2 Samuel 13

Revised Geneva Translation

13 Now after this, so it was that Absalom, the son of David, had a fair sister whose name was Tamar. And Amnon, the son of David, loved her.

² And Amnon was so severely troubled that he fell sick over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and it seemed extraordinary for Amnon to be able to do anything.

³ But Amnon had a friend called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very cunning man,

⁴ who said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so low from day to day? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon answered him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

⁵ And 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 food. And let her prepare food in my sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”

⁶ So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar, my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may receive food by her hand.”

⁷ Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”

⁸ So, Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. And he was laying down. And she took flour and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

⁹ And she took a pan and poured them out before him. But he would not eat. Then Amnon said, “Have every man go out from me.” So, every man went out from him.

¹⁰ Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, so 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.

¹¹ And when she had set them before him to eat, he took her and said to her, “Come. Lie with me, my sister.”

¹² But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me. For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not commit this folly.

¹³ “And me, where would my shame go? And you would be as one of the fools in Israel. Now, therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not deny me from you.”

¹⁴ However, he would not listen to her voice. But, being stronger than her, he forced her and lay with her.

¹⁵ Then 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, “Up! Go away!”

¹⁶ And she answered him, “There is no reason. This evil (to send me away) is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not hear her,

¹⁷ and called his servant who served him, and said, “Send this woman away from me now, and lock the door after her!”

¹⁸ And she had a garment of diverse colors upon her. For the king’s daughters who were virgins were appareled with such garments. Then his servant brought her out and locked the door after her.

¹⁹ And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the garment of diverse colors which was upon her and laid her hand on her head and went away, crying.

²⁰ And Absalom, her brother, said to her, “Has Amnon, your brother, been with you? Now then, hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not let this thing grieve your heart.” So, Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

²¹ But when King David heard all these things, he was very angry.

²² And Absalom said to his brother, Amnon, neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.

²³ And after the time of two years, Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor (which is beside Ephraim). And Absalom called all the king’s sons.

²⁴ And Absalom came to the king, and said, “Behold, now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

²⁵ But the king answered Absalom, “No my son. Please do not let us all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” Still, Absalom pressed hard upon him. However, he would not go, but thanked him.

²⁶ Then Absalom said, “But, please, shall not my brother Amnon go with us?” And the king answered him, “Why should he go with you?”

²⁷ But Absalom urged him, and he sent Amnon with him, and all the king’s children.

²⁸ Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Mark, now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, “Strike Amnon! Kill him. Do not fear. For have I not commanded you? Be bold, therefore, and valiant.”

²⁹ And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. And all the king’s sons arose. And every man got up upon his mule and fled.

³⁰ And while they were on the way, tidings came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons. And there is not one of them left.”

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

³² And 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 only Amnon is dead. For so Absalom has decreed since Amnon forced his sister Tamar.

³³ “Now, therefore, do not let my lord the king take the thing so grievously to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.”

³⁴ Then Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.

³⁵ And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons come. As your servant said, so it is.”

³⁶ And as soon as he had stopped speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voices and wept. And the king, also, and all his servants wept very bitterly.

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

³⁸ So, Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there for three years.

³⁹ And King David desired to go forth to Absalom, because he was pacified concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.