2 Samuel 13

1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab a very subtil man. 4And he said unto him, Why you, the king's son, lean from day to day? will you not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay you down on your bed, and make thyself sick: and when your father cometh to see you, say unto him, I pray you, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see , and eat at her hand. 6So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray you, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. 7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat. 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded , and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. 9And she took a pan, and poured out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. 10And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of your hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11And when she had brought unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12And she answered him, no, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not you this folly. 13And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? and as for you, you shall be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from you. 14Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. 15Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. 16And she said unto him, no cause: this evil in sending me away greater than the other that you didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. 17Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18And a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. 20And Absalom her brother said unto her, has Amnon your brother been with you? but hold now your peace, my sister: he your brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. 22And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 23And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech you, and his servants go with your servant. 25And the king said to Absalom, no, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto you. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. 26Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with you? 27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. 29And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled. 30And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. 31Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose they have slain 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. 33Now therefore let not 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. 34But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. 35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as your servant said, so it is. 36And it came to pass, 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. 37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And mourned for his son every day. 38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39And king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.