2 Samuel 13:23-39 ▼

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

24 Absalom came to the king, and said, |See now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.|

25 The 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.

26 Then Absalom said, |If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.| The king said to him, |Why should he go with you?|

27 But 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.

28 And 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.|

29 So 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.

30 And 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.|

31 Then 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.

32 But 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.

33 Now 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.|

34 But 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.|

35 Jonadab said to the king, |Look, the king's sons are coming. It is as your servant said.|

36 It 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.

37 And David mourned for his son every day.

38 And Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled about the death of Amnon.