2SA-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.

2SA-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 any thing to her.

2SA-13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the

son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtle

man.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-13:7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy

brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but,

being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-13:18 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.

2SA-13:19 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.

2SA-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.

2SA-13:21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was

very wroth.

2SA-13:22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good

nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his

sister Tamar.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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?

2SA-13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the

king's sons go with him.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-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.

2SA-13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's

sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

2SA-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.

2SA-13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of

Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every

day.

2SA-13:38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there

three years.

2SA-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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