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Hebrew Study Bible

1Now David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. In the course of time David's son Amnon fell madly in love with her.

1וַיְהִ֣י אַֽחֲרֵי־ כֵ֗ן וּלְאַבְשָׁל֧וֹם בֶּן־ דָּוִ֛ד אָח֥וֹת יָפָ֖ה וּשְׁמָ֣הּ תָּמָ֑ר וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֖הָ אַמְנ֥וֹן בֶּן־ דָּוִֽד׃

2But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.

2וַיֵּ֨צֶר לְאַמְנ֜וֹן לְהִתְחַלּ֗וֹת בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ תָּמָ֣ר אֲחֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י בְתוּלָ֖ה הִ֑יא וַיִּפָּלֵא֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַמְנ֔וֹן לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָ֖הּ מְאֽוּמָה׃

3Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very crafty man.

3וּלְאַמְנ֣וֹן רֵ֗עַ וּשְׁמוֹ֙ יֽוֹנָדָ֔ב בֶּן־ שִׁמְעָ֖ה אֲחִ֣י דָוִ֑ד וְי֣וֹנָדָ֔ב אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃

4He asked Amnon, "Why are you, the king's son, so depressed every morning? Can't you tell me?" So Amnon said to him, "I'm in love with Tamar the sister of my brother Absalom."

4וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ מַדּ֣וּעַ אַ֠תָּה כָּ֣כָה דַּ֤ל בֶּן־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֔קֶר הֲל֖וֹא תַּגִּ֣יד לִ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ אַמְנ֔וֹן אֶת־ תָּמָ֗ר אֲח֛וֹת אַבְשָׁלֹ֥ם אָחִ֖י אֲנִ֥י אֹהֵֽב׃

5Jonadab replied to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes in to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can fix some food for me. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I can watch. Then I will eat from her hand.'"

5וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ יְה֣וֹנָדָ֔ב שְׁכַ֥ב עַל־ מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ וְהִתְחָ֑ל וּבָ֧א אָבִ֣יךָ לִרְאוֹתֶ֗ךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֡יו תָּ֣בֹא נָא֩ תָמָ֨ר אֲחוֹתִ֜י וְתַבְרֵ֣נִי לֶ֗חֶם וְעָשְׂתָ֤ה לְעֵינַי֙ אֶת־ הַבִּרְיָ֔ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶרְאֶ֔ה וְאָכַלְתִּ֖י מִיָּדָֽהּ׃

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

6וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב אַמְנ֖וֹן וַיִּתְחָ֑ל וַיָּבֹ֨א הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לִרְאֹת֗וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַמְנ֤וֹן אֶל־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ תָּֽבוֹא־ נָ֞א תָּמָ֣ר אֲחֹתִ֗י וּתְלַבֵּ֤ב לְעֵינַי֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י לְבִב֔וֹת וְאֶבְרֶ֖ה מִיָּדָֽהּ׃

7So David sent Tamar to the house saying, "Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him."

7וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־ תָּמָ֖ר הַבַּ֣יְתָה לֵאמֹ֑ר לְכִ֣י נָ֗א בֵּ֚ית אַמְנ֣וֹן אָחִ֔יךְ וַעֲשִׂי־ ל֖וֹ הַבִּרְיָֽה׃

8So Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, made some cakes while he watched, and baked them.

8וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ תָּמָ֗ר בֵּ֛ית אַמְנ֥וֹן אָחִ֖יהָ וְה֣וּא שֹׁכֵ֑ב וַתִּקַּ֨ח אֶת־ הַבָּצֵ֤ק [ותלוש] (וַתָּ֙לָשׁ֙) וַתְּלַבֵּ֣ב לְעֵינָ֔יו וַתְּבַשֵּׁ֖ל אֶת־ הַלְּבִבֽוֹת׃

9But when she took the pan and set it before him, he refused to eat. Instead Amnon said, "Get everyone out of here!" So everyone left.

9וַתִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־ הַמַּשְׂרֵת֙ וַתִּצֹ֣ק לְפָנָ֔יו וַיְמָאֵ֖ן לֶאֱכ֑וֹל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַמְנ֗וֹן הוֹצִ֤יאוּ כָל־ אִישׁ֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י וַיֵּצְא֥וּ כָל־ אִ֖ישׁ מֵעָלָֽיו׃

10Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the cakes into the bedroom; then I will eat from your hand." So Tamar took the cakes that she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom.

10וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַמְנ֜וֹן אֶל־ תָּמָ֗ר הָבִ֤יאִי הַבִּרְיָה֙ הַחֶ֔דֶר וְאֶבְרֶ֖ה מִיָּדֵ֑ךְ וַתִּקַּ֣ח תָּמָ֗ר אֶת־ הַלְּבִבוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔תָה וַתָּבֵ֛א לְאַמְנ֥וֹן אָחִ֖יהָ הֶחָֽדְרָה׃

11As she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said to her, "Come on! Get in bed with me, my sister!"

11וַתַּגֵּ֥שׁ אֵלָ֖יו לֶֽאֱכֹ֑ל וַיַּֽחֲזֶק־ בָּהּ֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֔הּ בּ֛וֹאִי שִׁכְבִ֥י עִמִּ֖י אֲחוֹתִֽי׃

12But she said to him, "No, my brother! Don't humiliate me! This just isn't done in Israel! Don't do this foolish thing!

12וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ אַל־ אָחִי֙ אַל־ תְּעַנֵּ֔נִי כִּ֛י לֹא־ יֵֽעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַֽל־ תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה אֶת־ הַנְּבָלָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

13How could I ever be rid of my humiliation? And you would be considered one of the fools in Israel! Just speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you."

13וַאֲנִ֗י אָ֤נָה אוֹלִיךְ֙ אֶת־ חֶרְפָּתִ֔י וְאַתָּ֗ה תִּהְיֶ֛ה כְּאַחַ֥ד הַנְּבָלִ֖ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּה֙ דַּבֶּר־ נָ֣א אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִמְנָעֵ֖נִי מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

14But he refused to listen to her. He overpowered her and humiliated her by raping her.

14וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ בְּקוֹלָ֑הּ וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק מִמֶּ֙נָּה֙ וַיְעַנֶּ֔הָ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב אֹתָֽהּ׃

15Then Amnon greatly despised her. His disdain toward her surpassed the love he had previously felt toward her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and leave!"

15וַיִּשְׂנָאֶ֣הָ אַמְנ֗וֹן שִׂנְאָה֙ גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד כִּ֣י גְדוֹלָ֗ה הַשִּׂנְאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׂנֵאָ֔הּ מֵאַהֲבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲהֵבָ֑הּ וַֽיֹּאמֶר־ לָ֥הּ אַמְנ֖וֹן ק֥וּמִי לֵֽכִי׃

16But she said to him, "No I won't, for sending me away now would be worse than what you did to me earlier!" But he refused to listen to her.

16וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ אַל־ אוֹדֹ֞ת הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את מֵאַחֶ֛רֶת אֲשֶׁר־ עָשִׂ֥יתָ עִמִּ֖י לְשַׁלְּחֵ֑נִי וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁמֹ֥עַֽ לָֽהּ׃

17He called his personal attendant and said to him, "Take this woman out of my sight and lock the door behind her!"

17וַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶֽת־ נַעֲרוֹ֙ מְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁלְחוּ־ נָ֥א אֶת־ זֹ֛את מֵעָלַ֖י הַח֑וּצָה וּנְעֹ֥ל הַדֶּ֖לֶת אַחֲרֶֽיהָ׃

18(Now she was wearing a long robe, for this is what the king's virgin daughters used to wear.) So Amnon's attendant removed her and bolted the door behind her.

18וְעָלֶ֙יהָ֙ כְּתֹ֣נֶת פַּסִּ֔ים כִּי֩ כֵ֨ן תִּלְבַּ֧שְׁןָ בְנוֹת־ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ הַבְּתוּלֹ֖ת מְעִילִ֑ים וַיֹּצֵ֨א אוֹתָ֤הּ מְשָֽׁרְתוֹ֙ הַח֔וּץ וְנָעַ֥ל הַדֶּ֖לֶת אַחֲרֶֽיהָ׃

19Then Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing as she went.

19וַתִּקַּ֨ח תָּמָ֥ר אֵ֙פֶר֙ עַל־ רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וּכְתֹ֧נֶת הַפַּסִּ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָלֶ֖יהָ קָרָ֑עָה וַתָּ֤שֶׂם יָדָהּ֙ עַל־ רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְזָעָֽקָה׃

20Her brother Absalom said to her, "Was Amnon your brother with you? Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Don't take it so seriously!" Tamar, devastated, lived in the house of her brother Absalom.

20וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלֶ֜יהָ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם אָחִ֗יהָ הַאֲמִינ֣וֹן אָחִיךְ֮ הָיָ֣ה עִמָּךְ֒ וְעַתָּ֞ה אֲחוֹתִ֤י הַחֲרִ֙ישִׁי֙ אָחִ֣יךְ ה֔וּא אַל־ תָּשִׁ֥יתִי אֶת־ לִבֵּ֖ךְ לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב תָּמָר֙ וְשֹׁ֣מֵמָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אַבְשָׁל֥וֹם אָחִֽיהָ׃

21Now King David heard about all these things and was very angry.

21וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד שָׁמַ֕ע אֵ֥ת כָּל־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּ֥חַר ל֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃

22But Absalom said nothing to Amnon, either bad or good, yet Absalom hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.

22וְלֹֽא־ דִבֶּ֧ר אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם עִם־ אַמְנ֖וֹן לְמֵרָ֣ע וְעַד־ ט֑וֹב כִּֽי־ שָׂנֵ֤א אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶת־ אַמְנ֔וֹן עַל־ דְּבַר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִנָּ֔ה אֵ֖ת תָּמָ֥ר אֲחֹתֽוֹ׃ פ

23Two years later Absalom's sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king's sons.

23וַֽיְהִי֙ לִשְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ גֹֽזְזִים֙ לְאַבְשָׁל֔וֹם בְּבַ֥עַל חָצ֖וֹר אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִם־ אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיִּקְרָ֥א אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם לְכָל־ בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

24Then Absalom went to the king and said, "My shearers have begun their work. Let the king and his servants go with me."

24וַיָּבֹ֤א אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־ נָ֥א גֹזְזִ֖ים לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ יֵֽלֶךְ־ נָ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וַעֲבָדָ֖יו עִם־ עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

25But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son. We shouldn't all go. We shouldn't burden you in that way." Though Absalom pressed him, the king was not willing to go. Instead, David blessed him.

25וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־ אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם אַל־ בְּנִי֙ אַל־ נָ֤א נֵלֵךְ֙ כֻּלָּ֔נוּ וְלֹ֥א נִכְבַּ֖ד עָלֶ֑יךָ וַיִּפְרָץ־ בּ֛וֹ וְלֹֽא־ אָבָ֥ה לָלֶ֖כֶת וַֽיְבָרֲכֵֽהוּ׃

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

26וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם וָלֹ֕א יֵֽלֶךְ־ נָ֥א אִתָּ֖נוּ אַמְנ֣וֹן אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֥מָּה יֵלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּֽךְ׃

27But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king's sons along with him.

27וַיִּפְרָץ־ בּ֖וֹ אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אִתּוֹ֙ אֶת־ אַמְנ֔וֹן וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־ בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס

28Absalom instructed his servants, "Look! When Amnon is drunk and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' kill him then and there. Don't fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!"

28וַיְצַו֩ אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם אֶת־ נְעָרָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר רְא֣וּ נָ֠א כְּט֨וֹב לֵב־ אַמְנ֤וֹן בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם הַכּ֧וּ אֶת־ אַמְנ֛וֹן וַהֲמִתֶּ֥ם אֹת֖וֹ אַל־ תִּירָ֑אוּ הֲל֗וֹא כִּ֤י אָֽנֹכִי֙ צִוִּ֣יתִי אֶתְכֶ֔ם חִזְק֖וּ וִהְי֥וּ לִבְנֵי־ חָֽיִל׃

29So Absalom's servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed. Then all the king's sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.

29וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֞וּ נַעֲרֵ֤י אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ לְאַמְנ֔וֹן כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ ׀ כָּל־ בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיִּרְכְּב֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־ פִּרְדּ֖וֹ וַיָּנֻֽסוּ׃

30While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons; not one of them is left!"

30וַֽיְהִי֙ הֵ֣מָּה בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְהַשְּׁמֻעָ֣ה בָ֔אָה אֶל־ דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הִכָּ֤ה אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְלֹֽא־ נוֹתַ֥ר מֵהֶ֖ם אֶחָֽד׃ ס

31Then the king stood up and tore his garments and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well.

31וַיָּ֧קָם הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וַיִּקְרַ֥ע אֶת־ בְּגָדָ֖יו וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב אָ֑רְצָה וְכָל־ עֲבָדָ֥יו נִצָּבִ֖ים קְרֻעֵ֥י בְגָדִֽים׃ ס

32Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, said, "My lord should not say, 'They have killed all the young men who are the king's sons.' For only Amnon is dead. This is what Absalom has talked about from the day that Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar.

32וַיַּ֡עַן יוֹנָדָ֣ב ׀ בֶּן־ שִׁמְעָ֨ה אֲחִֽי־ דָוִ֜ד וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַל־ יֹאמַ֤ר אֲדֹנִי֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־ הַנְּעָרִ֤ים בְּנֵֽי־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֵמִ֔יתוּ כִּֽי־ אַמְנ֥וֹן לְבַדּ֖וֹ מֵ֑ת כִּֽי־ עַל־ פִּ֤י אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ הָיְתָ֣ה שׂוּמָ֔ה מִיּוֹם֙ עַנֹּת֔וֹ אֵ֖ת תָּמָ֥ר אֲחֹתֽוֹ׃

33Now don't let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, 'All the king's sons are dead.' It is only Amnon who is dead."

33וְעַתָּ֡ה אַל־ יָשֵׂם֩ אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֶל־ לִבּוֹ֙ דָּבָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֔ר כָּל־ בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֵ֑תוּ כִּֽי־ אִם־ אַמְנ֥וֹן לְבַדּ֖וֹ מֵֽת׃ פ

34In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west on a road beside the hill.

34וַיִּבְרַ֖ח אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיִּשָּׂ֞א הַנַּ֤עַר הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶת־ [עינו] (עֵינָ֔יו) וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֨ה עַם־ רַ֜ב הֹלְכִ֥ים מִדֶּ֛רֶךְ אַחֲרָ֖יו מִצַּ֥ד הָהָֽר׃

35Jonadab said to the king, "Look! The king's sons have come! It's just as I said!"

35וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יֽוֹנָדָב֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בָּ֑אוּ כִּדְבַ֥ר עַבְדְּךָ֖ כֵּ֥ן הָיָֽה׃

36Just as he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived, wailing and weeping. The king and all his servants wept loudly as well.

36וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּכַלֹּת֣וֹ לְדַבֵּ֗ר וְהִנֵּ֤ה בְנֵֽי־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בָּ֔אוּ וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ קוֹלָ֖ם וַיִּבְכּ֑וּ וְגַם־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְכָל־ עֲבָדָ֔יו בָּכ֕וּ בְּכִ֖י גָּד֥וֹל מְאֹֽד׃

37But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David grieved over his son every day.

37וְאַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בָּרַ֔ח וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־ תַּלְמַ֥י בֶּן־ [עמיחור] (עַמִּיה֖וּד) מֶ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל עַל־ בְּנ֖וֹ כָּל־ הַיָּמִֽים׃

38After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three years.

38וְאַבְשָׁל֥וֹם בָּרַ֖ח וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר וַיְהִי־ שָׁ֖ם שָׁלֹ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃

39The king longed to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon.

39וַתְּכַל֙ דָּוִ֣ד הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָצֵ֖את אֶל־ אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם כִּֽי־ נִחַ֥ם עַל־ אַמְנ֖וֹן כִּֽי־ מֵֽת׃ ס

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