2 Samuel 13 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

Amnon and Tamar

13 Now it was after this that (A)Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was (B)Tamar, and (C)Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed [a]hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of [b](D)Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.” 5 Jonadab then said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.’” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and (E)make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 She took the pan and [c]dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “(F)Have everyone go out from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the [d]bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. 11 When she brought them to him to eat, he (G)took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for (H)such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this (I)disgraceful thing! 13 As for me, where could I [e]get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the [f]fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for (J)he will not withhold me from you.” 14 However, he would not listen to [g]her; since he was stronger than she, he (K)violated her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go away!” 16 But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!” Yet he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her.” 18 Now she had on (L)a [h]long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. 19 (M)Tamar put [i]ashes on her head and (N)tore her [j]long-sleeved garment which was on her; and (O)she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom did not speak to Amnon (P)either good or bad; for (Q)Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

23 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom (R)had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

Absalom Avenges Tamar

24 Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you.” Although he [k]urged him, he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then (S)Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But when Absalom [l]urged him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, (T)when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be [m]valiant.” 29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted (U)his mule and fled.

30 Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose, (V)tore his clothes and (W)lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. 32 (X)Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, [n]responded, “Do not let my lord [o]suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the [p]intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, do not let my lord the king (Y)take the report to [q]heart, namely, ‘all the king’s sons are dead,’ for only Amnon is dead.”

34 Now (Z)Absalom had fled. And (AA)the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; according to your servant’s word, so it happened.” 36 As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept [r]very bitterly.

37 Now (AB)Absalom fled and went to (AC)Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of (AD)Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 (AE)So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 The heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for (AF)he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 13:2 Lit hard in Amnon’s eyes
  2. 2 Samuel 13:3 In 1 Sam 16:9, Shammah; in 1 Chr 2:13, Shimea
  3. 2 Samuel 13:9 Lit poured
  4. 2 Samuel 13:10 Or inner room
  5. 2 Samuel 13:13 Lit cause to go
  6. 2 Samuel 13:13 Or disgraceful ones
  7. 2 Samuel 13:14 Lit her voice
  8. 2 Samuel 13:18 Lit a varicolored tunic
  9. 2 Samuel 13:19 Or dust
  10. 2 Samuel 13:19 Lit varicolored tunic
  11. 2 Samuel 13:25 Lit broke through
  12. 2 Samuel 13:27 Lit broke through
  13. 2 Samuel 13:28 Lit sons of valor
  14. 2 Samuel 13:32 Lit answered and said
  15. 2 Samuel 13:32 Lit say
  16. 2 Samuel 13:32 Lit mouth
  17. 2 Samuel 13:33 Lit his heart
  18. 2 Samuel 13:36 Lit with a very great weeping

Cross references

  1. 2 Samuel 13:1 : 2 Sam 3:2, 3; 1 Chr 3:2
  2. 2 Samuel 13:1 : 1 Chr 3:9
  3. 2 Samuel 13:1 : 2 Sam 3:2
  4. 2 Samuel 13:3 : 1 Sam 16:9
  5. 2 Samuel 13:6 : Gen 18:6
  6. 2 Samuel 13:9 : Gen 45:1
  7. 2 Samuel 13:11 : Gen 39:12
  8. 2 Samuel 13:12 : Lev 20:17
  9. 2 Samuel 13:12 : Judg 19:23; 20:6
  10. 2 Samuel 13:13 : Gen 20:12
  11. 2 Samuel 13:14 : Lev 18:9; Deut 22:25; 27:22; 2 Sam 12:11
  12. 2 Samuel 13:18 : Gen 37:3, 23
  13. 2 Samuel 13:19 : 1 Sam 4:12; Esth 4:1
  14. 2 Samuel 13:19 : Gen 37:29; 2 Sam 1:11
  15. 2 Samuel 13:19 : Jer 2:37
  16. 2 Samuel 13:22 : Gen 31:24
  17. 2 Samuel 13:22 : Lev 19:17; 1 John 2:9, 11; 3:10, 12, 15
  18. 2 Samuel 13:23 : 1 Sam 25:7
  19. 2 Samuel 13:26 : 2 Sam 3:27; 11:13-15
  20. 2 Samuel 13:28 : Judg 19:6, 9, 22; 1 Sam 25:36-38
  21. 2 Samuel 13:29 : 2 Sam 18:9; 1 Kin 1:33, 38
  22. 2 Samuel 13:31 : 2 Sam 1:11
  23. 2 Samuel 13:31 : 2 Sam 12:16
  24. 2 Samuel 13:32 : 2 Sam 13:3-5
  25. 2 Samuel 13:33 : 2 Sam 19:19
  26. 2 Samuel 13:34 : 2 Sam 13:37, 38
  27. 2 Samuel 13:34 : 2 Sam 18:24
  28. 2 Samuel 13:37 : 2 Sam 13:34
  29. 2 Samuel 13:37 : 2 Sam 3:3
  30. 2 Samuel 13:37 : 2 Sam 14:23, 32
  31. 2 Samuel 13:38 : 2 Sam 13:34
  32. 2 Samuel 13:39 : 2 Sam 12:19-23

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13 And it cometh to pass afterwards that Absalom son of David hath a fair sister, and her name [is] Tamar, and Amnon son of David loveth her. 2 And Amnon hath distress -- even to become sick, because of Tamar his sister, for she [is] a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to he...
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13 And it was done after these things, that Amnon, the son of David, loved the fairest sister, Tamar by name, of Absalom, the son of David. (And it was done after these things, that Amnon, one of David’s sons, loved Tamar, the fairest sister of Amnon, and of Absalom, another of David’s sons.) 2 And ...
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13 After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, wh...
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Amnon and Tamar13 Now Ab′salom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. 2 And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her...
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Amnon and Tamar13 Some time passed. David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar; and David’s son Amnon fell in love with her. 2 Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to h...
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Amnon and Tamar13 Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. And David’s son Amnon loved her. 2 Amnon was so troubled because of his sister Tamar that he became sick. She was a woman who had never had a man, and Amnon thought how hard it would be to have her. 3 But Amnon ...
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