2 Samuel 13 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

Amnon and Tamar

1 Some time later, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar. She was the beautiful sister of Absalom. He was another one of David’s sons. 2 Amnon wanted his sister Tamar so much that it made him ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do what he wanted with her. 3 Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very clever man. 4 He asked Amnon, ‘You are the king’s son, aren’t you? So why do you look so worn out every morning? Won’t you tell me?’ Amnon answered, ‘I’m in love with Tamar. She’s the sister of my brother Absalom.’ 5 ‘Go to bed,’ Jonadab said. ‘Pretend to be ill. Your father will come to see you. When he does, tell him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food right here in front of me where I can watch her. Then she can feed it to me.” ’ 6 So Amnon went to bed. He pretended to be ill. The king came to see him. Amnon said to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come here. I want to watch her make some special bread. Then she can feed it to me.’ 7 David sent a message to Tamar at the palace. He said, ‘Go to your brother Amnon’s house. Prepare some food for him.’ 8 So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon. He was lying in bed. She got some dough and mixed it. She shaped the bread right there in front of him. And she baked it. 9 Then she took the bread out of the pan and served it to him. But he refused to eat it. ‘Send everyone out of here,’ Amnon said. So everyone left him. 10 Then he said to Tamar, ‘Bring the food here into my bedroom. Please feed it to me.’ So Tamar picked up the bread she had prepared. She brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. 11 She took it to him so he could eat it. But he grabbed her. He said, ‘My sister, come to bed with me.’ 12 ‘No, my brother!’ she said to him. ‘Don’t force me! An evil thing like that should never be done in Israel! Don’t do it! 13 What about me? How could I ever get rid of my shame? And what about you? You would be as foolish as any evil person in Israel. Please speak to the king. He won’t keep me from marrying you.’ 14 But Amnon refused to listen to her. He was stronger than she was. So he raped her. 15 Then Amnon hated Tamar very much. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her before. He said to her, ‘Get up! Get out!’ 16 ‘No!’ she said to him. ‘Don’t send me away. That would be worse than what you have already done to me.’ But he refused to listen to her. 17 He sent for his personal servant. He said, ‘Get this woman out of my sight. Lock the door behind her.’ 18 So his servant threw her out. Then he locked the door behind her. Tamar was wearing a beautiful robe. It was the kind of robe the virgin daughters of the king wore. 19 She put ashes on her head. She tore the beautiful robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away. She was weeping out loud as she went. 20 When her brother Absalom saw her, he spoke to her. He said, ‘Has Amnon, that brother of yours, forced you to go to bed with him? My sister, don’t let it upset you. Don’t let it bother you. He’s your brother.’ After that, Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house. She was very lonely. 21 King David heard about everything that had happened. So he became very angry. 22 And Absalom never said a word of any kind to Amnon. He hated Amnon because he had brought shame on his sister Tamar.

Absalom kills Amnon

23 Two years later, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to Baal Hazor. It was near the border of Ephraim. The workers who clipped the wool off Absalom’s sheep were there. 24 Absalom went to the king. He said, ‘I’ve had my workers come to clip the wool. Will you and your attendants please join me?’ 25 ‘No, my son,’ the king replied. ‘All of us shouldn’t go. It would be too much trouble for you.’ Although Absalom begged him, the king still refused to go. But he gave Absalom his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, ‘If you won’t come, please let my brother Amnon come with us.’ The king asked him, ‘Why should he go with you?’ 27 But Absalom begged him. So the king sent Amnon with him. He also sent the rest of his sons. 28 Absalom ordered his men, ‘Listen! When Amnon has had too much wine to drink, I’ll say to you, “Strike Amnon down.” When I do, kill him. Don’t be afraid. I’ve given you an order, haven’t I? Be strong and brave.’ 29 So Absalom’s men killed Amnon, just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got on their mules and rode away. 30 While they were on their way, a report came to David. It said, ‘Absalom has struck down all your sons. Not one of them is left alive.’ 31 The king stood up and tore his clothes. Then he lay down on the ground. All his attendants stood near him. They had also torn their clothes. 32 Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up. He said, ‘You shouldn’t think that all the princes have been killed. The only one who is dead is Amnon. Absalom had planned to kill him ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33 You are my king and master. You shouldn’t be concerned about this report. It’s not true that all your sons are dead. The only one who is dead is Amnon.’ 34 While all of that was taking place, Absalom ran away. The man on guard duty at Jerusalem looked up. He saw many people coming on the road west of him. They were coming down the side of the hill. He went and spoke to the king. He said, ‘I see men coming down the road from Horonaim. They are coming down the side of the hill.’ 35 Jonadab said to the king, ‘See, your sons are coming. It has happened just as I said it would.’ 36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in. They were weeping out loud. The king and all his attendants were also weeping very bitterly. 37 When Absalom ran away, he went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud. Talmai was king of Geshur. King David mourned many days for his son Amnon. 38 So Absalom ran away and went to Geshur. He stayed there for three years. 39 After some time the king got over his sorrow because of Amnon’s death. Then King David longed to go to Absalom.

English Standard Version

Amnon and Tamar

1 Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. (2Sa 3:2; 1Ch 3:2; 1Ch 3:9) 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. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. (1Sa 16:9; 1Sa 17:13; 1Ch 2:13) 4 And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” (Ge 18:6) 7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9 And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. (Ge 45:1) 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate^[1] me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. (Ge 34:7; Le 18:9; Le 18:11; Le 20:17; Jud 19:23; Jud 20:6)

Ge 34:7Le 18:9Le 18:11Le 20:17Jud 19:23Jud 20:6

13 As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” (2Sa 3:33) 14 But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that 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!” 16 But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.”^[2] But he would not listen to her. 17 He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.” 18 Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves,^[3] for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. (Ge 37:3; Jud 5:30; Ps 45:14) 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. (Jos 7:6; 2Sa 1:11; Jer 2:37) 20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.^[4] 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar. (Ge 24:50; Ge 31:24)

Absalom Murders Amnon

23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. (Ge 31:19; Ge 38:12; 1Sa 25:4) 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, 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, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then 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 Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” (Jud 19:6) 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled. 30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. (2Sa 1:11; 2Sa 12:16) 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. (2Sa 13:3) 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.” (2Sa 19:19)

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him^[5] by the side of the mountain. (2Sa 13:37) 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly. 37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. (2Sa 3:3; 2Sa 13:34; 2Sa 14:23; 2Sa 14:32; 2Sa 15:8; 1Ch 3:2)

2Sa 3:32Sa 13:342Sa 14:232Sa 14:322Sa 15:81Ch 3:2

38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. (2Sa 13:37) 39 And the spirit of the king^[6] longed to go out^[7] to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead. (Ge 24:67; Ge 37:35; Ge 38:12)