2 Samuel Chapter 13 (NASB)

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undefined Now it was after this that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her.

undefined Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

undefined But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

undefined He said to him, 'O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?' Then Amnon said to him, 'I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.'

undefined Jonadab then said to him, 'Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me [some] food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see [it] and eat from her hand.''

undefined So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.'

undefined Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, 'Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him.'

undefined So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded [it], made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

undefined She took the pan and dished [them] out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, 'Have everyone go out from me.' So everyone went out from him.

undefined Then Amnon said to Tamar, 'Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.' So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon.

undefined When she brought [them] to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, 'Come, lie with me, my sister.'

undefined But she answered him, 'No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing!

undefined 'As for me, where could I get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.'

undefined However, he would not listen to her; since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

undefined Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for 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 away!'

undefined But she said to him, 'No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!' Yet he would not listen to her.

undefined Then he called his young man who attended him and said, 'Now throw this woman out of my [presence], and lock the door behind her.'

undefined Now she had on a long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her.

undefined Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her long-sleeved garment which [was] on her; and she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

undefined Then Absalom her brother said to her, 'Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.' So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

undefined Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry.

undefined But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

undefined Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

undefined Absalom came to the king and said, 'Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.'

undefined But the king said to Absalom, 'No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you.' Although he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him.

undefined Then Absalom said, 'If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.' And the king said to him, 'Why should he go with you?'

undefined But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

undefined Absalom commanded his servants, saying, 'See now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.'

undefined The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose and each mounted his mule and fled.

undefined Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, 'Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.'

undefined Then the king arose, tore his clothes and lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn.

undefined Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, responded, 'Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar.

undefined 'Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, 'all the king's sons are dead,' for only Amnon is dead.'

undefined Now Absalom had fled. And the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.

undefined Jonadab said to the king, 'Behold, the king's sons have come; according to your servant's word, so it happened.'

undefined As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.

undefined Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.

undefined So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years.

undefined [The heart of] King David longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

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