2 Samuel 13
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 * for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard * for him to do * any thing to her.
3. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4. And he said * unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, 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 make thyself sick * : and when thy father cometh * to see * thee, say * unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come * , and give * me meat, and dress * the meat in my sight, that I may see * it, and eat * it at her hand.
6. So Amnon lay down * , and made himself sick * : and when the king was come * to see * him, Amnon said * unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come * , and make * me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat * at her hand.
7. Then David sent * home to Tamar, saying * , Go * now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress * him meat.
8. So Tamar went * to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down * . And she took * flour, and kneaded * it, and made cakes * in his sight, and did bake * the cakes.
9. And she took * a 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 meat into the chamber,that I may eat * of thine 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 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 cause my shame to go * ? and as for thee, thou shalt 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, forced * her, and lay * with her.
15. Then Amnon hated * her exceedingly; so that 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, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away * is greater 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 colours 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 colours that was on her, and laid * her hand on her head, and went * on * crying * .
20. And Absalom her brother said * unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace * , my sister: he is thy brother; regard * not this thing. 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 his brother 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 sheepshearers * in Baalhazor, 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 sheepshearers * ; let * the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go * with thy servant.
25. And the king said * to Absalom,Nay, my son, let us not all now go * , lest we be chargeable * 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, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go * with him.
28. Now Absalom had 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 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 tare * 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 slain * 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 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 Ammihud * , 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 * .
