1: And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son
of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of
David loved her. |
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2: And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister
Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any
thing to her. |
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3:
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. |
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4: And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean
from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love
Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. |
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5: And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make
thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I
pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the
meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. |
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6: So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king
was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my
sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat
at her hand. |
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7: Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother
Amnon's house, and dress him meat. |
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8: So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid
down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight,
and did bake the cakes. |
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9: And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he
refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went
out every man from him. |
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10: And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber,
that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had
made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. |
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11: And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold
of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. |
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12: And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for
no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. |
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13: And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee,
thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee,
speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. |
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14: Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being
stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. |
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15: Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred
wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved
her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. |
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16: And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in
sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But
he would not hearken unto her. |
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17: Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and
said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. |
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18: And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with
such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then
his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. |
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19: And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of
divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went
on crying. |
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20: And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother
been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother;
regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother
Absalom's house. |
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21: But when king David heard of all these things, he was very
wroth. |
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22: And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor
bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
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23: And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had
sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom
invited all the king's sons. |
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24: And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy
servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his
servants go with thy servant. |
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25: And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now
go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he
would not go, but blessed him. |
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26: Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon
go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? |
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27: But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's
sons go with him. |
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28: Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now
when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite
Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous
and be valiant. |
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29: And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon
his mule, and fled. |
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30: And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings
came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there
is not one of them left. |
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31: Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the
earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. |
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32: And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and
said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the
king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom
this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
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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 Amnon only is
dead. |
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34: But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch
lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by
the way of the hill side behind him. |
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35: And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come:
as thy servant said, so it is. |
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36: And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end
of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted
up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his
servants wept very sore. |
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37: But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud,
king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. |
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38: So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three
years. |
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39: And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom:
for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. |