vSee Judg. 19:6
Genesis 49:3-4
3 “Reuben, you are amy firstborn,my might, and the bfirstfruits of my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
4Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
because you cwent up to your father’s bed;
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!
2 Samuel 13:1-29
Amnon and Tamar
1Now dAbsalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was eTamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. 2And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of fShimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” 6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and gmake a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.” 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, h“Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate ▼
▼Or humiliate; also verses 14, 22, 32
me, for jsuch a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this koutrageous thing. 13As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of lthe outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. 15Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that 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! Go!” 16But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” ▼
▼Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
But he would not listen to her. 17He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.” 18Now she was wearing na long robe ▼▼Or a robe of many colors (compare Genesis 37:3); also verse 19
with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 19And Tamar pput ashes on her head and qtore the long robe that she wore. And rshe laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. 20And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house. 21When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. ▼
▼Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint add But he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn
22But Absalom spoke to Amnon tneither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar. Absalom Murders Amnon
23After two full years Absalom had usheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon’s vheart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
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