2 Samuel 13-15

New Life Version

Amnon and Tamar

13 Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. And David’s son Amnon loved her. ² Amnon 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. ³ But 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. ⁴ He 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.” ⁵ Then 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.’” ⁶ So 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.”

⁷ Then David sent home for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and make food for him.” ⁸ So 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. ⁹ And 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. ¹⁰ Then 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. ¹¹ When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” ¹² But 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! ¹³ As 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.” ¹⁴ But Amnon would not listen to her. Being stronger than she, he made her lay with him.

¹⁵ Then Amnon hated her very much. He hated her more than he had loved her. He said to her, “Get up! Go away!” ¹⁶ But she said to him, “No! Sending me away is worse than what you have done to me!” But he would not listen to her. ¹⁷ He called the young man who helped him and said, “Throw this woman out of my house, and lock the door behind her.” ¹⁸ Now 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. ¹⁹ Then 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.

²⁰ Absalom 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. ²¹ When King David heard about all this, he was very angry. ²² But Absalom did not speak good or bad to Amnon. Absalom hated Amnon because he had put his sister to shame.

Absalom Kills Amnon

²³ After 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. ²⁴ He 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.” ²⁵ But 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. ²⁶ Then 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?” ²⁷ But when Absalom kept asking him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

²⁸ Then 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.” ²⁹ So 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.

³⁰ While 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.” ³¹ The king got up and tore his clothes, and lay on the ground. And all his servants standing beside him tore their clothes. ³² But 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. ³³ So 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

³⁴ Now 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. ³⁵ Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come. What your servant said is true.” ³⁶ As 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.

³⁷ Absalom 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. ³⁸ So Absalom had run away to Geshur, and was there three years. ³⁹ The spirit of King David wanted very much to go out to Absalom. For he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah saw that the king missed Absalom very much. ² So Joab sent for a wise woman from Tekoa, and said to her, “Pretend to be filled with sorrow. Dress as if you were filled with sorrow, and do not pour oil on yourself. Dress like a woman who has been filled with sorrow for the dead many days. ³ Then go to the king and speak to him in this way.” And Joab told her what to say.

⁴ When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showing honor, and said, “Help, O king.” ⁵ The king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she answered, “I am a woman whose husband has died. ⁶ Your woman servant had two sons. But they fought together in the field and there was no one to pull them apart. So one hit the other and killed him. ⁷ Now the whole family has come against your woman servant. They say, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.’ So I would be without a son to receive what belonged to his parents when I die. They would put out the last of the fire which is left to me. My husband would be left without a name and with no children on the earth.”

⁸ Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house. I will say what should be done about your trouble.” ⁹ The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “O my lord the king, the sin is on me and my father’s family. But the king and his throne are without guilt.” ¹⁰ The king said, “If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me. And he will not touch you again.” ¹¹ Then she said, “I beg the king to remember the Lord your God, that the one who punishes for blood will stop destroying. Or my son might be destroyed.” And the king said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground.”

¹² Then the woman said, “Let your woman servant speak to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.” ¹³ The woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in deciding in this way, the king is as one who is guilty. For the king does not bring home his son who has been driven away. ¹⁴ It is sure that we will die. We are like water poured on the ground, which cannot be picked up again. But God does not take away life. He plans ways so that the one who is driven away may not be kept away from Him. ¹⁵ I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your woman servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king. It might be that the king will do what his woman servant asks. ¹⁶ For the king will hear and save his woman servant from the man who would destroy both me and my son from the gift of God.’ ¹⁷ Then your woman servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will comfort me. For my lord the king is like the angel of God in understanding what is good and bad. May the Lord your God be with you.’”

¹⁸ Then the king said to the woman, “Do not hide anything from me that I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king speak.” ¹⁹ So the king said, “Is Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or left from anything my lord the king has said. Yes, it was your servant Joab who told me to do this. It was he who put all these words in the mouth of your woman servant. ²⁰ Your servant Joab has done this to change the way things are now. But my lord is wise like the angel of God, to know all that is on the earth.”

²¹ Then the king said to Joab, “See now, I will do this. Go and bring back the young man Absalom.” ²² And Joab fell on his face to the ground in honor and thanks to the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, O my lord the king. Because the king has done what his servant has asked of him.” ²³ So Joab got up and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. ²⁴ But the king said, “Let him go to his own house. Do not let him see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king’s face.

David Forgives Absalom

²⁵ Now there was no one in Israel as good looking and as much praised as Absalom. There was nothing wrong with him from the bottom of his foot to the top of his head. ²⁶ At the end of every year he would cut the hair from his head, for it was heavy on him. When he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head. It weighed as much as 200 pieces of silver, by the king’s weight. ²⁷ Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

²⁸ Absalom lived two whole years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king’s face. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king. But Joab would not come to him. So he sent for him a second time. But he would not come. ³⁰ He said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants burned the field. ³¹ Then Joab got up and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants burned my field?” ³² Absalom answered Joab, “I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to say to the king, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would have been better for me to stay there.”’ Now let me see the king’s face. If there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.” ³³ Then Joab went to the king and told him. And he called for Absalom. So he came to the king and put his face to the ground in front of him. And the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom Becomes Friends with Men Of Israel

15 After this, Absalom got a war-wagon and horses, and fifty men to run in front of him. ² He used to get up early and stand beside the way to the gate. When any man had a problem to be decided upon by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would answer, “Your servant is from one of the families of Israel.” ³ Then Absalom would say to him, “Your side of the problem is good and right. But there is no man to listen to you for the king.” ⁴ And Absalom would say, “If only I were chosen to be the one to be judge in the land! Then every man who has a problem could come to me. And I would do for him what is right and fair.” ⁵ When a man came near to put his face to the ground in front of him, Absalom would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. ⁶ He acted this way toward all those of Israel who came with a problem for the king to judge. So Absalom became friends with the men of Israel.

⁷ At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “I ask you, let me go to Hebron and keep my promise that I have promised to the Lord. ⁸ For your servant made a promise while I was living at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord will bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” ⁹ And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But Absalom sent men to go in secret through all the families of Israel. He said to them, “As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron.’” ¹¹ With Absalom went 200 men from Jerusalem. They had been asked to come, and did not know what Absalom had planned. ¹² While Absalom was giving gifts on the altar in worship, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city Giloh. He was the man who talked with David about what to do. The plans against David became strong. For more and more people joined Absalom.

David Runs from Jerusalem

¹³ Then a man came to David with news, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” ¹⁴ David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Get up and let us run. Or else none of us will be safe from Absalom. Hurry and go, or he will be quick to catch us and bring trouble upon us. He would destroy the city with the sword.” ¹⁵ The king’s servants said to him, “See, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.” ¹⁶ So the king left with all those of his house. But he left ten of his women to take care of the house. ¹⁷ The king left with all the people, and they stopped at the last house. ¹⁸ All his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, Pelethites, Gittites, and 600 men who had come with him from Gath. They all passed by the king.

¹⁹ Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you go with us also? Return and stay with the king. For you are from another land and have been driven from your home. ²⁰ You came only yesterday. Should I make you go with us today, when I do not know where I am going? Return with your brothers. May loving-kindness and faith be with you.” ²¹ But Ittai said to the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant will be where my lord the king may be, in death or in life.” ²² So David said to him, “Go then, pass on.” And Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. ²³ All the country was crying with a loud voice as all the people passed by. The king crossed the river Kidron, and all the people went on toward the desert.

²⁴ Zadok came also, with all the Levites who carried the special box with the Law of God. Abiathar had the special box of God put down until all the people had passed out of the city. ²⁵ The king said to Zadok, “Return the special box of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will have me return. And He will have me see both it and His family. ²⁶ But if He says, ‘I have no joy in you,’ then here I am. Let Him do to me what He thinks is good.” ²⁷ And the king said to Zadok the religious leader, “Are you not a man who speaks for God? Return to the city in peace with Abiathar and your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. ²⁸ See, I will wait in the desert by the place where the river is crossed, until I hear from you.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar returned the special box of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰ David went up the Mount of Olives and cried as he went. His head was covered and he wore no shoes. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up crying as they went. ³¹ Now David was told, “Ahithophel is among those who are making plans with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the words of Ahithophel foolish.” ³² As David was coming to the top of the mountain, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite met him. His coat was torn and there was dust on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be trouble for me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, you can bring trouble to the words of Ahithophel for me. Say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. I will work for you as I have worked for your father in the past.’ Then you can make the words of Ahithophel foolish for me. ³⁵ Will not Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders be there with you? Tell Zadok and Abiathar whatever you hear from the king’s house. ³⁶ Their two sons are with them there, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. By them you can send me news of all that you hear.” ³⁷ So David’s friend Hushai came into Jerusalem, just as Absalom was coming into the city.