2 Samuel 13

1 And it came to pass after this, that Avshalom the son of Dawid had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of Dawid 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 Yonadav, the son of Shimeah Dawid’s brother; and Yonadav was a very subtil man.

4 And he said unto him, “Why are you, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? Wilt you not tell me?” And Amnon said unto him, “I love Tamar, my brother Avshalom’s sister.”

5 And Yonadav said unto him, “Lay you down on your bed, and make yourself sick; and when your father cometh to see you, say unto him, ‘Please 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, ‘Please let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.”

7 Then Dawid sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and dress him food.”

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 food into the chamber, that I may eat of your 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 Yisrael; do not you this folly!

13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? And as for you, you shalt be as one of the fools in Yisrael. Now therefore, please speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”

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 you 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 Avshalom her brother said unto her, “Hath Amnon your brother been with you? But hold now your peace, my sister; he is your brother; regard not this thing.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Avshalom’s house.

21 But when King Dawid heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

22 And Avshalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad; for Avshalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Avshalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Efrayim; and Avshalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 And Avshalom came to the king, and said, “Behold now, your servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech you, and his servants go with your servant.”

25 And the king said to Avshalom, “Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto you.” And he pressed him; howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then said Avshalom, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said unto him, “Why should he go with you?”

27 But Avshalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Now Avshalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Mark you 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 Avshalom did unto Amnon as Avshalom 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 Dawid, saying, “Avshalom 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 Yonadav, the son of Shimeah Dawid’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord (adoni) suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Avshalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 Now therefore let not my lord (adoni) the king takes the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.”

34 But Avshalom 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 Yonadav said unto the king, “Behold, the king’s sons come; as your 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 Avshalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And Dawid mourned for his son every day.

38 So Avshalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And the soul of king Dawid longed to go forth unto Avshalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.