Chapter 13
1 After this , Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar ; and Amnon the son of David loved her .
2 Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar , for she was a virgin , and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to 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 He said to him , " Why , son of the king , are you so sad from day to day ? Won’t you tell me ?" Amnon said to him , " I love Tamar , my brother Absalom’s sister."
5 Jonadab said to him , " Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick . When your father comes to see you , tell him , ‘ Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat , and prepare the food in my sight , that I may see it and eat it from her hand .’"
6 So Amnon lay down and faked being sick . 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 ."
7 Then David sent home to Tamar , saying, " Go now to your brother Amnon’s house , and prepare food for him ."
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house ; and he was lying down . She took dough , kneaded it , made cakes in his sight , and baked the cakes .
9 She took the pan and poured them out before him , but he refused to eat. Amnon said , " Have all men leave me ." Then every man went out from him .
10 Amnon said to Tamar , " Bring the food into the room , that I may eat from your hand ." Tamar took the cakes which she had made , and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.
11 When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her , " Come , lie with me , my sister!"
12 She answered him , " No , my brother, do not force me ! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel . Don’t you do this folly !
13 As for me , where would I carry my shame ? And as for you , you will be as one of the fools in Israel . Now therefore , please speak to the king ; for he will not withhold me from you ."
14 However , he would not listen to her voice ; but being stronger than she , he forced her and lay with her .
15 Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred ; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her . Amnon said to her , " Arise , be gone !"
16 She said to him , " Not so , because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me !" But he would not listen to her .
17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him , and said , " Now put this woman out from me , and bolt the door after her ."
18 She had a garment of various colors on her , for the king ’s daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes . Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her .
19 Tamar put ashes on her head , and tore her garment of various colors that was on her ; and she laid her hand on her head and went her way , crying aloud as she went .
20 Absalom her brother said to her , " Has Amnon your brother been with you ? But now hold your peace , my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take 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 angry .
22 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad ; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar .
23 After two full years , Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king ’s sons .
24 Absalom came to the king and said, " See now , your servant has sheep shearers . Please let the king and his servants go with your servant ."
25 The king said to Absalom, " No , my son , let ’s not all go , lest we be burdensome to you ." He pressed him ; however he would not go , but blessed him .
26 Then Absalom said, "If not , please let my brother Amnon go with us ." The king said to him , " Why should he go with you ?"
27 But Absalom pressed him , and he let Amnon and all the king ’s sons go with him .
28 Absalom commanded his servants , saying, " Mark now , when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine ; and when I tell you , ‘ Strike Amnon,’ then kill him . Don’t be afraid . Haven’t I commanded you ? Be courageous , and be valiant !"
29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded . Then all the king ’s sons arose , and every man got up on his mule and fled .
30 While they were on the way , the news came to David , saying, "Absalom has slain all the king ’s sons , and there is not one of them left !"
31 Then the king arose , and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn .
32 Jonadab the son of Shimeah , David ’s brother, answered , "Don’t let 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 has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar .
33 Now therefore don’t let my lord the king take the thing to his heart , to think that all the king ’s sons are dead ; for only Amnon is dead ."
34 But Absalom fled . The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked , and behold , many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him .
35 Jonadab said to the king , " Behold , the king ’s sons are coming ! It is as your servant said ."
36 As soon as he had finished speaking , behold , the king ’s sons came , and lifted up their voices and wept . The king also and all his servants wept bitterly .
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur . David mourned for his son every day .
38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur , and was there three years .
39 King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead .