2 Samuel 13

1And it came to pass after this that Absalom, the son of David, had a beautiful sister, whose name [was] Tamar, and Amnon, the son of David, loved her. 2And Amnon was so distressed that he fell sick for his sister Tamar, for she [was] a virgin, and Amnon thought it difficult for him to do any thing to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab [was] a very astute man. 4And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the king's son, becoming thinner from day to day? Wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed and pretend to be sick; and when thy father comes to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come and give me food and make the food in my sight that I may see [it] and eat [it] at her hand. 6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick, and when the king cane 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. 7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house and make him something to eat. 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took flour and kneaded [it] and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9Then she took a pan and poured [them] out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Send everyone out from me. And they all went out from him. 10Then Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought [them] into the chamber to Amnon, her brother. 11And when she had brought [them] unto him to eat, he took hold of her and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12And she answered him, No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not commit this folly. 13And I, where shall I go with my reproach? 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. 14Howbeit, he would not hearken unto her voice, but, being stronger than she, forced her and lay with her. 15Then Amnon hated her exceedingly so that the hatred with which he hated her [was] greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. 16And 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. 17Then he called his servant that ministered unto him and said, Put now this [woman] out from me and bolt the door after her. 18And [she had] a garment of different 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. 19And Tamar put ashes on her head and rent her garment of different colours that [was] on her and laid her hand on her head and went on crying. 20And Absalom, her brother, said unto her, Has Amnon thy brother been with thee? But now remain silent, my sister; he is thy brother; do not regard this thing in thy heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22And Absalom spoke neither good nor bad unto his brother Amnon, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar. 23And 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. 24And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold now, thy servant has sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. 25And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go lest we be burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him; however, he would not go but blessed him. 26Then 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? 27But because Absalom pressed him, he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28Now 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 I not commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant. 29And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and they all got upon their mules and fled. 30And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the rumour came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. 31Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, Do not let my lord suppose [that] they have slain all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead, for by the mouth of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33Now, therefore, do not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead. 34But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there came many people by the way of the side of the mountain behind him. 35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come; as thy servant said, so it is. 36And 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. 37But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day. 38So [after] Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he was there three years. 39And King David longed to see Absalom, for he was now comforted concerning Amnon, who was dead.: