1And it came to pass after this, that to Absalom son of David was a beautiful sister, and her name was Tamar; and Amnon son of David loved her.
2And it was distressing to Amnon, to make himself sick because of Tamar his sister; for she was a virgin, and it was too hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.
3And to Amnon was a friend, and his name was Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very wise man (ish).
4And he said to him, "Why are you, son of the king, so lean morning by morning? Will you not tell me?" And Amnon said to him, "Tamar, the sister of Absalom my brother, I love."
5And Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed, and make yourself sick; and your father will come to see you, and you shall say to him, 'Let Tamar my sister come, I pray, and let her feed me bread, and let her make the food before my eyes, so that I may see it, and eat from her hand.'"
6And Amnon lay down and made himself sick; and the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, "Let Tamar my sister come, I pray, and let her make before my eyes a couple of cakes, that I may eat from her hand."
7And David sent to Tamar to the house, saying, "Go, I pray, to the house of Amnon your brother, and make for him the food."
8And Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down; and she took the dough, and kneaded, and made cakes before his eyes, and cooked the cakes.
9And she took the pan and poured out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Bring out every man (ish) from me." And every man (ish) went out from him.
10And Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother into the chamber.
11And she brought them near to him to eat, and he took hold of her, and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."
12And she said to him, "No, my brother, do not violate me, for it is not so done in Israel; do not do this disgrace.
13And I, where would I carry my shame? And you, you would be as one of the fools in Israel. And now, speak, I pray, to the king, for he will not withhold me from you."
14And he was not willing to listen to her voice; and he was stronger than she, and violated her, and lay with her.
15And Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, for greater was the hatred with which he hated her than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Arise, go."
16And she said to him, "No, for this great evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me." But he was not willing to listen to her.
17And he called his young man who ministered to him, and said, "Send now this one away from me, outside, and bolt the door after her."
18And upon her was a tunic of many colors, for thus the daughters of the king, the virgins, would clothe themselves with robes. And his attendant brought her outside, and bolted the door after her.
19And Tamar took ashes upon her head, and the tunic of many colors which was upon her she tore; and she put her hand upon her head, and went, going and crying out.
20And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? And now, my sister, be silent; he is your brother; do not set your heart to this matter." And Tamar dwelt, and was desolate, in the house of Absalom her brother.
21And king David heard all these things, and he was very angry.
22And Absalom did not speak with Amnon for evil and to good; for Absalom hated Amnon over the matter that he had violated Tamar his sister.
23And it came to pass after two years of days, that Absalom had shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom called for all the sons of the king.
24And Absalom came to the king, and said, "Behold now, your servant has shearers; let the king, I pray, and his servants go with your servant."
25And the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be a burden upon you." And he pressed him, but he was not willing to go, and he blessed him.
26And Absalom said, "If not, let Amnon my brother, I pray, go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"
27And Absalom pressed him, and he sent with him Amnon and all the sons of the king.
28And Absalom commanded (tzivvah) his young men, saying, "See now, when the heart of Amnon is merry with wine, and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then put him to death; do not fear; have I not commanded (tzivvah) you? Be strong, and be sons of valor."
29And the young men of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded (tzivvah); and all the sons of the king arose, and rode each man (ish) on his mule, and fled.
30And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that the report came to David, saying, "Absalom has struck all the sons of the king, and not one of them is left."
31And the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with garments torn.
32And Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, "Let not my lord suppose that all the young men, the sons of the king, they have put to death; for Amnon alone is dead; for by the mouth of Absalom it has been set since the day he violated Tamar his sister.
33And now, let not my lord the king set to his heart a matter, saying, 'All the sons of the king are dead'; for Amnon alone is dead."
34And Absalom fled. And the young man, the watchman, lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, much people were coming from the way behind him, from the side of the mountain.
35And Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the sons of the king have come; as the word of your servant, so it has been."
36And it came to pass, when he had finished speaking, that behold, the sons of the king came, and lifted up their voice and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept a very great weeping.
37And Absalom fled, and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And he mourned over his son all the days.
38And Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39And David the king longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, for he was dead.