1 N ow David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. And David’s son Amnon 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 troubled because of his sister Tamar that he became sick. She was a woman who had never had a man, and Amnon thought how hard it would be to have 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. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. And Jonadab was very good at making plans.

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

4 H e said to Amnon, “O son of the king, why are you so sad from day to day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

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 T hen Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat. Let her make food ready here so I can 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 S o Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and make two loaves beside me, 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 T hen David sent home for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and make 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. He was lying down. And she took dough and made loaves so he could watch. Then she baked them ready to eat.

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 dish and held it out in front of him. But he would not eat. Amnon said, “Have everyone leave me.” So everyone left 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 to my room, so I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the loaves she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon in his room.

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 W hen she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “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 said, “No, my brother. Do not make me. For such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this bad and foolish 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 s for me, where could I get rid of my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. So now I beg you, speak to the king, for he will not keep 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 B ut Amnon would not listen to her. Being stronger than she, he made her lay with him.

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 very much. He hated her more than he had loved her. He said to her, “Get up! Go away!”

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 B ut she said to him, “No! Sending me away is worse than what you have done 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 H e called the young man who helped him and said, “Throw this woman out of my house, and lock 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 was wearing a dress which covered her arms. For this is how the king’s daughters dressed when they had never had a man. The man who helped Amnon took her out and locked 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. She tore the dress she was wearing which covered her arms. And she put her hand on her head and went away with a loud cry.

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 bsalom her brother said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this to heart.” So Tamar stayed in her brother Absalom’s house, sad and alone.

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 W hen King David heard about all this, he was very angry.

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

22 B ut Absalom did not speak good or bad to Amnon. Absalom hated Amnon because he had put his sister to shame. Absalom Kills Amnon

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

23 A fter two full years, Absalom had men cut the wool from the sheep in Baal-hazor, near Ephraim. And Absalom asked all the king’s sons to come.

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

24 H e came to the king and said, “See, your servant has men to cut the wool from the sheep. Let the king and his men 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. We should not all go, or we will be trouble for you.” Absalom tried to talk him into going. The king prayed that good would come to him, but he would not go with 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 you will not go, 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 when Absalom kept asking him, 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 T hen Absalom told his servants, “Watch when Amnon’s heart is happy with wine. When I say to you, ‘Kill Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not be afraid. Have not I myself told you to do it? Have strength of heart.”

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 Absalom’s servants did to Amnon just as Absalom had told them. Then all the king’s sons got up on their horses and left in a hurry.

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 W hile they were on their way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons. 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 T he king got up and tore his clothes, and lay on the ground. And all his servants standing beside him tore their clothes.

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

32 B ut Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, said, “Do not let my lord think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has wanted to kill him since the day he put his sister Tamar to shame.

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 S o do not let my lord the king take this to heart and think that all the king’s sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead.” Absalom Goes 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 N ow Absalom had run away. And the young man who kept watch looked up and saw many people coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.

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 J onadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come. What your servant said is true.”

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

36 A s soon as he had finished speaking, the king’s sons came and cried in a loud voice. The king and all his servants cried also.

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 A bsalom ran away and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David was filled with sorrow 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 had run away to Geshur, and was there three years.

So Absalom fled to Geshur and was there three years.

39 T he spirit of King David wanted very much to go out to Absalom. For he was comforted about Amnon, since 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.