13:1 Now Absalom the son of David has a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. After some time it so happened that Amnon the son of David was attracted¹ to her. 13:2 But Amnon was frustrated to the point of becoming sick over Tamar his sister. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.

13:3 Now Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah brother of David. Jonadab was a very wise man. 13:4 He asked Amnon,² “Why are you of all people³ so depressed every morning? Can’t you tell me?” So Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar the sister of my brother Absalom.” 13:5 Jonadab replied to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick.⁴ When your father comes in to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come in so that she can fix some food for me. Let her prepare the food in my presence so that I can watch. Then I will eat from her hand.’”

13:6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came in to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come in so that she can make a couple of cakes in my sight so that I can eat from her hand.”

13:7 So David sent to Tamar at the house saying, “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.” 13:8 So Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, made some cakes in his sight, and baked them.⁵ 13:9 But when she took the pan and set it before him, he refused to eat. Instead Amnon said, “Get everyone out of my presence!” So everyone went out⁶ of his presence.

13:10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the cakes into the bedroom so that I can eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes that she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom. 13:11 As she brought them to him to eat, he seized her and said to her, “Come on! Lie down with me, my sister!”

13:12 But she said to him, “No, my brother! Don’t humiliate me! This just isn’t done in Israel! Don’t do this foolish thing! 13:13 How could I ever be rid of my reproach? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Just speak to the king, for he would not withhold me from you.” 13:14 But he was not willing to listen to her.⁷ Instead he overpowered her and humiliated her by having sex with her.⁸

13:15 Then Amnon hated her with a hatred much greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and leave!”

13:16 But she said to him, “No, my brother, because⁹ this final evil of sending me away is worse than what you did to me earlier!”

But he was not willing to listen to her. 13:17 Instead he called his personal attendant and said to him, “Remove this woman from my sight and lock the door behind her!” 13:18 (Now she was wearing a long garment,¹⁰ such as the king’s virgin daughters used to wear.) So his attendant removed her and bolted the door¹¹ behind her. 13:19 Then Tamar placed dust on her head and tore her long garment that she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing as she went.

13:20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Was Amnon your brother with you? Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t even consider talking about this!”¹² So Tamar, devastated, lived on in the house of her brother Absalom.

13:21 Now king David had heard about all these things, and he was very angry.¹³ 13:22 But Absalom did not speak with Absalom—not for bad nor for good. For Absalom hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.

13:23 After two years had passed, Absalom’s shearers were in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim. Absalom summoned all the king’s sons. 13:24 Then Absalom went to the king and said, “My¹⁴ shearers are here. Let the king and his servants go with me.”

13:25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. We shouldn’t all go. We shouldn’t burden you in that way.” And even though he pressed¹⁵ him, he was not willing to go. Instead, he blessed him.

13:26 Then Absalom said, “If not, then let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king replied to him, “Why should he go with you?” 13:27 But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons along with him.

13:28 Absalom instructed his attendants, “Look! When Amnon’s spirits are high because of the wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!,’ kill him. Don’t fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!¹⁶ 13:29 So the attendants of Absalom did to Amnon exactly as Absalom had instructed. Then all the king’s sons arose; each one rode away on his donkey and fled.

13:30 While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: “Absalom has struck all the king’s sons; not a one of them is left!” 13:31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well.

13:32 Then Jonadab the son of Simeah, brother of David, said, “My lord should not say, ‘They have killed all the attendants, the king’s sons.’ For only Amnon is dead. For this is what Absalom has talked about¹⁷ from the day that Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar. 13:33 Now don’t let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, ‘All the king’s sons are dead.’ It is only Amnon who is dead.”

13:34 Now Absalom had fled. When the attendant who was the watchman looked up, he saw a great many people coming from the west¹⁸ on a road beside the hill. 13:35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look! The king’s sons come! It’s just like I said!”

13:36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived, wailing and weeping. The king and all his servants wept loudly¹⁹ as well. 13:37 But Absalom had fled and gone to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. But David²⁰ grieved over his son every day.

13:38 Now after Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three years. 13:39 The king’s spirit²¹ pined to go to Absalom, for he had since gained comfort over the death of²² Amnon.