Book 09 : NEVIIM - II SAMUEL - Chapter 013
13:001
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
13:002
And Amnon was so distressed that he fell sick because of
his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do any
thing unto her
13:003
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man
13:004
And he said unto him: 'Why, O son of the king, art thou
thus becoming leaner from day to day? wilt thou not tell me?' And Amnon said
unto him: 'I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
13:005
And Jonadab said unto him: 'Lay thee down on thy bed, and
feign thyself sick; and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him: Let my
sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in
my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
13:006
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick; and when the
king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king: 'Let my sister Tamar come, I
pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her
hand.
13:007
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying: 'Go now to thy
brother Amnon's house, and dress him food.
13:008
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was
lying down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and
did bake the cakes
13:009
And she took the 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
13:010
And Amnon said unto Tamar: 'Bring the food into the
chamber, that I may eat of thy hand.' And Tamar took the cakes which she had
made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother
13:011
And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he
took hold of her, and said unto her: 'Come lie with me, my sister.
13:012
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 wanton deed
13:013
And I, whither shall I carry my shame? and as for thee,
thou wilt be as one of the base men in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak
unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
13:014
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice; but being
stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her
13:015
Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the
hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved
her. And Amnon said unto her: 'Arise, be gone.
13:016
And she said unto him: 'Not so, because this great wrong
in putting me forth is worse than the other that thou didst unto me.' But he
would not hearken unto her
13:017
Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and
said: 'Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.'-
13:018
Now she had a garment of many colours upon her; for with
such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. --And his
servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her
13:019
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of
many colours that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her
way, crying aloud as she went
13:020
And Absalom her brother said unto her: 'Hath Amnon thy
brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother;
take not this thing to heart.' So Tamar remained desolate in her brother,
Absalom's house
13:021
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very
wroth
13:022
And Absalom spoke unto Amnon neither good nor bad; for
Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar
13:023
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had
sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all
the king's sons
13:024
And Absalom came to the king, and said: 'Behold now, thy
servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with
thy servant.
13:025
And the king said to Absalom: 'Nay, my son, let us not all
go, lest we be burdensome unto thee.' And he pressed him; howbeit he would not
go, but blessed him
13:026
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?
13:027
But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the
king's sons go with him
13:028
And Absalom 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.
13:029
And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got him up upon his
mule, and fled
13:030
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the
tidings came to David, saying: 'Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and
there is not one of them left.
13:031
Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the
earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent
13:032
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered
and said: 'Let not my lord suppose that they have killed 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
13:033
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.
13:034
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch
lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people in a
roundabout way by the hill-side
13:035
And Jonadab said unto the king: 'Behold, the king's sons
are come; as thy servant said, so it is.
13:036
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
13:037
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud,
king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day
13:038
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three
years
13:039
And the soul of king David failed with longing for Absalom;
for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead
Book 09 : NEVIIM - II SAMUEL - Chapter 013
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