1And it happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2And Amnon was so distressed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4And he said to him, Why, O son of the king, are you so lean from day to day? will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. 5And Jonadab said to him, Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be sick: and when your father comes to see you, say to him, Please let my sister Tamar come, and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand. 6So Amnon lay down, and pretended to be sick: and when the king had come to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let my sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand. 7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him. 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have everyone go out from me. And they went out every man from him. 10And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11And when she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to 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 do this folly. 13And I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you. 14However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. 15Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly 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, Arise, be gone. 16And she said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her. 17Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, Put this woman out from me now, and bolt the door after her. 18And she had a garment of various colors upon her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters who were virgins clothed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. 20And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? but now be silent, my sister: he is your brother; do not take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 23And it happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, your servant has sheep-shearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant. 25And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. And he pressed him: however he would not go, but blessed him. 26Then Absalom said, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you? 27But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say to you, Strike Amnon, then kill him; do not fear; have I not commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. 29And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got up upon his mule, and fled. 30And it happened, while they were on the way, that the 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 tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, Do not let my lord suppose that they have killed 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 do not let 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 who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came many people by the way of the hill-side behind him. 35And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king’s sons have come: as your servant said, so it is. 36And it happened, as soon as he had finished 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 bitterly. 37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39And the soul of king David longed to go out to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.