Amnon and Tamar

1And it was after this that Absalom son of David had a lovely sister, and her name was Tamar. And Amnon son of David loved her. 2And Amnon was so distressed that he became sick over Tamar his sister, for she was a virgin, and it was improper in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.

3And Amnon had a friend, and his name was Jonadab son of Shimeah,† brother of David. And Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4And he said to him, “Why are you so depressed, son of the king, morning after morning? Will you not tell me?”

And Amnon said to him, “I am loving Tamar, sister of Absalom my brother.”

5And Jonadab 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 Tamar my sister come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, so that I may see and eat it from her hand.’”

6And Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill, and the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make for me in my sight two cakes, that I may eat from her hand.”

7And David sent to Tamar, to the house, saying, “Go now to the house of Amnon, to your brother, and prepare for him food.”

8And Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down. And she took the dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his eyes, and she baked the cakes. 9And she took the pan and placed them out before his face, and he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Have every man go out from me.” And they went out, every man from him.

10And Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.”

And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and she brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom. 11And she had brought them to him to eat, and he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”

12And she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for such should not be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing. 13And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. And now speak, please, to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”

14And he would not listen to her voice, and he was stronger than she, and he forced her and lay with her.

15And Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred, so that greater the hatred was with which he hated her than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone.”

16And she said to him, “No, because this is greater evil than the other that you did to me—sending me away.”

And he would not listen to her. 17And he called his servant who attended him, and he said, “Put out, please, this woman from me outside, and bolt the door behind her.”

18And she had on a tunic of many colors,† for such apparel virgin daughters of the king wore. And his servant put her out, and he bolted the door behind her. 19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and she tore her tunic of many colors that was on her, and she put her hand on her head and went, going on and crying bitterly.

20And Absalom her brother said to her, “Amnon your brother has been with you, and my sister, keep silent. He is your brother; do not put this thing to heart.”

And Tamar was desolate and remained in the house of Absalom her brother.

21And King David heard of all these things, and he was very hot.† 22And Absalom did not speak to Amnon bad or good, for Absalom hated Amnon, upon the matter that he had disgraced Tamar his sister.

Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon

23And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim. And Absalom invited all the sons of the king. 24And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, now, your servant has sheepshearers. Let the king go, please, and his servants, with your servant.”

25And the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, and we will not be a burden to you.” And he urged him, and he would not go, and he blessed him.

26And Absalom said, “If not, please let Amnon my brother go with us.”

And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

27And Absalom urged him, and he sent with him Amnon and all the sons of the king.†

28And Absalom had commanded his young men, saying, “Watch now, when the heart of Amnon is merry with wine, and I say to you⁺, strike Amnon and kill him. Do not be afraid. Is it not that I have commanded you⁺? Be courageous and be sons of valor.”

29And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded, and all the sons of the king arose, and they rode each one on his mule, and they fled.

30And it came to pass, they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the sons of the king, and not one of them is left.”

31And the king arose and tore his garments, and he laid down on the ground. And all his servants stood by, with their clothes torn.

32And Jonadab son of Shimeah, brother of David, answered and said, “Let not my lord say all the young men, the sons of the king, they have killed. For Amnon alone is dead. For by the mouth of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he violated Tamar his sister. 33And now let not my lord the king put to his heart the thing, to think that all the sons of the king are dead. For Amnon alone is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34And Absalom fled, and the young man who was watching lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road west of him† on the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.†

35And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the sons of the king have come. As spoke your servant, so it is.”

36And it came to pass, as he finished speaking, that indeed the sons of the king came, and they lifted up their voices and wept, and the king and all his servants wept, weeping very bitterly.

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

38And Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and he was there three years. 39And king David† longed to go to Absalom.† For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.