2 Samuel 13

1After this, Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon son of David loved her.

2Amnon was so distressed that he made himself sick because of Tamar his sister, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible in Amnon’s eyes to do anything to her.

3Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

4He said to him, “Why are you so gaunt, son of the king, morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

5Jehonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let Tamar my sister come and give me food, and let her prepare the meal in my sight, so that I may watch and eat from her hand.’”

6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make two cakes before my eyes, so that I may eat from her hand.”

7Then David sent word to Tamar at home, saying, “Please go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare the food for him.”

8So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, while he was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, shaped it into cakes in his sight, and cooked the cakes.

9Then she took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send everyone out from me.” So everyone went out from him.

10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room, so that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the inner room to Amnon her brother.

11When she brought it near to him to eat, he seized her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”

12She said to him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing.”

13As for me, where could I carry my disgrace? And you—you would be like one of the fools in Israel. So now, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.

14But he would not listen to her, and he was stronger than she was, and he violated her and lay with her.

15Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, because the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go.”

16But she said to him, “No, because this great wrong of sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.

17Then he called his young man who served him and said, “Please send this one away from me, outside, and bolt the door behind her.”

18She was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this is how the virgin daughters of the king used to dress. Then his attendant put her outside and bolted the door behind her.

19Then Tamar put ashes on her head, tore the robe of many colors that was on her, put her hand on her head, and went away, going and crying out.

20Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now, my sister, keep silent; he is your brother. Do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained, devastated, in the house of Absalom her brother.

21When King David heard all these things, he was very angry.

22And Absalom did not speak with Amnon, either bad or good, because Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated Tamar his sister.

23It happened after two full years that Absalom had sheep shearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Look, your servant has shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

25But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, please let us not all go, lest we be a burden on you.” And he pressed him, but he was not willing to go; so he blessed him.

26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” But the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

27But Absalom pressed him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons with him.

28Then Absalom commanded his young men, saying, “Please watch: when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear. Have I not myself commanded you? Be strong, and be men of valor.”

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

30While they were on the way, the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.”

31Then the king arose, tore his garments, and lay on the ground, and all his servants were standing with their garments torn.

32Then Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord say, ‘They have killed all the young men, the king’s sons,’ for Amnon alone is dead. For this had been determined by Absalom from the day he violated Tamar his sister.”

33Now let not my lord the king take this matter to heart, saying, ‘All the king’s sons are dead,’ for Amnon alone is dead.

34But Absalom fled. And the young man who was watching lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, many people were coming by the road behind him, from the side of the mountain.

35Then Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has happened.”

36And as soon as he finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and they raised their voices and wept. The king also, and all his servants, wept with very great weeping.

37But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And he mourned for his son all the days.

38But Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and he was there three years.

39And King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.