lordsupposethey have putto deathallthe youngmen,the king'ssons,for Amnonaloneis dead;becauseby the intentof Absalomthis has beendeterminedsincethe daythat he violatedhis sisterTamar.33"Nowtherefore, do not let my lordthe kingtakethe reportto heart,namely,'allthe king'ssonsare dead,'for onlyAmnonis dead."
34Now Absalomhad fled.And the youngmanwho was the watchmanraisedhis eyesand looked,and behold,manypeoplewere comingfrom the roadbehindhim by the sideof the mountain.35Jonadabsaidto the king,"Behold,the king'ssonshave come;according to your servant'sword,soit happened."36As soon as he had finishedspeaking,behold,the king'ssonscameand liftedtheir voicesand wept;and alsothe kingand allhis servantsweptverybitterly.
37Now Absalomfledand wentto Talmaithe sonof Ammihud,the kingof Geshur.And [David] mournedfor his soneveryday.38So Absalomhad fledand goneto Geshur,and was therethreeyears.39[The heart of] KingDavidlongedto goout to Absalom;for he was comfortedconcerningAmnon,sincehe was dead.
