2 Samuel 13

And it happened after this that Absalom the son of David had a sister, very beautiful in appearance, and her name was Thamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

And Amnon was so distressed that he became ill because of Thamar his sister, for she was a virgin; and in Amnon's eyes it seemed impossible to do anything to her.

And Amnon had a companion whose name was Jonadab, son of Samaa, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very wise man.

And he said to him, "Why are you so weak, morning after morning, O son of the king? Will you not tell me?" And Amnon said to him, "I love Thamar, the sister of Absalom my brother."

And Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and make yourself sick; and your father will come in to see you, and you shall say to him, 'Let Thamar my sister come and feed me, and let her prepare food before my eyes, so that I may see and eat from her hands.'"

So Amnon lay down and made himself sick. And the king came in to see him, and Amnon said to the king, "Let Thamar my sister come to me and make two cakes before my eyes, and I will eat from her hand."

And David sent to Thamar at the house, saying, "Go now to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare food for him."

And Thamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down. And she took the dough and kneaded it and made cakes before his eyes, and she cooked the cakes.

And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Take every man away from me." And they took every man away from him.

And Amnon said to Thamar, "Bring the food into the chamber, and I will eat from your hand." And Thamar took the cakes that she had made and brought them to Amnon her brother into the bedroom.

And she brought them near to him to eat, and he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."

And she said to him, "No, my brother, do not humiliate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this folly.

And I, where would I carry my disgrace? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now then, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you."

But Amnon would not listen to her voice; and he was stronger than she, and he humiliated her and lay with her.

Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, for 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."

And Thamar said to him, "No, my brother, for this last evil, in sending me away, is greater than the first that you did to me." But Amnon would not listen to her voice.

And he called his servant who was set over his house and said to him, "Send this woman away from me, outside, and bolt the door after her."

And she had on a long-sleeved tunic, for so the virgin daughters of the king used to clothe themselves with their outer robes. And his attendant brought her outside and bolted the door after her.

And Thamar took ashes and put them on her head, and she tore the long-sleeved tunic that was on her, and she put her hands on her head, and she went away, going and crying out.

And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? And now, my sister, keep silent, for he is your brother. Do not set your heart to speak about this matter." And Thamar remained desolate in the house of Absalom her brother.

And King David heard all these words and was very angry; but he did not grieve the spirit of Amnon his son, because he loved him, for he was his firstborn.

And Absalom did not speak with Amnon, either bad or good, because Absalom hated Amnon on account of the matter in which he had humiliated Thamar his sister.

And it happened after a period of two years that they were shearing for Absalom at Belasor, which is next to Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

And Absalom came to the king and said, "Look now, they are shearing for your servant. Let the king and his servants go with your servant."

And the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be a burden upon you." And he urged him, but he would not go, and he blessed him.

And Absalom said, "If not, then let Amnon my brother go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"

And Absalom urged him, and he sent Amnon with him and all the king's sons. And Absalom made a drinking feast like the drinking feast of a king.

And Abessalom commanded his servants, saying, "See, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not be afraid, for is it not I who command you? Be courageous and become sons of might."

And Abessalom's servants did to Amnon as Abessalom had commanded them. And all the king's sons rose up, and each man mounted his mule, and they fled.

And it happened, while they were on the way, that the report came to Dauid, saying, "Abessalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left."

And the king rose and tore his garments and lay on the ground; and all his servants who stood about him tore their garments.

And Ionadab son of Samaa, Dauid's brother, answered and said, "Let not my lord the king say that they have put to death all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone has died; for it has been fixed upon the mouth of Abessalom from the day that he humiliated Themar his sister."

And now let not my lord the king lay the matter to his heart, saying, "All the king's sons have died"; for only Amnon alone has died.

And Abessalom fled. And the young man, the watchman, lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming on the road behind him from the side of the mountain, on the descent. And the watchman came and reported to the king and said, "I have seen men from the road of Ōrōnēn, from the side of the mountain."

And Ionadab said to the king, "Behold, the king's sons are here; according to the word of your servant, so it has come about."

And it happened, when he had finished speaking, that behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept; and the king also and all his servants wept a very great weeping.

And Abessalom fled and went to Tholmai son of Emioud, king of Gedsour, into the land of Machad. And king Dauid mourned for his son all the days.

And Abessalom fled and went to Gedsour, and he was there three years.

And the spirit of the king ceased from going out after Abessalom, for he had been consoled concerning Amnon, because he was dead.