1It happened after this, that 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 fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4He said to him, "Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." 5Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.'" 6So Amnon lay down and faked being 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 in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon and prepare food for him." 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes while he watched, and baked the cakes. 9She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, "Have all men leave me." Every man went out from him. 10Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand." Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother. 11When she had brought them near 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. For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not do this folly. 13I, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you." 14However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.

15Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone." 16And Tamar said to him, "Don't, my brother, for this latter evil in sending me away is greater than the former thing that you did to me." But he would not listen to her. 17Then he called the young man who served him, and said, "Send this one away from me, and bolt the door after her." 18Now she was wearing an ornamented robe, for this was what the king's virgin daughters used to wear. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19And Tamar took ashes and put them on her head, and tore the long robe she was wearing. And she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

20And her brother Absalom said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this too seriously. " So Tamar, devastated, lived in her brother Absalom's house. 21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. But he did not inflict pain on the spirit of his son Amnon, because he loved him, for he was his firstborn. 22Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.

23It happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24Absalom came to the king, and said, "See now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant." 25The king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you." But he pleaded with him; however he would not go, but blessed him. 26Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." The king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" 27But Absalom pleaded with him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. And Absalom prepared a feast like a king's feast.

28And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, "Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine, and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and brave." 29So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.

30And it happened, while they were on the way, that the news came to David, saying, "Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left." 31Then the king got up and tore his clothes and lay down on the ground. And all the servants who were standing around him also tore their clothes. 32But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "My lord the king must not think that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For this has been Absalom’s plan since the day that he raped his sister Tamar. 33Now therefore do not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead."

34But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and he saw many men coming on the road behind him from the side of the mountain in the descent. And the watchman came and told the king, and said, "I have seen many men coming from the Horonan road by the side of the mountain." 35Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons are coming. It is as your servant said." 36It happened, as soon as he had finished speaking, that look, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.

37And David mourned for his son every day. 38And Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, and was there three years. 39And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled about the death of Amnon.