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¹ AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a sister whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.² And Amnon was much grieved on account of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon felt unable to say anything to her.³ But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah Davids brother; and Jonadab was a very wise man.⁴ And he said to Amnon, O son of the king why are you so losing weight from day to day? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absaloms sister.⁵ And Jonadab said to him, Lie down on your bed and pretend that you are sick; and when your father comes to see you, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come and give me food to eat and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, 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, Let Tamar my sister come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight that I may eat from her hand.⁷ Then David sent for Tamar, and said to her, Go now to your brother Amnons house and prepare food for him.⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnons house; and he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and baked cakes.⁹ And she took the cakes and placed them before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Let every one go out from the house. And they went out every man from the house.¹⁰ And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from your hands. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.¹¹ And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister.¹² And she answered him, No, my brother, do not treat me shamefully; for no such folly ought to be done in Israel;¹³ And as for me, where shall I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be reckoned as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.¹⁴ But he would not listen to her; but, being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her and disgraced 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, Arise, be gone.¹⁶ And she said to him, So now, since you have done this great evil to me, you send me away? But he would not listen to her.¹⁷ Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said to him, Put now this woman out of my house, and bolt the door after her.¹⁸ And Tamar took ashes and put them on her head,¹⁹ And she tore the embroidered garment which she wore; then she laid her hands on her head, and went away crying mournfully.²⁰ And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother lain with you? But hold now your peace, my sister; he is your brother; do not take this deed to your heart. So Tamar remained horrified in the house of Absalom her brother.

²¹ But when King David heard all these things, he was exceedingly displeased.²² And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.²³ Now from season to season, Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the kings sons.²⁴ And Absalom came to the king and said to him, Behold now your servant has sheepshearers; let the king and his servants go with your servant.²⁵ And the king said to him, No, my son, let us not all now go lest we be burdensome to you. And he pressed him, but he would not go with him, but he blessed him.²⁶ Then said Absalom, Why should not my brother Amnon go with me? The king said to him, Why should he go with you?²⁷ But Absalom pressed him that he should let Amnon and all the kings sons go with him.²⁸ Then Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark when Amnons heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon and kill him, fear not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.²⁹ So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded them. Then all the kings sons arose, and every man mounted his mule and fled.

³⁰ And while they were on the way, the news came to David that Absalom had murdered all the kings sons and there was not one of them left.³¹ Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.³² And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah Davids brother, said to him, Let not my lord the king think that all the kings sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead: for Absalom had been determined to do this from the day that Amnon forced his sister Tamar.³³ Now therefore let not my lord the king think that all the kings sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead.³⁴ But Absalom fled. And the watchman lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming by the way on the side of the mountain.³⁵ And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the kings sons come; as your servant said, so it is.³⁶ And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the kings sons came and lifted up their voices and wept; and the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.³⁷ But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai. the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son many days.³⁸ So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.³⁹ And King David longed to go forth after Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.