1After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. And Amnon the son of David loved her.
2Amnon was so troubled that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
3But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very crafty man.
4He said to him, "Why are you, the king's son, thinner every day? Will you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom."
5Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food. Let her prepare the food where I can see it, so that I may watch it and eat from her hand.'"
6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes while I watch, so that I may eat from her hand."
7Then David sent word 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. She took flour and kneaded it, and made cakes where he could see, and baked the cakes.
9She took the pan and poured them out in front of him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Send everyone away from me." So every man went out from him.
10Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, so that I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the bedroom to Amnon her brother.
11When she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."
12She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me. Such a thing must not be done in Israel. Do not do this foolish and shameful thing."
13"And I, where could I take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel. So please speak to the king, for he will not keep me from you."
14But he would not listen to her. He was stronger than she was, and he forced her and lay with her.
15Then Amnon hated her very much. The hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up, and go."
16She said to him, "There is no reason for this. Sending me away is a greater wrong than the other thing you did to me." But he would not listen to her.
17Then he called the servant who waited on him and said, "Put this woman out from me now, and bolt the door after her."
18She was wearing a robe of many colours, for that is how the king's daughters who were virgins were dressed. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.
19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore the robe of many colours that she was wearing. She laid her hand on her head and went away crying aloud.
20Absalom her brother said to her, "Has your brother Amnon been with you? But be quiet now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar stayed, desolate, in her brother Absalom's house.
21When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22And Absalom said nothing to his brother Amnon, neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23Two full years later, Absalom had sheepshearers at Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
24Absalom came to the king and said, "Look, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant."
25The king said to Absalom, "No, my son. We should not all go, or we will be a burden to you." Absalom urged him, but he would not go; he only blessed him.
26Then Absalom said, "If not, then please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"
27But Absalom urged him, so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch carefully. When Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and brave."
29So Absalom's servants did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons got up, and every one of them mounted his mule and fled.
30While they were on the way, news came to David: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not one of them is left."
31Then the king got up and tore his clothes, and lay on the ground. All his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32Then Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "Let not my lord think that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead. This has been decided by Absalom's own word from the day that Amnon forced his sister Tamar."
33"So now, let not my lord the king take it to heart, thinking that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."
34But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch looked up and saw many people coming along the road on the hillside behind him.
35And Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons are coming. It is just as your servant said."
36As soon as he had finished speaking, the king's sons came. They lifted up their voices and wept, and the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.
37But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and he was there three years.