And he saidunto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, leanfrom day to day? wiltthou not tell me? And Amnonsaidunto him, I loveTamar, my brotherAbsalom’ssister.
And Jonadabsaidunto him, Lay theedown on thy bed, and makethyselfsick: and when thy fathercometh to see thee, say unto him, I praythee, let my sisterTamarcome, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
So Amnon lay down, and madehimselfsick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnonsaidunto the king, I praythee, let Tamar my sistercome, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
And she took a pan, and pouredthem out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnonsaid, Have out all men from me. And theywent out every man from him.
And AmnonsaiduntoTamar, Bring the meatinto the chamber, that I may eat of thinehand. And Tamartook the cakeswhich she had made, and broughttheminto the chamber to Amnon her brother.
And I, whithershall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thoushalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I praythee, speakunto the king; for he will not withhold me fromthee.
ThenAmnonhated her exceedingly; so that the hatredwherewith he hated her was greaterthan the lovewherewith he had loved her. And Amnonsaidunto her, Arise, be gone.
And she had a garment of diverscoloursupon her: for withsuchrobeswere the king’sdaughtersthatwerevirginsapparelled. Then his servantbrought her out, and bolted the doorafter her.
And Absalom her brothersaidunto her, HathAmnon thy brotherbeenwiththee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not thisthing. So Tamarremaineddesolate in her brotherAbsalom’shouse.
And the kingsaid to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeableuntothee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now whenAmnon’sheart is merrywithwine, and when I say unto you, SmiteAmnon; thenkill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
And it came to pass, whiletheywere in the way, thattidingscame to David, saying, Absalomhathslain all the king’ssons, and there is not one of themleft.
And Jonadab, the son of ShimeahDavid’sbrother, answered and said, Let not my lordsupposethattheyhaveslain all the young men the king’ssons; for Amnononly is dead: for by the appointment of Absalomthishathbeendeterminedfrom the day that he forced his sisterTamar.
But Absalomfled. And the young man thatkept the watchlifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, therecamemuchpeople by the way of the hillsidebehind him.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’ssonscame, and lifted up theirvoice and wept: and the kingalso and all his servantsweptverysore.