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2 Samuel 13
1599 Geneva Bible
2 Samuel 13
1599 Geneva Bible
13 14 Amnon David’s son defileth his sister Tamar. 20 Tamar is comforted by her brother Absalom. 29 Absalom therefore killeth Amnon.
1 Now after this, so it was, that Absalom the son of David having a fair sister, whose name was [a]Tamar, Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 And Amnon was so sore vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar: for she was a [b]virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man,
4 Who said unto him, Why art thou the king’s son, so lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? Then Amnon answered him, I love Tamar my brother Absalom’s sister.
5 And Jonadab said unto him, [c]Lie down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father shall come to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and let her dress meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it of her hand.
6 ¶ So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king came to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of [d]cakes in my sight, that I may receive meat at her hand.
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
8 ¶ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he lay down: and she took [e]flour, and knead it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9 And she took a pan, and [f]poured them out before him, but he would not eat. Then Amnon said, Cause ye every man to go out from [g]me: so every man went out from him.
10 Then Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat 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.
11 And when she had set them before him to eat, he took her, and said unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister.
12 But she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me: for no such thing (A)ought to be done in Israel: commit not this folly.
13 And I, [h]whither shall I cause my shame to go? and thou shalt be as one of [i]the fools in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee speak to the king, for he will not deny me unto thee.
14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice, but being 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, Up, get thee hence.
16 And she answered him, [j]There is no cause: this evil (to put me away) is greater than the other that thou didst unto me: but he would not hear her,
17 But called his [k]servant that served him, and said, Put this woman now out from me, and lock the door after her.
18 (And she had a garment of [l]diverse colors upon her: for with such garments were the King’s daughters that were virgins, appareled) Then his servant brought her out, and locked the door after her.
19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent the garment of diverse colors which was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went her way crying.
20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? Now yet be [m]still, my sister: he is thy brother: let not this thing grieve thine heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 ¶ But when King David heard all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Absalom said unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 ¶ And after the time of two years, Absalom had sheepshearers in [n]Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim, and [o]Absalom called all the king’s sons.
24 And Absalom came to the King, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers: I pray thee, that the king with his servants would go with thy servant.
25 But the King answered Absalom, Nay my son, I pray thee, let us not go all, lest we be chargeable unto thee. Yet Absalom lay sore upon him: howbeit he would not go, but [p]thanked him.
26 Then said Absalom, But, I pray thee, shall not my brother [q]Amnon go with us? And the king answered him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Absalom was instant upon him, and he sent Amnon with him, and all the king’s children.
28 ¶ Now had Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, kill him, fear not, for have not [r]I commanded you? be bold therefore, and play the men.
29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon, as Absalom had commanded: and all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled.
30 ¶ And while they were in the way, 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 tore his garments, and lay on the [s]ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32 And 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, [t]because Absalom had reported so, since he forced his sister Tamar.
33 Now therefore let not my lord the King [u]take the thing so grievously; to think that all the King’s sons are dead: [v]for Amnon only is dead.
34 ¶ Then Absalom fled: and the young man that kept the watch, lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side [w]behind him.
35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, [x]so it is.
36 And as soon as he had left speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lift up their voices, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept exceedingly sore.
37 But Absalom fled away, and went to [y]Talmai the son of Ammihud king of Geshur: and David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And king David [z]desired to go forth unto Absalom, because he was pacified concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 13:1 Tamar was Absalom’s sister both by father and mother, and Amnon’s only by father.
- 2 Samuel 13:2 And therefore kept in her father’s house, as virgins were accustomed.
- 2 Samuel 13:5 Here we see that there is no enterprise so wicked that can lack counsel to further it.
- 2 Samuel 13:6 Meaning, some delicate and dainty meat.
- 2 Samuel 13:8 Or, past.
- 2 Samuel 13:9 That is, she served them on a dish.
- 2 Samuel 13:9 For the wicked are ashamed to do that before men, which they are not afraid to commit in the sight of God.
- 2 Samuel 13:13 Or, how shall I put away my shame?
- 2 Samuel 13:13 As a lewd and wicked person.
- 2 Samuel 13:16 Or, for this cause.
- 2 Samuel 13:17 Or, boy.
- 2 Samuel 13:18 For that which was of divers colors or pieces, in those days was had in great estimation, Gen. 37:3; Judg. 5:30.
- 2 Samuel 13:20 For though he conceived sudden vengeance in his heart, yet he dissembled it till occasion served, and comforted his sister.
- 2 Samuel 13:23 Or, in the plain of Hazor.
- 2 Samuel 13:23 To wit, to a banquet, thinking thereby to fulfill his wicked purpose.
- 2 Samuel 13:25 Hebrew, blessed.
- 2 Samuel 13:26 Pretending to the king that Amnon was most dear unto him.
- 2 Samuel 13:28 Such is the pride of the wicked masters, that in all their wicked commandments they think to be obeyed.
- 2 Samuel 13:31 Lamenting, as he that felt the wrath of God upon his house, 2 Sam. 12:10.
- 2 Samuel 13:32 Hebrew, because it was put in Absalom’s mouth.
- 2 Samuel 13:33 Or, take it to heart.
- 2 Samuel 13:33 Or, but.
- 2 Samuel 13:34 Or, one after another.
- 2 Samuel 13:35 That only Amnon is dead.
- 2 Samuel 13:37 For Maacah his mother was the daughter of this Talmai, 2 Sam. 3:3.
- 2 Samuel 13:39 Or, ceased,
2 Samuel 13
New International Version
2 Samuel 13
New International Version
Amnon and Tamar
13 In the course of time, Amnon(A) son of David fell in love with Tamar,(B) the beautiful sister of Absalom(C) son of David.
2 Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.
3 Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah,(D) David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”
Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 “Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand.”
7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. 9 Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.
“Send everyone out of here,”(E) Amnon said. So everyone left him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. 11 But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed(F) her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.”(G)
12 “No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel!(H) Don’t do this wicked thing.(I) 13 What about me?(J) Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” 14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.(K)
15 Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”
16 “No!” she said to him. “Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me.”
But he refused to listen to her. 17 He called his personal servant and said, “Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door after her.” 18 So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing an ornate[a] robe,(L) for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore. 19 Tamar put ashes(M) on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.
20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.
21 When King David heard all this, he was furious.(N) 22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad;(O) he hated(P) Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.
Absalom Kills Amnon
23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers(Q) were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his attendants please join me?”
25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go but gave him his blessing.
26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.”
The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.
28 Absalom(R) ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high(S) spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.(T)” 29 So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.
30 While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.” 31 The king stood up, tore(U) his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33 My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.
Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, “I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill.”[b]
35 Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come; it has happened just as your servant said.”
36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly.
37 Absalom fled and went to Talmai(V) son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.
38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom,(W) for he was consoled(X) concerning Amnon’s death.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 13:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verse 19.
- 2 Samuel 13:34 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have this sentence.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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