Amnon and Tamar
13:1 And it came to pass
after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister,
whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
13:2 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 anything to her.
13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the
son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very
subtil man.
13:4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's
son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon
said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
13:5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay 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.
13:6 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 make me a couple of
cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
13:7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy
brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
13:8 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.
13:9 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.
13:10 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.
13:11 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.
13:12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force
me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not
thou this folly.
13:13 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.
13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but,
being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
13:15 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.
13:16 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.
13:17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him,
and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door
after her.
13:18 And she had a garment of divers colors 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.
13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment
of divers colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her
head, and went on crying.
13:20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy
brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister:
he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained
desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
13:21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was
very wroth.
13:22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good
nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his
sister Tamar.
Absalom Kills Amnon
13:23 And it came to pass
after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in
Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all
the king's sons.
13:24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now,
thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech
thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
13:25 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, but blessed him.
13:26 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?
13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all
the king's sons go with him.
13:28 Now Absalom had commanded 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, fear not: have not I
commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
13:29 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.
13:30 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.
13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay
on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their
clothes rent.
13:32 And Jonadab, 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 appointment of Absalom this hath been
determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
13:33 Now therefore let 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.
13:34 But Absalom 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.
13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's
sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
13:36 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.
13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of
Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every
day.
13:38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there
three years.
13:39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto
Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he
was dead.
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