^{1 Ref} And it cometh to pass afterwards that Absalom son of David hath a fair sister, and her name `is' Tamar, and Amnon son of David loveth her.

^{2 Ref} And Amnon hath distress -- even to become sick, because of Tamar his sister, for she `is' a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.

^{3 Ref} And Amnon hath a friend, and his name `is' Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab `is' a very wise man,

^{4 Ref} and saith to him, `Wherefore `art' thou thus lean, O king's son, morning by morning? dost thou not declare to me?' And Amnon saith to him, `Tamar -- sister of Absalom my brother -- I am loving.'

^{5 Ref} And Jonadab saith to him, `Lie down on thy couch, and feign thyself sick, and thy father hath come in to see thee, and thou hast said unto him, `Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come in and give me bread to eat; and she hath made the food before mine eyes so that I see `it', and have eaten from her hand.'

^{6 Ref} And Amnon lieth down, and feigneth himself sick, and the king cometh in to see him, and Amnon saith unto the king, `Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come, and she maketh before mine eyes two cakes, and I eat from her hand.'

⁷ And David sendeth unto Tamar, to the house, saying, `Go, I pray thee, to the house of Amnon thy brother, and make for him food.'

⁸ And Tamar goeth to the house of Amnon her brother, and he is lying down, and she taketh the dough, and kneadeth, and maketh cakes before his eyes, and cooketh the cakes,

^{9 Ref} and taketh the frying-pan, and poureth out before him, and he refuseth to eat, and Amnon saith, `Take ye out every one from me;' and they go out every one from him.

¹⁰ And Amnon saith unto Tamar, `Bring the food into the inner chamber, and I eat from thy hand;' and Tamar taketh the cakes that she hath made, and bringeth in to Amnon her brother, into the inner chamber,

^{11 Ref} and she bringeth nigh unto him to eat, and he layeth hold on her, and saith to her, `Come, lie with me, my sister.'

^{12 Ref} And she saith to him, `Nay, my brother, do not humble me, for it is not done so in Israel; do not this folly.

^{13 Ref} And I -- whither do I cause my reproach to go? and thou -- thou art as one of the fools in Israel; and now, speak, I pray thee, unto the king; for he doth not withhold me from thee.'

^{14 Ref} And he hath not been willing to hearken to her voice, and is stronger than she, and humbleth her, and lieth with her.

^{15 Ref} And Amnon hateth her -- a very great hatred -- that greater `is' the hatred with which he hath hated her than the love with which he loved her, and Amnon saith to her, `Rise, go.'

¹⁶ And she saith to him, `Because of the circumstances this evil is greater than the other that thou hast done with me -- to send me away;' and he hath not been willing to hearken to her,

¹⁷ and calleth his young man, his servant, and saith, `Send away, I pray thee, this one from me without, and bolt the door after her;'

^{18 Ref} -- and upon her `is' a long coat, for such upper robes do daughters of the king who `are' virgins put on, -- and his servant taketh her out without, and hath bolted the door after her.

^{19 Ref} And Tamar taketh ashes for her head, and the long coat that `is' on her she hath rent, and putteth her hand on her head, and goeth, going on and crying;

^{20 Ref} and Absalom her brother saith unto her, `Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? and now, my sister, keep silent, he `is' thy brother; set not thy heart to this thing;' and Tamar dwelleth -- but desolate -- in the house of Absalom her brother.

^{21 Ref} And king David hath heard all these things, and it is very displeasing to him;

^{22 Ref} and Absalom hath not spoken with Amnon either evil or good, for Absalom is hating Amnon, because that he humbled Tamar his sister.

^{23 Ref} And it cometh to pass, after two years of days, that Absalom hath shearers in Baal-Hazor, which `is' with Ephraim, and Absalom calleth for all the sons of the king.

^{24 Ref} And Absalom cometh unto the king, and saith, `Lo, I pray thee, thy servant hath shearers, let the king go, I pray thee, and his servants, with thy servant.'

^{25 Ref} And the king saith unto Absalom, `Nay, my son, let us not all go, I pray thee, and we are not too heavy on thee;' and he presseth on him, and he hath not been willing to go, and he blesseth him.

^{26 Ref} And Absalom saith, `If not -- let, I pray thee, Amnon my brother go with us;' and the king saith to him, `Why doth he go with thee?'

^{27 Ref} and Absalom urgeth on him, and he sendeth with him Amnon, and all the sons of the king.

^{28 Ref} And Absalom commandeth his young men, saying, `See, I pray thee, when the heart of Amnon `is' glad with wine, and I have said unto you, Smite Amnon, that ye have put him to death; fear not; is it not because I have commanded you? be strong, yea, become sons of valour.'

^{29 Ref} And the young men of Absalom do to Amnon as Absalom commanded, and rise do all the sons of the king, and they ride, each on his mule, and flee.

³⁰ And it cometh to pass -- they `are' in the way -- and the report hath come unto David, saying, `Absalom hath smitten all the sons of the king, and there is not left of them one;'

^{31 Ref} and the king riseth, and rendeth his garments, and lieth on the earth, and all his servants are standing by `with' rent garments.

^{32 Ref} And Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, answereth and saith, `Let not my lord say, The whole of the young men, the sons of the king, they have put to death; for Amnon alone `is' dead, for by the command of Absalom it hath been appointed from the day of his humbling Tamar his sister;

^{33 Ref} and now, let not my lord the king lay unto his heart the word, saying, All the sons of the king have died, for Amnon alone `is' dead.'

^{34 Ref} And Absalom fleeth, and the young man who is watching lifteth up his eyes and looketh, and lo, much people are coming by the way behind him, on the side of the hill.

³⁵ And Jonadab saith unto the king, `Lo, the sons of the king have come; as the word of thy servant, so it hath been.'

^{36 Ref} And it cometh to pass at his finishing to speak, that lo, the sons of the king have come, and they lift up their voice, and weep, and also the king and all his servants have wept -- a very great weeping.

^{37 Ref} And Absalom hath fled, and goeth unto Talmai, son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, and `David' mourneth for his son all the days.

^{38 Ref} And Absalom hath fled, and goeth to Geshur, and is there three years;

^{39 Ref} and `the soul of' king David determineth to go out unto Absalom, for he hath been comforted for Amnon, for `he is' dead.

^{1 Ref} Now after this, it came about that Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and David's son Amnon was in love with her.

^{2 Ref} And he was so deeply in love that he became ill because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin, and so it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

^{3 Ref} But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother: and Jonadab was a very wise man.

^{4 Ref} And he said to him, O son of the king, why are you getting thinner day by day? will you not say what your trouble is? And Amnon said to him, I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

^{5 Ref} Then Jonadab said to him, Go to your bed, and let it seem that you are ill: and when your father comes to see you, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread, and get the food ready before my eyes, so that I may see it and take it from her hand.

^{6 Ref} So Amnon went to bed and made himself seem ill: and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let my sister Tamar come and make me one or two cakes before my eyes, so that I may take food from her hand.

⁷ Then David sent to the house for Tamar and said, Go now to your brother Amnon's house and get a meal for him.

⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was in bed. And she took paste and made cakes before his eyes, cooking them over the fire.

^{9 Ref} And she took the cooking-pot, and put the cakes before him, but he would not take them. And Amnon said, Let everyone go away from me. So they all went out.

¹⁰ Then Amnon said to Tamar, Take the food and come into my bedroom, so that I may take it from your hand. So Tamar took the cakes she had made and went with them into her brother Amnon's bedroom.

^{11 Ref} And when she took them to give them to him, he put his arms round her and said, Come to bed, my sister.

^{12 Ref} And answering him, she said, O my brother, do not put shame on me; it is not right for such a thing to be done in Israel: do not this evil thing.

^{13 Ref} What will become of me in my shame? and as for you, you will be looked down on with disgust by all Israel. Now then, go and make your request to the king, for he will not keep me from you.

^{14 Ref} But he would not give attention to what she said: but being stronger than she, he took her by force, and had connection with her.

^{15 Ref} Then Amnon was full of hate for her, hating her with a hate greater than his earlier love for her. And he said to her, Get up and be gone.

¹⁶ And she said to him, Not so, my brother, for this great wrong in sending me away is worse than what you did to me before. But he gave no attention to her.

¹⁷ Then he gave a cry to the servant who was waiting on him and said, Put this woman out, and let the door be locked after her.

^{18 Ref} Now she had on a long robe, such as in past times the king's virgin daughters were dressed in. Then the servant put her out, locking the door after her.

^{19 Ref} And Tamar, in her grief, put dust on her head; and she put her hand on her head and went away crying loudly.

^{20 Ref} And her brother Absalom said to her, Has your brother Amnon been with you? but now, let there be an end to your crying, my sister: he is your brother, do not take this thing to heart. So Tamar went on living uncomforted in her brother's house.

^{21 Ref} But when King David had news of all these things he was very angry; but he did not make trouble for Amnon his son, for he was dear to David, being his oldest son.

^{22 Ref} But Absalom said nothing to his brother Amnon, good or bad: for he was full of hate for him, because he had taken his sister Tamar by force.

^{23 Ref} Now after two full years, Absalom had men cutting the wool of his sheep in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim: and he sent for all the king's sons to come to his feast.

^{24 Ref} And Absalom came to the king and said, See now, your servant is cutting the wool of his sheep; will the king and his servants be pleased to come?

^{25 Ref} And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, or the number will be over-great for you. And he made his request again, but he would not go, but he gave him his blessing.

^{26 Ref} Then Absalom said, If you will not go, then let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Is there any reason for him to go with you?

^{27 Ref} But Absalom went on requesting him till he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. And Absalom made a great feast like a feast for a king.

^{28 Ref} Now Absalom had given orders to his servants, saying, Now take note when Amnon's heart is glad with wine; and when I say to you, Make an attack on Amnon, then put him to death without fear: have I not given you orders? be strong and without fear.

^{29 Ref} So Absalom's servants did to Amnon as Absalom had given them orders. Then all the king's sons got up, and every man got on his beast and went in flight.

³⁰ Now while they were on their way, news was given to David that Absalom had put to death all the sons of the king and that not one of them was still living.

^{31 Ref} Then the king got up in great grief, stretching himself out on the earth: and all his servants were by his side, with their clothing parted.

^{32 Ref} And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, Let not my lord have the idea that all the sons of the king have been put to death; for only Amnon is dead: this has been purposed by Absalom from the day when he took his sister Tamar by force.

^{33 Ref} So now, let not my lord the king take this thing to heart, with the idea that all the king's sons are dead: for only Amnon is dead.

^{34 Ref} But Absalom went in flight. And the young man who kept the watch, lifting up his eyes, saw that a great band of people was coming down the slope by the way of the Horons; and the watchman came and gave word to the king, saying, I saw men coming down by the way of the Horons, from the hillside.

³⁵ And Jonadab said to the king, See, the king's sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.

^{36 Ref} And while he was talking, the king's sons came, with weeping and loud cries: and the king and all his servants were weeping bitterly.

^{37 Ref} So Absalom went in flight and came to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur, where he was for three years.

^{38 Ref} And the king was sorrowing for his son all the time.

^{39 Ref} And the heart of David was wasted with desire for Absalom: for he was comforted for the death of Amnon.

^{1 Ref} It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

^{2 Ref} Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

^{3 Ref} But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

^{4 Ref} He said to him, Why, son of the king, are you thus lean from day to day? Won't you tell me? Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

^{5 Ref} Jonadab said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when your father comes to see you, tell him, Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.

^{6 Ref} So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let her sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.

⁷ Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and dress him food.

⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

^{9 Ref} She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, Have out all men from me. They went out every man from him.

¹⁰ Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

^{11 Ref} When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.

^{12 Ref} She answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don't you do this folly.

^{13 Ref} I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.

^{14 Ref} However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.

^{15 Ref} Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.

¹⁶ She said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is [worse] than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her.

¹⁷ Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

^{18 Ref} She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king's daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

^{19 Ref} Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.

^{20 Ref} Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? but now hold your peace, my sister: he is your brother; don't take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

^{21 Ref} But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

^{22 Ref} Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

^{23 Ref} It happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

^{24 Ref} Absalom came to the king, and said, See now, your servant has sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your servant.

^{25 Ref} The king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. He pressed him: however he would not go, but blessed him.

^{26 Ref} Then said Absalom, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. The king said to him, Why should he go with you?

^{27 Ref} But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

^{28 Ref} Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; don't be afraid; haven't I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

^{29 Ref} The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got him up on his mule, and fled.

³⁰ It happened, while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

^{31 Ref} Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

^{32 Ref} Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered, Don't let 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 has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

^{33 Ref} Now therefore don't let 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.

^{34 Ref} But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side behind him.

³⁵ Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king's sons are come: as your servant said, so it is.

^{36 Ref} It happened, 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.

^{37 Ref} But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. [David] mourned for his son every day.

^{38 Ref} So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

^{39 Ref} [the soul of] king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.