1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David, had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon, the son of David, loved her. 2And Amnon was so distressed {vexed} that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin. And Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. 4And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? Wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and pretend that thou art {make thyself} sick; and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister, Tamar, come, and give me food {meat}, and prepare {dress} the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. 6So Amnon lay down, and pretended that he was {made himself} sick; and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar, my sister, come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. 7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and prepare a meal for {dress} him {meat}. 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. 9And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Send {Have} out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. 10And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon, her brother. 11And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel; do not thou this folly. 13And I, where {whither} shall I cause my shame to go? And as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now, therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. 14Howbeit, he would not hearken unto her voice; but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

15Then 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. 16And she said unto him, There is no cause; this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. 17Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18And she had a garment of several {divers} colors upon her; for with such robes were the king's daughters who were virgins, apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore {rent} her garment of several {divers) colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on her way, crying. 20And 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. 21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry {wroth}. 22And Absalom spoke unto his brother, Amnon, neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister, Tamar.

23And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24And 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. 25And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be burdensome {chargeable} unto thee. And he pressed him; howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. 26Then 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? 27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry 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. 29And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got {gat him} up upon his mule, and fled. 30And 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. 31Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn {rent}. 32And Jonadab, 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. 33Now, therefore, let 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. 34But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came many {much} people by the way of the hillside behind him. 35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come; as thy servant said, so it is. 36And it came to pass, as soon as he had ceased {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 a very great deal {sore}. 37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.