2 Samuel 13
1 After this, it happened that Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and Amnon, David’s son, fell in love with her.
2 Amnon became so distressed that he made himself ill because of Tamar, his sister, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
4 He asked him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so downcast morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon answered, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in front of me, so I can see it and eat from her hand.’”
6 Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. The king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make two cakes in front of me, so I can eat from her hand.”
7 David sent word to Tamar at home: “Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.”
8 Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, made the cakes in front of him, and cooked them.
9 Then she took the pan and served them to him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have everyone leave me.” And everyone left him.
10 Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon.
11 As she came near to feed him, he grabbed her and said, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12 She answered him, “No, my brother, don’t rape me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. Don’t commit this disgraceful act.
13 Where could I take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now, please speak to the king, for he won’t refuse me to you.”
14 But he would not listen to her. He overpowered her, raped her, and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon felt a very great hatred for her. The hatred he felt for her was greater than the love he had felt for her. Amnon said to her, “Get up. Go away.”
16 She said to him, “No! Sending me away is a greater wrong than the other thing you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
17 He called the young man who served him and said, “Send this woman out, away from me, and lock the door behind her.”
18 She was wearing a long robe, for that was how the king’s virgin daughters dressed, in robes. His servant put her out and locked the door behind her.
19 Tamar put ashes on her head, tore the long robe she was wearing, put her hand on her head, and went away crying aloud.
20 Her brother Absalom asked her, “Was your brother Amnon with you? Now, my sister, be quiet; he is your brother. Don’t take this matter to heart.” Tamar then lived, desolate, in the house of her brother Absalom.
21 When King David heard all this, he became very angry.
22 Absalom said nothing to Amnon, either good or bad, because Absalom hated Amnon for raping his sister Tamar.
23 Two years later, Absalom had shearers at Baal-hazor, near Ephraim, and he invited all the king’s sons.
24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has shearers. Please let the king and his servants come with your servant.”
25 The king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we won’t all go, or we’ll be a burden to you.” Absalom urged him, but the king would not go; he gave him his blessing.
26 Absalom said, “If not, then please let my brother Amnon come with us.” The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?”
27 But Absalom urged him, and the king sent Amnon and all the king’s sons with him.
28 Absalom ordered his servants, “Watch closely: when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine and I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I ordered you to do it? Be strong and be brave.”
29 Absalom’s servants did to Amnon as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, each mounted his mule, and they fled.
30 While they were on the way, this report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.”
31 The king got up, tore his clothes, and lay on the ground, while all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 Then Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “My lord should not think that all the young men, the king’s sons, have been killed. Only Amnon is dead. This was Absalom’s plan from the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
33 Now, my lord the king, don’t take to heart the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
34 Absalom fled. The young man on watch looked up and saw a large crowd coming along the road behind him, from the side of the hill.
35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have arrived. It happened just as your servant said.”
36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived. They raised their voices and wept. The king and all his servants also wept bitterly.
37 Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. The king mourned for his son every day.
38 Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and stayed there three years.
39 King David stopped pursuing Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.
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