| 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.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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