2 Samuel 13

Amnon Desires Tamar

1After this it happened that Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon son of David loved her. 2Amnon was so distressed that he made himself sick because of Tamar his sister, for she was a virgin, and it seemed difficult in Amnon’s eyes to do anything to her. 3But Amnon had a companion whose name was Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4He said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so thin morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, sister of Absalom my brother.” 5Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and make yourself sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let Tamar my sister come and give me bread to eat, and let her prepare the food before my eyes so that I may see it and eat from her hand.’”

Tamar Comes to Amnon

6So Amnon lay down and made himself sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make two cakes before my eyes, so that I may eat from her hand.” 7Then David sent to Tamar at the house, saying, “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare food for him.” 8So Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother while he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes before his eyes, and cooked the cakes. 9She took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Send everyone out from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room so that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes that she had made and brought them to Amnon her brother in the inner room.

Amnon Violates Tamar

11When she brought them near to him to eat, he seized her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12She said to him, “No, my brother! Do not humiliate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! 13And I—where could I carry my shame? And you would be like one of the disgraceful fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14But he was not willing to listen to her voice. Being stronger than she, he humiliated her and lay with her.

Amnon Hates Tamar

15Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Rise, go!” 16She said to him, “No! This evil of sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he was not willing to listen to her. 17He called his young man who served him and said, “Please send this woman out from me, outside, and bolt the door behind her.” 18She was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for thus the virgin daughters of the king were clothed. His servant brought her outside and bolted the door behind her. 19Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe with sleeves that was upon her. She put her hand on her head and went away, crying out as she went.

Absalom Takes Tamar into His House

20Absalom 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 on this matter.” So Tamar remained desolate in the house of Absalom her brother. 21When King David heard of all these things, he became very angry. 22Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor evil, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had humiliated Tamar his sister.

Absalom Plans Revenge

23After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers at Baal-Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24Absalom came to the king and said, “Look, your servant has sheep shearers. 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 a burden upon you.” He pressed him, but he was not willing to go, though he blessed him. 26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let Amnon my brother go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27But Absalom pressed him, and he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons with him.

Absalom Has Amnon Killed

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

David Hears a False Report

30While they were on the way, the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck all the king’s sons, and not one of them remains.” 31Then the king arose, tore his garments, and lay on the ground. All his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord say that they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the mouth of Absalom this has been determined from the day he humiliated Tamar his sister. 33And now let not my lord the king set this matter upon his heart, saying, ‘All the king’s sons are dead,’ for Amnon alone is dead.”

Absalom Flees

34Absalom fled.

The young man who kept watch lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him, by the side of the mountain. 35Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have come. According to the word of your servant, so it has happened.” 36And it happened when he finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came. They lifted their voices and wept, and the king and all his servants also wept with a very great weeping. 37But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son all the days. 38Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years. 39The spirit of King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.