2 Samuel

2 Samuel 13 ©

1 Amnon, in love with Tamar, by Jonadab's counsel feigneth sickness: 6 Tamar attending him at his request, he ravisheth her: 15 he hateth her, and turneth her out of his house: 19 she retireth in grief to her brother Absalom's house. 21 David is wroth, but Absalom concealeth his resentment. 23 Absalom inviteth his brethren to a sheepshearing feast, 28 where Amnon is murdered by Absalom's command. 30 David, alarmed with tidings that all his sons were slain, is told the truth of the matter by Jonadab, whose report is confirmed by the coming of the young men. 37 Absalom fleeth to Geshur; David longeth after him.

1

AND it came to pass after this, that aAbsalom the son of David had ba fair sister, whose name was cTamar; and Amnon the son of David dloved her.

2

And Amnon was so evexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and 1Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

3

But Amnon had fa friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very g*subtil man.

4

And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, 2lean 3from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, hI love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

5

And Jonadab said unto him, iLay 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 jmake 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 klaid down. And she took 4flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

k v.5.
9

And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, lHave 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 mtook hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

12

And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not 5force me; for 6no nsuch thing ought to be done oin Israel: do not thou this pfolly.

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 qwould not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

15

¶Then Amnon rhated her 7exceedingly; 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 sgarment 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 tput 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 8Amnon thy brother been with thee? but uhold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; 9regard not this thing. So Tamar remained 10desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

21

¶But when king David heard of all these things, he vwas very *wroth.

22

And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither wgood nor bad: for Absalom xhated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23

¶And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had ysheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside zEphraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24

And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; alet 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, bbut blessed him.

26

Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let cmy 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 dcommanded 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, 11fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be 12valiant.

29

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man 13*gat him up upon his emule, 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 farose, and gtare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

g ch. 1.2.
32

And hJonadab, 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 14appointment of Absalom this hath been 15determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

h v.3-5.
33

Now therefore ilet 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 jAbsalom 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: 16as 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 17very *sore.

37

¶But Absalom fled, and went to kTalmai, the son of 18Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David 19mourned for his son every day.

38

So Absalom fled, and went to lGeshur, and was there three years.

39

And the soul of king David 20longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was mcomforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.