2Sam.13.1

Some time later, this happened: Absalom, David's son, had a sister who was very attractive. Her name was Tamar. Amnon, also David's son, was in love with her.

2Sam.13.1

In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.

2Sam.13.1

After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2Sam.13.1

David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her.

2Sam.13.2

Amnon was obsessed with his sister Tamar to the point of making himself sick over her. She was a virgin, so he couldn't see how he could get his hands on her.

2Sam.13.2

Amnon became frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

2Sam.13.2

Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.

2Sam.13.2

Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible that he could ever fulfill his love for her.

2Sam.13.3

Amnon had a good friend, Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was exceptionally streetwise.

2Sam.13.3

Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

2Sam.13.3

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.

2Sam.13.3

Now Amnon had a very crafty friend--his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David's brother Shimea.

2Sam.13.4

He said to Amnon, "Why are you moping around like this, day after day--you, the son of the king! Tell me what's eating at you.In a word, Tamar," said Amnon. "My brother Absalom's sister. I'm in love with her."

2Sam.13.4

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."

2Sam.13.4

And he said to him, "Why are you, the king's son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

2Sam.13.4

One day Jonadab said to Amnon, "What's the trouble? Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning?" So Amnon told him, "I am in love with Tamar, Absalom's sister."

2Sam.13.5

"Here's what you do," said Jonadab. "Go to bed and pretend you're sick. When your father comes to visit you, say, "Have my sister Tamar come and prepare some supper for me here where I can watch her and she can feed me.'"

2Sam.13.5

"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.'"

2Sam.13.5

So 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, "Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand."'

2Sam.13.5

"Well," Jonadab said, "I'll tell you what to do. Go back to bed and pretend you are sick. When your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and prepare some food for you. Tell him you'll feel better if she feeds you."

2Sam.13.6

So Amnon took to his bed and acted sick. When the king came to visit, Amnon said, "Would you do me a favor? Have my sister Tamar come and make some nourishing dumplings here where I can watch her and be fed by her."

2Sam.13.6

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."

2Sam.13.6

Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

2Sam.13.6

So Amnon pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, "Please let Tamar come to take care of me and cook something for me to eat."

2Sam.13.7

David sent word to Tamar who was home at the time: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare a meal for him."

2Sam.13.7

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him."

2Sam.13.7

And David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Now go to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him."

2Sam.13.7

So David agreed and sent Tamar to Amnon's house to prepare some food for him.

2Sam.13.8

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house. She took dough, kneaded it, formed it into dumplings, and cooked them while he watched from his bed.

2Sam.13.8

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.

2Sam.13.8

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

2Sam.13.8

When Tamar arrived at Amnon's house, she went to the room where he was lying down so he could watch her mix some dough. Then she baked some special bread for him.

2Sam.13.9

But when she took the cooking pot and served him, he wouldn't eat. Amnon said, "Clear everyone out of the house," and they all cleared out.

2Sam.13.9

Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat. "Send everyone out of here," Amnon said. So everyone left him.

2Sam.13.9

And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, "Have everyone go out from me." And they all went out from him.

2Sam.13.9

But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. "Everyone get out of here," Amnon told his servants. So they all left.

2Sam.13.10

Then he said to Tamar, "Bring the food into my bedroom, where we can eat in privacy." She took the nourishing dumplings she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in his bedroom.

2Sam.13.10

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.

2Sam.13.10

Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.

2Sam.13.10

Then he said to Tamar, "Now bring the food into my bedroom and feed it to me here." So Tamar took it to him.

2Sam.13.11

But when she got ready to feed him, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, sister!"

2Sam.13.11

But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister."

2Sam.13.11

Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."

2Sam.13.11

But as she was feeding him, he grabbed her and demanded, "Come to bed with me, my darling sister."

2Sam.13.12

"No, brother!" she said, "Don't hurt me! This kind of thing isn't done in Israel! Don't do this terrible thing!

2Sam.13.12

"Don't, my brother!" she said to him. "Don't force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don't do this wicked thing.

2Sam.13.12

But she answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!

2Sam.13.12

"No, my brother!" she cried. "Don't be foolish! Don't do this to me! You know what a serious crime it is to do such a thing in Israel.

2Sam.13.13

Where could I ever show my face? And you--you'll be out on the street in disgrace. Oh, please! Speak to the king--he'll let you marry me."

2Sam.13.13

What about me? 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."

2Sam.13.13

And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you."

2Sam.13.13

Where could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the greatest fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, and he will let you marry me."

2Sam.13.14

But he wouldn't listen. Being much stronger than she, he raped her.

2Sam.13.14

But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

2Sam.13.14

However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.

2Sam.13.14

But Amnon wouldn't listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her.

2Sam.13.15

No sooner had Amnon raped her than he hated her--an immense hatred. The hatred that he felt for her was greater than the love he'd had for her. "Get up," he said, "and get out!"

2Sam.13.15

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!"

2Sam.13.15

Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, 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, "Arise, be gone!"

2Sam.13.15

Then suddenly Amnon's love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had loved her. "Get out of here!" he snarled at her.

2Sam.13.16

"Oh no, brother," she said. "Please! This is an even worse evil than what you just did to me!" But he wouldn't listen to her.

2Sam.13.16

"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.

2Sam.13.16

So she said to him, "No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me." But he would not listen to her.

2Sam.13.16

"No, no!" Tamar cried. "To reject me now is a greater wrong than what you have already done to me." But Amnon wouldn't listen to her.

2Sam.13.17

He called for his valet. "Get rid of this woman. Get her out of my sight! And lock the door after her."

2Sam.13.17

He called his personal servant and said, "Get this woman out of here and bolt the door after her."

2Sam.13.17

Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, "Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her."

2Sam.13.17

He shouted for his servant and demanded, "Throw this woman out, and lock the door behind her!"

2Sam.13.18

The valet threw her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long-sleeved gown. (That's how virgin princesses used to dress from early adolescence on.)

2Sam.13.18

So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore.

2Sam.13.18

Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the king's virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.

2Sam.13.18

So the servant put her out. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe, as was the custom in those days for the king's virgin daughters.

2Sam.13.19

Tamar poured ashes on her head, then she ripped the long-sleeved gown, held her head in her hands, and walked away, sobbing as she went.

2Sam.13.19

Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.

2Sam.13.19

Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.

2Sam.13.19

But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying.

2Sam.13.20

Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has your brother Amnon had his way with you? Now, my dear sister, let's keep it quiet--a family matter. He is, after all, your brother. Don't take this so hard." Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's home, bitter and desolate.

2Sam.13.20

Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet 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.

2Sam.13.20

And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

2Sam.13.20

Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, "Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, don't be so upset. Since he's your brother anyway, don't worry about it." So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in Absalom's house.

2Sam.13.21

King David heard the whole story and was enraged,

2Sam.13.21

When King David heard all this, he was furious.

2Sam.13.21

But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

2Sam.13.21

When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry.

2Sam.13.22

but he didn't discipline Amnon. David doted on him because he was his firstborn. Absalom quit speaking to Amnon--not a word, whether good or bad--because he hated him for violating his sister Tamar.

2Sam.13.22

Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.

2Sam.13.22

And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

2Sam.13.22

And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about it, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.

2Sam.13.23

Two years went by. One day Absalom threw a sheep-shearing party in Baal Hazor in the vicinity of Ephraim and invited all the king's sons.

2Sam.13.23

Two years later, when Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king's sons to come there.

2Sam.13.23

And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king's sons.

2Sam.13.23

Two years later, when Absalom's sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king's sons to come to a feast.

2Sam.13.24

He also went to the king and invited him. "Look, I'm throwing a sheep-shearing party. Come, and bring your servants."

2Sam.13.24

Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?"

2Sam.13.24

Then Absalom came to the king and said, "Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant."

2Sam.13.24

He went to the king and said, "My sheep-shearers are now at work. Would the king and his servants please come to celebrate the occasion with me?"

2Sam.13.25

But the king said, "No, son--not this time, and not the whole household. We'd just be a burden to you." Absalom pushed, but David wouldn't budge. But he did give him his blessing.

2Sam.13.25

"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.

2Sam.13.25

But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you." Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.

2Sam.13.25

The king replied, "No, my son. If we all came, we would be too much of a burden on you." Absalom pressed him, but the king wouldn't come, though he sent his thanks.

2Sam.13.26

Then Absalom said, "Well, if you won't come, at least let my brother Amnon come.And why," said the king, "should he go with you?"

2Sam.13.26

Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us." The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?"

2Sam.13.26

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?"

2Sam.13.26

"Well, then," Absalom said, "if you can't come, how about sending my brother Amnon instead?Why Amnon?" the king asked.

2Sam.13.27

But Absalom was so insistent that he gave in and let Amnon and all the rest of the king's sons go.

2Sam.13.27

But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king's sons.

2Sam.13.27

But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

2Sam.13.27

But Absalom kept on pressing the king until he finally agreed to let all his sons attend, including Amnon.

2Sam.13.28

Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king. Then he instructed his servants, "Look sharp, now. When Amnon is well into the sauce and feeling no pain, and I give the order "Strike Amnon,' kill him. And don't be afraid--I'm the one giving the command. Courage! You can do it!"

2Sam.13.28

Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' then kill him. Don't be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave."

2Sam.13.28

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, "Strike Amnon!' then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant."

2Sam.13.28

Absalom told his men, "Wait until Amnon gets drunk; then at my signal, kill him! Don't be afraid. I'm the one who has given the command. Take courage and do it!"

2Sam.13.29

Absalom's servants did to Amnon exactly what their master ordered. All the king's sons got out as fast as they could, jumped on their mules, and rode off.

2Sam.13.29

So Absalom's men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.

2Sam.13.29

So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.

2Sam.13.29

So at Absalom's signal they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled.

2Sam.13.30

While they were still on the road, a rumor came to the king: "Absalom just killed all the king's sons--not one is left!"

2Sam.13.30

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."

2Sam.13.30

And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not one of them is left!"

2Sam.13.30

As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: "Absalom has killed all your sons; not one is left alive!"

2Sam.13.31

The king stood up, ripped his clothes to shreds, and threw himself on the floor. All his servants who were standing around at the time did the same.

2Sam.13.31

The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

2Sam.13.31

So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

2Sam.13.31

The king jumped up, tore his robe, and fell prostrate on the ground. His advisers also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow.

2Sam.13.32

Just then, Jonadab, his brother Shimeah's son, stepped up. "My master must not think that all the young men, the king's sons, are dead. Only Amnon is dead. This happened because of Absalom's outrage since the day that Amnon violated his sister Tamar.

2Sam.13.32

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 expressed intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

2Sam.13.32

Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, "Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

2Sam.13.32

But just then Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimea, arrived and said, "No, not all your sons have been killed! It was only Amnon! Absalom has been plotting this ever since Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

2Sam.13.33

So my master, the king, mustn't make things worse than they are, thinking that all your sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."

2Sam.13.33

My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."

2Sam.13.33

Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead."

2Sam.13.33

No, your sons aren't all dead! It was only Amnon."

2Sam.13.34

Absalom fled. Just then the sentry on duty looked up and saw a cloud of dust on the road from Horonaim alongside the mountain. He came and told the king, "I've just seen a bunch of men on the Horonaim road, coming around the mountain."

2Sam.13.34

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."

2Sam.13.34

Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.

2Sam.13.34

Meanwhile Absalom escaped. Then the watchman on the Jerusalem wall saw a great crowd coming toward the city from the west. He ran to tell the king, "I see a crowd of people coming from the Horonaim road along the side of the hill."

2Sam.13.35

Then Jonadab exclaimed to the king, "See! It's the king's sons coming, just as I said!"

2Sam.13.35

Jonadab said to the king, "See, the king's sons are here; it has happened just as your servant said."

2Sam.13.35

And Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is."

2Sam.13.35

"Look!" Jonadab told the king. "There they are now! Your sons are coming, just as I said."

2Sam.13.36

He had no sooner said the words than the king's sons burst in--loud laments and weeping! The king joined in, along with all the servants--loud weeping, many tears.

2Sam.13.36

As he finished speaking, the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly.

2Sam.13.36

So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king's sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.

2Sam.13.36

They soon arrived, weeping and sobbing, and the king and his officials wept bitterly with them.

2Sam.13.37

David mourned the death of his son a long time. When Absalom fled, he went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.

2Sam.13.37

Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned for his son every day.

2Sam.13.37

But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

2Sam.13.37

And David mourned many days for his son Amnon. Absalom fled to his grandfather, Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur.

2Sam.13.38

He was there three years.

2Sam.13.38

After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years.

2Sam.13.38

So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

2Sam.13.38

He stayed there in Geshur for three years.

2Sam.13.39

The king finally gave up trying to get back at Absalom. He had come to terms with Amnon's death.

2Sam.13.39

And the spirit of the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon's death.

2Sam.13.39

And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

2Sam.13.39

And David, now reconciled to Amnon's death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.