1 A fter this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

Absalom son of David had a fair sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon son of David loved her.

2 A mnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.

And Amnon was so troubled that he fell sick for his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it impossible for him to do anything to her.

3 B ut Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very crafty man.

4 A nd he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

He said to Amnon, Why are you, the king’s son, so lean and weak-looking from day to day? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

5 S o Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”

Jonadab said to him, Go to bed and pretend you are sick; and when your father David comes to see you, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come and give me food and prepare it in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.

6 T hen Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, I pray you, let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.

7 A nd David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”

Then David sent home and told Tamar, Go now to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.

8 S o Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was in bed. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked them.

9 A nd she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.

She took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Send everyone out from me. So everyone went out from him.

10 T hen Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.

Then Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food here into the bedroom, so I may eat from your hand. So Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.

11 N ow when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”

And when she brought them to him, he took hold of her and said, Come lie with me, my sister.

12 B ut she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!

She replied, No, my brother! Do not force and humble me, for no such thing should be done in Israel! Do not do this foolhardy, scandalous thing!

13 A nd I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”

And I, how could I rid myself of my shame? And you, you will be one of the stupid fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.

14 H owever, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.

But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.

15 T hen 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 to her, “Arise, be gone!”

Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that his hatred for her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Get up and get out!

16 S o she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.

But she said, No! This great evil of sending me away is worse than what you did to me. But he would not listen to her.

17 T hen he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.”

He called the servant who served him and said, Put this woman out of my presence now, and bolt the door after her!

18 N ow she had on a robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.

Now was wearing a long robe with sleeves and of various colors, for in such robes were the king’s virgin daughters clad of old. Then Amnon’s servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.

19 T hen Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.

And put ashes on her head and tore the long, sleeved robe which she wore, and she laid her hand on her head and went away shrieking and wailing.

20 A nd Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

And Absalom her brother said to her, Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet now, my sister. He is your brother; take not this matter to heart. So Tamar dwelt in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.

21 B ut when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 A nd Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. Absalom Murders Amnon

And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had humbled his sister Tamar.

23 A nd it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 T hen Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

Absalom came to the king and said, Behold, your servant has sheepshearers; I pray you, let the king and his servants go with your servant.

25 B ut the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.

And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. Absalom urged David; still he would not go, but he blessed him.

26 T hen Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?

27 B ut Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

But Absalom urged him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 N ow Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”

Now Absalom commanded his servants, Notice now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine and when I say to you, Strike Amnon, then kill him. Fear not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and brave.

29 S o the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.

And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and every man mounted his mule and fled.

30 A nd it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”

While they were on the way, the word came to David, Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.

31 S o the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the floor; and all his servants standing by tore their clothes.

32 T hen Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead. This purpose has shown itself on Absalom’s determined mouth ever since the day Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar.

33 N ow therefore, let not 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.” Absalom Flees to Geshur

So let not my lord the king take the thing to heart and think all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.

34 T hen Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.

But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch looked up, and behold, many people were coming by the way of the hillside behind him.

35 A nd Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.”

And Jonadab said to the king, See, the king’s sons are coming. It is as your servant said.

36 S o it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.

And as he finished speaking, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voices and wept; and the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 B ut Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 S o Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

So Absalom fled to Geshur and was there three years.

39 A nd King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

And the spirit of King David longed to go forth to Absalom, for he was comforted about Amnon, seeing that he was dead.