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¹ And it came to pass, after this, that, Absolom, son of David, having a beautiful sister, whose name, was Tamar, Amnon son of David loved her.² And it so troubled Amnon, that he made himself ill on account of Tamar his sister, for, a virgin, was she, and it was monstrous in Amnon's own eyes, to do, anything, unto her.³ But, Amnon, had a friend, whose name, was Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, - and, Jonadab, was a very cunning man.⁴ So he said to him, - Why art thou looking so wretched - a king's son too - morning by morning? Wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said to him, With Tamar, my brother Absolom's sister, am I in love.⁵ And Jonadab said unto him: Take to thy bed, and feign thyself ill, - and, when thy father cometh in to see thee, then shalt thou say unto him - I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, that she may give me food, and let her prepare, before mine eyes, some delicacy, to the end that I may see it made , and so eat at her hand.⁶ So Amnon took to his bed, and feigned himself ill, - and, when the king came in to see him, Amnon said unto the king - I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make ready before mine eyes a couple of cakes, that I may eat at her hand.⁷ So David sent unto Tamar, in the house - saying, - Come, I pray thee, to the house of Amnon thy brother, and prepare him enticing food.⁸ And Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, he having taken to his bed, - and took dough and kneaded it, and folded it before his eyes, and baked the cakes.⁹ Then took she the pan and put them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said - Have forth every one from me. And they went out every one from him.¹⁰ Then said Amnon unto Tamar - Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat out of thine own hand. So Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them in to Amnon her brother, in the chamber.¹¹ And, when she brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister!¹² But she said to him - Nay! my brother, do not force me, for it should not be done so in Israel, - do not commit this vileness.¹³ And, I, - whither could I take my reproach? Thou, too, wouldest be as one of the vile fellows, in Israel. Now, therefore, speak, I pray thee, unto the king, for he would not withhold me from thee.¹⁴ But he would not hearken unto her voice, - and, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.¹⁵ Then did Amnon hate her with a very great hatred, for, greater, was the hatred wherewith he hated her, than the love wherewith he had loved her, - so Amnon said to her - Rise - begone!¹⁶ But she said to him - No occasion for this greater wrong, after what thou hast done with me, to put me away! Nevertheless he would not hearken unto her;¹⁷ but called his young man who waited on him, and said - I pray you, put forth this woman from me, outside, - and bolt the door after her.¹⁸ Now she had upon her a long tunic, for, so, used king's daughters to apparel themselves, when they were virgins, in robes. And his attendant took her forth, outside, and bolted the door, after her.¹⁹ And Tamar put ashes upon her head, and, the long tunic that was upon her, she rent, - and put her hand upon her head, and went her way, crying out as she went.²⁰ And Absolom her brother said unto her - Hath, Amnon thy brother, been with thee? Now, therefore, my sister, hold thy peace - thy brother, he is, do not lay to thy heart, this thing. But Tamar remained, and was desolate in the house of Absolom her brother.

²¹ And, King David, heard all these things, - and it angered him greatly.²² And Absolom spake not with Amnon, either bad or good, - though Absolom hated Amnon, because he had forced Tamar his sister.²³ And it came to pass, after two years of days, that Absolom had, sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephron, - and Absolom invited all the king's sons.²⁴ Absolom came also unto the king, and said, See, I pray thee, thy servant hath, sheepshearers, - I pray thee, let the king and his servants go with thy servant.²⁵ And the king said unto Absolom - Nay! my son, do not, I pray thee, let us all go, lest we be burdensome upon thee. And, though he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him.²⁶ Then said Absolom, If not, then, I pray thee, let Amnon my brother go with us. And the king said unto him, Wherefore should he go with thee?²⁷ And Absolom urged him, - so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.²⁸ Now Absolom had commanded his young men, saying - Mark, I pray you, when the heart of Amnon is merry with wine, and I say unto you - Smite ye Amnon, then shall ye put him to death, do not fear, - have not, I myself, commanded you? Be bold, and show yourselves to be sons of valour.²⁹ So Absolom's young men did to Amnon as Absolom had commanded. Then arose all the king's sons, and rode away - each man on his mule, and fled.

³⁰ And it came to pass, while, they, were yet on the road, that, the report, reached David, saying, - Absolom hath smitten all the king's sons, and there is not left of them, one.³¹ And the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the ground, - and all his servants who stood by rent their garments.³² Then responded Jonadab son of Shimeah David's brother, and said - Let not my lord say that they have put, all the young men - the king's sons, to death; for, Amnon alone, is dead; for, by the bidding of Absolom, was it appointed, from the day that he forced Tamar his sister.³³ Now, therefore, let not my lord the king lay to his heart such a thing - to say, All the king's sons, are dead, - but, Amnon alone, is dead.³⁴ Now Absolom had fled. And the young man that was watching lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo! much people, coming on the road behind him, on the mountain-side.³⁵ So Jonadab said unto the king, Lo! the king's sons, are come, - according to the word of thy servant, so hath it come to pass.³⁶ And so it was, as he made an end of speaking, that lo! the king's sons, came, and lifted up their voice and wept, - the king also, and all his servants, wept with an exceeding great weeping.³⁷ But, Absolom, had fled, and had taken his journey unto Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David the king mourned for his son continually,³⁸ But, Absolom, had fled, and had taken his journey to Geshur, - and it came to pass that he was there three years.³⁹ And the spirit of the king pined to go forth unto Absolom, - for he had consoled himself over Amnon, in that he was dead.