Now it was after this that ^aAbsalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was ^bTamar, and ^cAmnon the son of David loved her. 2 Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed ¹hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of ^1aShimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.” 5 Jonadab then said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.’” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and ^amake me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 She took the pan and ¹dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “^aHave everyone go out from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the ¹bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. 11 When she brought them to him to eat, he ^atook hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for ^asuch a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this ^bdisgraceful thing! 13 As for me, where could I ¹get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the ²fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for ^ahe will not withhold me from you.” 14 However, he would not listen to ¹her; since he was stronger than she, he ^aviolated her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for 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 away!” 16 But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!” Yet he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her.” 18 Now she had on ^aa ¹long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. 19 ^aTamar put ¹ashes on her head and ^btore her ²long-sleeved garment which was on her; and ^cshe put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom did not speak to Amnon ^aeither good or bad; for ^bAbsalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

23 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom ^ahad sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you.” Although he ¹urged him, he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then ^aAbsalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But when Absalom ¹urged him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, ^awhen Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be ¹valiant.” 29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted ^ahis mule and fled.

30 Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose, ^atore his clothes and ^blay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. 32 ^aJonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, ¹responded, “Do not let my lord ²suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the ³intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, do not let my lord the king ^atake the report to ¹heart, namely, ‘all the king’s sons are dead,’ for only Amnon is dead.”

34 Now ^aAbsalom had fled. And ^bthe young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; according to your servant’s word, so it happened.” 36 As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept ¹very bitterly.

37 Now ^aAbsalom fled and went to ^bTalmai the son of Ammihud, the king of ^cGeshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 ^aSo Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 The heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for ^ahe was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.