2 Samuel 13 - 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

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

1. 2 Samuel 13:1 Tamar was Absalom’s sister both by father and mother, and Amnon’s only by father.
2. 2 Samuel 13:2 And therefore kept in her father’s house, as virgins were accustomed.
3. 2 Samuel 13:5 Here we see that there is no enterprise so wicked that can lack counsel to further it.
4. 2 Samuel 13:6 Meaning, some delicate and dainty meat.
5. 2 Samuel 13:8 Or, past.
6. 2 Samuel 13:9 That is, she served them on a dish.
7. 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.
8. 2 Samuel 13:13 Or, how shall I put away my shame?
9. 2 Samuel 13:13 As a lewd and wicked person.
10. 2 Samuel 13:16 Or, for this cause.
11. 2 Samuel 13:17 Or, boy.
12. 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.
13. 2 Samuel 13:20 For though he conceived sudden vengeance in his heart, yet he dissembled it till occasion served, and comforted his sister.
14. 2 Samuel 13:23 Or, in the plain of Hazor.
15. 2 Samuel 13:23 To wit, to a banquet, thinking thereby to fulfill his wicked purpose.
16. 2 Samuel 13:25 Hebrew, blessed.
17. 2 Samuel 13:26 Pretending to the king that Amnon was most dear unto him.
18. 2 Samuel 13:28 Such is the pride of the wicked masters, that in all their wicked commandments they think to be obeyed.
19. 2 Samuel 13:31 Lamenting, as he that felt the wrath of God upon his house, 2 Sam. 12:10.
20. 2 Samuel 13:32 Hebrew, because it was put in Absalom’s mouth.
21. 2 Samuel 13:33 Or, take it to heart.
22. 2 Samuel 13:33 Or, but.
23. 2 Samuel 13:34 Or, one after another.
24. 2 Samuel 13:35 That only Amnon is dead.
25. 2 Samuel 13:37 For Maacah his mother was the daughter of this Talmai, 2 Sam. 3:3.
26. 2 Samuel 13:39 Or, ceased,

Cross references

1. 2 Samuel 13:12 : Lev. 18:9