2 Samuel

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.

1Some time later, David's son Amnon fell in love with Tamar. Tamar was the beautiful sister of Absalom, another son of David.

2And 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 anything to her.

2Amnon wanted Tamar so much that he made himself sick. She was not married, and she was carefully watched. Amnon could see no way to get near her.

3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

3Amnon had a friend named Jonadab. Jonadab was the son of Shimeah, who was David's brother. Jonadab was very clever at getting his way.

4And 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.

4Jonadab asked him, "You are the king's son. Why do you look so worn out every day? Won't you tell me?" Amnon said, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

5And 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.

5Jonadab said, "Lie down in bed and pretend you are sick. When your father comes to see you, ask him to send Tamar. Say she should fix food while you watch, and feed it to you."

NoteIn 1611 English, "meat" meant food of any kind, not just meat from animals.

6So 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.

6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. The king came to see him. Amnon said, "Please let my sister Tamar come. Let her make two cakes while I watch, and feed me."

7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.

7So David sent word home to Tamar. He said, "Go to your brother Amnon's house. Make some food for him."

8So 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.

8Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house. He was lying down. She took flour and mixed dough. She made the cakes while he watched, and baked them.

9And 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.

9She took the pan and poured them out in front of him. But he would not eat. Amnon said, "Send everyone out of here." So every man left the room.

10And 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.

10Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into my bedroom, and feed me." Tamar took the cakes she had made. She carried them to her brother's bedroom.

11And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

11She brought them to him to eat. He grabbed hold of her and said, "Come and lie with me, my sister."

12And 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.

12She answered, "No, my brother. Do not force me. Such a thing must never be done in Israel. Do not do this shameful thing."

13And 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.

13"Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be called a fool in Israel. Please talk to the king. He will not keep me from you."

14Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

14But Amnon would not listen to her. He was stronger than she was. He forced her and lay with her.

15Then 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.

15Then Amnon hated Tamar. His hate for her was even stronger than his love had been. Amnon said to her, "Get up. Get out."

16And 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.

16She said, "No. Sending me away is even worse than what you have already done to me." But he would not listen to her.

17Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

17He called the servant who waited on him. He said, "Put this woman out of here. Lock the door behind her."

18And 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.

18Tamar was wearing a long robe of many colors. The king's daughters who were not married wore robes like that. The servant put her out and locked the door.

NoteThe robe "of divers colours" was a long, fancy robe of many colors. It showed that the girl wearing it was a daughter of the king who was not yet married.

19And 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.

19Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore the colored robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away crying out loud.

NotePutting ashes on your head, tearing your clothes, and laying a hand on your head were ways people showed deep grief. Others could see the sorrow right away.

20And 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.

20Her brother Absalom asked, "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Stay quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not keep thinking about it." So Tamar lived alone and heartbroken in her brother Absalom's house.

21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

21King David heard about everything that had happened. He was very angry.

22And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

22Absalom never said a word to Amnon, good or bad. He hated Amnon for forcing his sister Tamar.

23And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

23Two whole years went by. Absalom had workers cutting the wool off his sheep at Baal-hazor, near Ephraim. He invited all the king's sons to come.

24And 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.

24Absalom came to the king and said, "Your servant has workers cutting wool. Please come with me, my king, and bring your servants."

25And 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.

25The king said, "No, my son. We should not all go. We would cost you too much." Absalom kept asking, but David would not go. He said a blessing over him instead.

26Then 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?

26Then Absalom said, "If you will not come, please let my brother Amnon go with us." The king asked, "Why should he go with you?"

27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

27But Absalom kept begging. So the king let Amnon and all his other sons go with him.

28Now 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.

28Absalom had already given his servants an order. He said, "Watch until the wine has made Amnon happy. When I say, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not be afraid. I am the one giving the order. Be brave and strong."

29And 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.

29Absalom's servants did to Amnon just what Absalom had told them. Then all the king's other sons jumped up. Each one got on his mule and ran away.

30And 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.

30While they were still on the road, news came to David. Someone said, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons. Not one of them is left."

31Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

31The king stood up and tore his clothes. He lay down on the ground. All his servants stood near him with their clothes torn too.

32And 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.

32Then Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, spoke up. He said, "My lord, do not think all your sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom planned this from the day Amnon forced his sister Tamar."

33Now 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.

33"So do not believe the news that all your sons are dead, my king. Only Amnon is dead."

34But 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.

34Meanwhile Absalom had run away. The young man keeping watch looked up. He saw many people coming down the road along the hillside.

35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

35Jonadab said to the king, "Look, your sons are coming. It is just as I told you."

36And 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.

36As soon as he finished speaking, the king's sons came in. They cried out loud. The king and all his servants cried very hard too.

37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

37Absalom ran away to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. David grieved for his son every day.

38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

38So Absalom ran away and went to Geshur. He stayed there for three years.

39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

39King David wanted very much to go to Absalom. He had stopped grieving over Amnon, since Amnon was dead.