Jonadab

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

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.

NoteKings back then often had more than one wife. So Amnon and Absalom had the same father but different mothers. Tamar was Absalom's full sister and Amnon's half sister.

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

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 anything to her.

NoteA king's daughters who were not married lived in their own part of the palace. Servants watched over them. A man could not just walk in and visit.

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.

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

NoteShimeah was David's brother, so Jonadab was Amnon's cousin. The old word for him is "subtil." It means clever in a sneaky way, not kind.

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."

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.

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."

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.

NoteIn the old Bible the word "meat" meant any food at all. It did not only mean meat from an animal.

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."

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.

NoteThese cakes were small flat rounds of bread. They were not sweet like a birthday cake.

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."

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.

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.

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

NoteTearing your clothes and lying on the ground showed the worst kind of sadness. David thought all his sons had been killed.

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."

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.

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

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.

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

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.

NoteA watchman stood up high on the wall. His job was to look down the roads and tell the king who was coming.

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

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

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.

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.