2 Samuel 13
A Sister Violated, and a Brother Who Waited Two Years
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Amnon and Tamar
13:1After this, Absalom son of David had a sister very beautiful in appearance, named Tamar, and Amnon son of David loved her.
13:2Amnon was so distressed over Tamar his sister that he became ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed exceedingly difficult to Amnon to do anything to her.
13:3Amnon had a companion named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
13:4He said to him, “Why are you so weak morning after morning, king’s son? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, the sister of Absalom my brother.”
13:5Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and act ill. Your father will come in to see you. Say to him, ‘Please let Tamar my sister come and feed me. Let her prepare food before my eyes so that I can watch and eat from her hands.’”
13:6Amnon lay down and became ill. The king came in to see him. Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come to me and make two little loaves before my eyes, and I will eat from her hand.”
13:7David sent word to Tamar at the house: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare food for him.”
13:8Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, mixed it, made little loaves before his eyes, and cooked the little loaves.
13:9She took the frying pan and emptied it before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Take every man away from me.” They took every man away from him.
13:10Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room, and I will eat from your hand.” Tamar took the little loaves she had made and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom,
13:11and brought the food near for him to eat. He seized her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
13:12She said to him, “No, my brother! Do not violate me! Such a thing must not be done in Israel. Do not commit this folly!
13:13Where could I carry my disgrace? And you would become like one of the foolish men in Israel. Please speak to the king now, for he certainly will not withhold me from you.”
13:14Amnon refused to listen to her. He overpowered her, violated her, and lay with her.
Tamar Driven Out
13:15Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred. The hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and go!”
13:16Tamar said to him, “No, brother! This last evil, sending me away, is greater than the first thing you have done to me.” But Amnon refused to listen to her.
13:17He called his young servant who was in charge of his house and said to him, “Send this one away from me, outside, and lock the door behind her.”
13:18She was wearing a tunic with sleeves reaching the wrists, for this was how the king’s virgin daughters wore their outer garments. His attendant brought her outside and locked the door behind her.
13:19Tamar took ashes and put them on her head and tore the tunic with sleeves reaching the wrists that she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, crying out as she went.
13:20Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now, my sister, be silent, for he is your brother. Do not set your heart on speaking about this matter.” Tamar lived as a widow in the house of Absalom her brother.
13:21King David heard all these things and became very angry. But he did not grieve the spirit of Amnon his son, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn.
13:22Absalom spoke to Amnon neither evil nor good, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated Tamar his sister.
Absalom Kills Amnon at the Shearing
13:23After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers at Baal-hazor, adjoining Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
13:24Absalom came to the king and said, “They are shearing sheep for your servant. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
13:25The king said to Absalom, “No, my son. Please do not let us all go, so that we do not burden you.” Absalom pressed him, but he refused to go and blessed him.
13:26Absalom said, “If not, please let Amnon my brother go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
13:27Absalom pressed him, and he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons with him. Absalom prepared a drinking feast like the king’s drinking feast.
13:28Absalom instructed his young men, “Watch when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine. When I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ kill him. Do not be afraid. Am I not the one commanding you? Be courageous and be powerful men.”
13:29Absalom’s young men did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded them. All the king’s sons rose, each mounted his mule, and they fled.
The Report Reaches David
13:30While they were on the way, a report came to David: “Absalom has struck all the king’s sons; not even one of them is left.”
13:31The king rose, tore his clothes, and lay on the ground. All his servants standing around him tore their clothes.
13:32Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, “Let my lord the king not say that he has killed all the young men, the king’s sons. Amnon alone has died. He had been marked out by Absalom from the day he violated Tamar his sister.
13:33Now let my lord the king not take to heart the report that all the king’s sons have died. Only Amnon has died.”
13:34Absalom escaped. The young watchman raised his eyes and saw a large crowd coming along the road behind him, from the side of the mountain, on the descent. The watchman came and reported to the king, “I have seen men coming from the road of Horonen, from the side of the mountain.”
13:35Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are here. It has happened just as your servant said.”
13:36As he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived, raised their voices, and wept. The king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.
Absalom Flees to Geshur
13:37Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, in the land of Machad. King David mourned for his son all those days.
13:38Absalom escaped and went to Geshur, and he was there three years.
13:39The king’s spirit ceased going out after Absalom, for he had been comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.