2 Samuel 13:1-9 ▼

1 Some time passed . David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David’s son Amnon was infatuated with her.

2 Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.

3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

4 and he asked Amnon, “ Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable every morning ? Won’t you tell me ? ” Amnon replied, “ I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 Jonadab said to him, “ Lie down on your bed and pretend you’re sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘ Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare food in my presence so I can watch and eat from her hand.’ ”

6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him , “ Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”

7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “ Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.”

8 Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them .

9 She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “ Everyone leave me ! ” And everyone left him.