THE SECOND BOOK OF
SAMUEL,
2 Samuel 13 ©
Ammon loves his sister Tamar and deflowers her by means of Jonadab’s crafty counsel, but presently drives her away, v. 1, etc. Which Absalom, Tamar’s own brother both by father and mother, cruelly avenges some two years after, causing his brother Ammon to be treacherously murdered, 23. These things trouble and grieve David exceedingly, 21, 36. Absalom escapes to Geshur, 37.
AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom the 1son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the 2son of David loved her.
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a 3virgin; and Amnon thought it 4hard for him to do any thing to her.
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of 5Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very 6subtil man.
And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, 7lean 8from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
And 9Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and 10make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me 11meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
¶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 12cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
Then David sent home to Tamar, 13saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was 14laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
And she took a pan, and 15poured 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.
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.
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.
And she answered him, Nay, my brother, 16do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in 17Israel: do not thou this folly.
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 18not withhold me from thee.
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
¶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.
And she said unto him, 19There 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.
Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now 20this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
And she had a garment of 21divers 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.
¶And Tamar 22put 23ashes on her head, and 24rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her 25hand on her head, and 26went on crying.
And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath 27Amnon thy 28brother been with thee? but 29hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; 30regard not this thing. So Tamar remained 31desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
¶But when king David heard of all these things, he was 32very wroth.
And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon 33neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
¶And it came to pass after 34two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in 35Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: 36and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his 37servants go with 38thy servant.
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be 39chargeable unto thee. And 40he pressed him: howbeit 41he would not go, but 42blessed him.
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?
But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
¶Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is 43merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: 44have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be 45valiant.
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.
¶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.
Then the king arose, and 46tarea his garments, and 47lay on the earth; and all his servants 48stood by with their clothes rent.
And 49Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, 50answered and said, 51Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for 52by the 53appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
Now therefore let not my lord the king 54take the thing to his heart, 55to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the 56watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind 57him.
And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as 58thy servant said, so it is.
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.
¶But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of 59Ammihud, king of 60Geshur. And 61David mourned for his son 62every day.
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
And the soul of king David 63longed to 64go forth unto Absalom: for he was 65comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.