2 Samuel 13:13–37

13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one hof the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, ibeing stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her †exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. 16 And she said unto him, There is no jcause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. 17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and kbolt the door after her. 18 And she had la garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and kbolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put mashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and nlaid her hand on her head, and went on crying. 20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath †Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; †regard not this thing. So Tamar remained †desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. 22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon oneither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 *And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had psheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. 25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he qpressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? 27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is rmerry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: ||have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be †valiant. 29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man †gat him up upon his mule, and fled. 30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left. 31 Then the king arose, and stare his garments, and tlay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32 And uJonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the †appointment of Absalom this hath been ||determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore xlet not 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 yBut Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. 35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: †as thy servant said, so it is. 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept †very sore. 37 But Absalom fled, and went to zTalmai, the son of ||Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.