Chapter 13

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 loved⁴ her.

And Amnon was so vexed,⁴ that he fell sick⁹⁹ for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard¹¹ for him to do² any thing to her.

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

And he said⁴ unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell⁵⁵ me? And Amnon said⁴ unto him, I love⁶ Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

And Jonadab said⁴ unto him, Lay thee down³ on thy bed, and make thyself sick:¹⁰⁰ and when thy father cometh¹ to see² thee, say¹ unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come,⁴ and give⁵⁵ me meat, and dress¹ the meat in my sight, that I may see⁴ [it], and eat¹ [it] at her hand.

So Amnon lay down,⁴ and made himself sick:¹⁰¹ and when the king was come⁴ to see² him, Amnon said⁴ unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come,⁴ and make¹⁷ me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat⁴ at her hand.

Then David sent⁴ home to Tamar, saying,² Go³ now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress³ him meat.

So Tamar went⁴ to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down.⁶ And she took⁴ flour, and kneaded⁴ [it], and made cakes¹⁷ in his sight, and did bake¹⁷ the cakes.

And she took⁴ a pan, and poured⁴ [them] out before him; but he refused¹⁷ to eat.² And Amnon said,⁴ Have out⁵⁴ all men from me. And they went out⁴ every man from him.

And Amnon said⁴ unto Tamar, Bring⁵⁴ the meat into the chamber, that I may eat⁴ of thine hand. And Tamar took⁴ the cakes which she had made,¹ and brought⁵⁵ [them] into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

And when she had brought⁵⁵ [them] unto him to eat,² he took hold⁵⁵ of her, and said⁴ unto her, Come³ lie³ with me, my sister.

And she answered⁴ him, Nay, my brother, do not force¹⁷ me; for no such thing ought to be done¹¹ in Israel: do⁴ not thou this folly.

And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go?⁵⁵ and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak¹⁶ unto the king; for he will not withhold⁴ me from thee.

Howbeit he would¹ not hearken² unto her voice: but, being stronger⁴ than she, forced¹⁷ her, and lay⁴ with her.

Then Amnon hated⁴ her exceedingly; ¹⁴¹⁹ so that the hatred wherewith he hated¹ her [was] greater than the love wherewith he had loved¹ her. And Amnon said⁴ unto her, Arise,³ be gone.³

And she said⁴ unto him, [There is] no cause: this evil in sending me away¹⁵ [is] greater than the other that thou didst¹ unto me. But he would¹ not hearken² unto her.

Then he called⁴ his servant that ministered¹⁸ unto him, and said,⁴ Put³ now this [woman] out from me, and bolt³ the door after her.

And [she had] a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters [that were] virgins apparelled.⁴ Then his servant¹⁸ brought⁵⁵ her out, and bolted¹ the door after her.

And Tamar put⁴ ashes on her head, and rent¹ her garment of divers colours that [was] on her, and laid⁴ her hand on her head, and went⁴ on² crying.¹

And Absalom her brother said⁴ unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace,⁵⁴ my sister: he [is] thy brother; regard^{4 3820} not this thing. So Tamar remained⁴ desolate⁶ in her brother Absalom's house.

But when king David heard¹ of all these things, he was very wroth.⁴

And Absalom spake¹⁴ unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated¹ Amnon, because he had forced¹⁴ his sister Tamar.

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers⁶ in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited⁴ all the king's sons.

And Absalom came⁴ to the king, and said,⁴ Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers;⁶ let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go⁴ with thy servant.

And the king said⁴ to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go,⁴ lest we be chargeable⁴ unto thee. And he pressed⁴ him: howbeit he would¹ not go,² but blessed¹⁷ him.

Then said⁴ Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go⁴ with us. And the king said⁴ unto him, Why should he go⁴ with thee?

But Absalom pressed⁴ him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go⁴ with him.

Now Absalom had commanded¹⁷ his servants, saying,² Mark³ ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say¹ unto you, Smite⁵⁴ Amnon; then kill⁵² him, fear⁴ not: have not I commanded¹⁴ you? be courageous,³ and be valiant. ²⁴²⁸

And the servants of Absalom did⁴ unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded.¹⁴ Then all the king's sons arose,⁴ and every man gat him up⁴ upon his mule, and fled.⁴

And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came¹ to David, saying,² Absalom hath slain⁵² all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.⁸

Then the king arose,⁴ and tare⁴ his garments, and lay⁴ on the earth; and all his servants stood¹² by with their clothes rent.⁷

And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered⁴ and said,⁴ Let not my lord suppose⁴ [that] they have slain⁵² all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead:¹ for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined⁷ from the day that he forced¹⁵ his sister Tamar.

Now therefore let not my lord the king take⁴ the thing to his heart, to think² that all the king's sons are dead:¹ for Amnon only is dead.¹

But Absalom fled.⁴ And the young man that kept the watch⁶ lifted up⁴ his eyes, and looked,⁴ and, behold, there came⁶ much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

And Jonadab said⁴ unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come:¹ as thy servant said, so it is.

And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end¹⁵ of speaking,¹⁵ that, behold, the king's sons came,¹ and lifted up⁴ their voice and wept:⁴ and the king also and all his servants wept¹ very sore. ¹⁴¹⁹

But Absalom fled,¹ and went⁴ to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, ⁵⁹⁸⁹ king of Geshur. And [David] mourned¹⁰¹ for his son every day.

So Absalom fled,¹ and went⁴ to Geshur, and was there three years.

And [the soul of] king David longed¹⁷ to go forth² unto Absalom: for he was comforted⁸ concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.¹