2 Samuel 13

1 After this: Absalom son of David had a sister, very beautiful to look at, and her name was Tamar; and Amnon son of David loved her. [a] 2 And Amnon was so troubled over Tamar his sister that he fell ill, because she was a virgin, and in Amnon’s eyes it seemed impossible to do anything to her. 3 Now Amnon had a friend, and his name was Jonadab, son of Shammah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very wise man. [b]

4 And he said to him, “What is it with you, son of the king, that you are so weak, morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.” 5 And Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and make yourself sick. Your father will come in to see you, and you will say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and feed me, and let her make the food where I can see it, so that I may watch, and eat from her hands.’”

6 So Amnon lay down and made himself sick, and the king came in to see him. And Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come to me and make a couple of cakes where I can see them, and I will eat from her hand.” [c] 7 And David sent word to Tamar at the house: “Go now to the house of Amnon your brother, and make him food.” 8 And Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down. And she took the dough and kneaded it and shaped the cakes where he could see, and baked the cakes.

9 And she took the pan and emptied it out in front of him, but he would not eat. And Amnon said, “Take every man out from around me.” And they took every man out from around him. 10 And Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room, and I will eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them in to Amnon her brother, into the bedroom. 11 And she brought them to him to eat, and he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”

12 And she said to him, “No, my brother, do not bring me low, for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this foolish thing. [d] 13 And I — where would I carry my disgrace? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel. So now, speak to the king; he will not keep me from you.” 14 But Amnon would not listen to her voice. He overpowered her, and brought her low, and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred — the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up and go.” 16 And Tamar said to him, “No, my brother — this last evil, sending me away, is greater than the first that you did to me.” But Amnon would not listen to her voice. [e] 17 And he called the servant who was in charge of his house and said to him, “Put this woman out of here, away from me, and lock the door behind her.” 18 She was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for that is how the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed in their outer robes. And his attendant led her outside and locked the door behind her. [f]

19 And Tamar took ashes and put them on her head, and she tore the long robe that she was wearing, and she laid her hands on her head, and went away crying as she went. 20 And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now, my sister, be quiet — he is your brother. Do not set your heart on speaking of this matter.” And Tamar lived on as a widow in the house of Absalom her brother.

21 And King David heard all these things and was very angry; but he did not grieve the spirit of Amnon his son, because he loved him, for he was his firstborn. [g] 22 And Absalom said nothing to Amnon, bad or good, because Absalom hated Amnon over the matter of his bringing Tamar his sister low.

23 And two full years later, they were shearing for Absalom at Belasor, next to Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. [h] 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Look, they are shearing for your slave. Let the king and his servants come with your slave.” 25 And the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. Let us not all go — we must not be a weight on you.” And Absalom pressed him, but he would not go; he blessed him. 26 And Absalom said, “If not, then let my brother Amnon come with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 And Absalom pressed him, and he sent Amnon with him, and all the king’s sons. And Absalom made a drinking feast like the feast of a king.

28 And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Watch for when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon.’ Then put him to death. Do not be afraid — is it not I who am commanding you? Be brave, and be men of strength.” [i] 29 And Absalom’s servants did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded them. And all the king’s sons got up, and every man mounted his mule, and they fled.

30 And while they were still on the road, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king got up and tore his clothes and lay on the ground, and all his servants standing around him tore their clothes.

32 And Jonadab son of Shammah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Do not let my lord the king say that he has put to death all the young men, the king’s sons. Only Amnon is dead — for he has lain under Absalom’s own word since the day Amnon brought Tamar his sister low. [j] 33 And now, do not let my lord the king take it to heart and say, ‘All the king’s sons are dead.’ Only Amnon is dead.”

34 And Absalom ran away. And the young man on watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and there were many people coming along the road behind him, from the side of the mountain, on the way down. And the watchman came and told the king, “I have seen men on the road of Oronen, from the side of the mountain.” [k] 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are here. It has happened just as your slave said.” 36 And when he had finished speaking, the king’s sons came, and they lifted up their voices and wept; and the king too, and all his servants, wept a very great weeping.

37 And Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, to the land of Machad. And King David mourned for his son all his days. [l] 38 And Absalom ran away and went to Geshur, and he was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king gave up going out after Absalom, for he was comforted about Amnon, that he was dead. [m]