(KJV) 2 Samuel 131

<< 2 Samuel 12 2 Samuel 14 >>

⥃Amnon and Tamar

[1] And it came to pass after this, that Absalom2 the son of David had a fair sister3, whose name [was] Tamar4; and Amnon the son of David loved her5.6 [2] And Amnon was so vexed7, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon8 thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. [3] But Amnon had a friend9, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimea1011h David’s brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtil man. [4] And he said unto him, Why [art12] thou, [being] the king’s son, lean13 from day to day14? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother15 Absalom’s sister. [5] And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee16 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.

[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 me17 a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. [7] Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat. [8] So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took18 flour19, and kneaded [it], and made cakes20 in his sight, and did bake the cakes. [9] And she took a pan, and poured [them] out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon21 said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. [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. [11] And when she had brought [them] unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie22 with me, my sister. [12] And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me23; for no such thing ought24 to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly25. [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 therefore26, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. [14] Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her27, and lay with her.

[15] [¶]Then Amnon hated her28 exceedingly29; 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. [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. [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. [18] And [she had] a garment30 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.

[19] [¶]And Tamar put ashes31 on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that [was] on her, and laid her32 hand on her head, and went on crying. [20] And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon33 thy brother been with thee? but hold34 now thy peace, my sister: he [is] thy brother; regard not35 this thing. So Tamar remained desolate36 in her brother Absalom’s house.

[21] But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth37.383940 [22] And Absalom spake41 unto his brother Amnon neither good42 nor bad: for Absalom hated43 Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

⥃Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon

[23] [¶]And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers44 in Baal–hazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited45 all the king’s sons.46 [24] And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king47, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. [25] And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed48 him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed49 him. [26] Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother50 Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? [27] But Absalom51 pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

[28] [¶]Now Absalom had commanded52 his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry53 with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not54: have not I55 commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant56. [29] And the servants57 of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up58 upon his mule59, and fled.

[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. [31] Then the king arose60, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants61 stood by with their clothes rent. [32] And Jonadab62, the son of Shimea63h David’s brother64, 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 appointment65 of Absalom this hath been determined66 from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. [33] Now therefore let not my lord67 the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

⥃Absalom Flees to Geshur

[34] But Absalom fled68. 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. [35] And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.69 [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 sore70.

[37] [¶]But Absalom fled71, and went to Talmai72, the son of Ammihud73, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day. [38] So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.74 [39] And [the soul of75] king David longed76 to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted77 concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

<< 2 Samuel 12 2 Samuel 14 >>

  1. 2Sam 13:1, Amnon loving Tamar, by Jonadab’s counsel feigning himself sick, ravishes her; 2Sam 13:15, He hates her, and shamefully turns her away; 2Sam 13:19, Absalom entertains her, and conceals his purpose; 2Sam 13:23, At a sheep-shearing among all the king’s sons, he kills Amnon; 2Sam 13:31, David grieving at the news, is comforted by Jonadab; 2Sam 13:37, Absalom flies to Talmai at Geshur. ↩

  2. 2Sam 3:2-3; 1Chr 3:2 ↩

  3. 2Sam 11:2; Gen 6:2, Gen 39:6-7; Prov 6:25, Prov 31:30 ↩

  4. 2Sam 14:27; 1Chr 3:9 ↩

  5. 2Sam 13:15; Gen 29:18, Gen 29:20, Gen 34:3; 1Kgs 11:1 ↩

  6. am 2972, bc 1032, A.Ex, Is, 459 ↩

  7. 1Kgs 21:4; Song 5:8; 2Cor 7:10 ↩

  8. etc. Heb. it was marvellous, or hidden, in the eyes of Amnon ↩

  9. Gen 38:1, Gen 38:20; Judg 14:20; Esth 5:10, Esth 5:14, Esth 6:13; Prov 19:6 ↩

  10. 2Sam 13:32; 1Sam 16:9 ↩

  11. subtil man, 2Sam 14:2, 2Sam 14:19-20; Gen 3:1; Jer 4:22; 1Cor 3:19; Jas 3:15 ↩

  12. 1Kgs 21:7; Esth 5:13-14; Luke 12:32 ↩

  13. Heb. thin ↩

  14. Heb. morning by morning, I love. Isa 3:9; Jer 8:12; Mic 7:3 ↩

  15. Lev 18:9, Lev 20:17 ↩

  16. 2Sam 16:21-23, 2Sam 17:1-4; Ps 50:18-19; Prov 19:27; Mark 6:24-25; Acts 23:15 ↩

  17. Gen 18:6; Matt 13:33 ↩

  18. Dr. Russell says, "The Eastern ladies often wash their own hands, prepare cakes, pastry, etc. in their apartments; and some few particular dishes are cooked by themselves, but not in their apartments. On such occasions, they go to some room near the kitchen." ↩

  19. or, paste ↩

  20. Rather, as Mr. Parkhurst renders, "and tossed it (wattelabbaiv) in his sight, and dressed the tossed cakes (halleveevoth)." This will receive illustration from the account which Mr. Jackson gives of the Arabian manner of kneading and baking. "They have a small place built with clay, between two and three feet high, having a hole at the bottom for the convenience of drawing out the ashes, something similar to that of a brick-kiln. The oven is usually about fifteen inches wide at top, and gradually grows wider to the bottom. It is heated with wood; and when sufficiently hot, and perfectly clear from smoke, having nothing but clear embers at bottom, which continue to reflect great heat, they prepare the dough in a large bowl, and mould the cakes to the desired size on a board or stone placed near the oven. After they have kneaded the cake to a proper consistency, they pat it a little, then toss it about with great dexterity in one hand till it is as thin as they choose to make it. They then wet one side of it with water, at the same time wetting the hand and arm with which they put it into the oven." 2Sam 13:8 ↩

  21. Gen 45:1; Judg 3:19; John 3:20 ↩

  22. Gen 39:11-12 ↩

  23. Heb. humble me, Gen 34:2; Deut 22:29 ↩

  24. Heb. it ought not so, Lev 18:9, Lev 18:11, Lev 20:17 ↩

  25. Gen 34:7; Judg 19:23, Judg 20:6; Prov 5:22-23, Prov 7:7 ↩

  26. Gen 19:8; Judg 19:24 ↩

  27. 2Sam 12:11; Deut 22:25-27; Judg 20:5; Esth 7:8 ↩

  28. Ezek 23:17 ↩

  29. Heb. with great hatred greatly ↩

  30. Gen 37:3, Gen 37:32; Judg 5:30; Ps 45:13-14 ↩

  31. 2Sam 1:2; Josh 7:6; Job 2:12, Job 42:6 ↩

  32. Jer 2:37 ↩

  33. Heb. Aminon ↩

  34. Prov 26:24; Rom 12:19 ↩

  35. Heb. set not thine heart on ↩

  36. Heb. and desolate. Gen 34:2, Gen 46:15 ↩

  37. The Septuagint and Vulgate add, ↩

  38. και ουκ ελυπησε το πνευμα Αμνων του υιου αυτου, οτι ηγαπα αυτον, οτι πρωτοτοκος αυτου ην. ↩

  39. et noluit contristare spiritum Amnon filii sui, quoniam diligebat eum, quia primogenituj erat ei. ↩

  40. "But he would not grieve the soul of Amnon his son, for he loved him because he was his first-born." The same addition is found in Josephus; and it is probable that it once formed a part of the Hebrew Text. 2Sam 3:28-29, 2Sam 12:5, 2Sam 12:10; Gen 34:7; 1Sam 2:22-25, 1Sam 2:29; Ps 101:8 ↩

  41. Lev 19:17-18; Prov 25:9; Matt 18:15 ↩

  42. Gen 24:50, Gen 31:24, Gen 31:29 ↩

  43. Lev 19:17-18; Prov 10:18, Prov 26:24, Prov 27:4-6; Eccl 7:9; Eph 4:26, Eph 4:31; 1John 3:15 ↩

  44. Gen 38:12-13; 1Sam 25:2, 1Sam 25:4, 1Sam 25:36; 2Kgs 3:4; 2Chr 26:10 ↩

  45. 1Kgs 1:9, 1Kgs 1:19, 1Kgs 1:25 ↩

  46. am 2974, bc 1030, An, Ex, Is 461 ↩

  47. 2Sam 11:8-15; Ps 12:2, Ps 55:21; Jer 41:6-7 ↩

  48. Gen 19:2-3; Judg 19:7-10; Luke 14:23, Luke 24:29; Acts 16:15 ↩

  49. 2Sam 14:22 *marg. Ruth 2:4 ↩

  50. He urged this with the more plausibility because Amnon was the first-born, and presumptive heir to the crown; and he had dissembled his resentment so long and so well that he was not suspected. 2Sam 3:27, 2Sam 11:13-15, 2Sam 20:9; Ps 55:21 ↩

  51. Prov 26:24-26 ↩

  52. 2Sam 11:15; Exod 1:16-17; 1Sam 22:17-18; Acts 5:29 ↩

  53. 2Sam 11:13; Gen 9:21, Gen 19:32-35; Judg 19:6, Judg 19:9, Judg 19:22; Ruth 3:7; 1Sam 25:36-38; 1Kgs 20:16; Esth 1:10; Ps 104:15; Eccl 9:7, Eccl 10:19; Dan 5:2-6, Dan 5:30; Nah 1:10; Luke 21:34 ↩

  54. Num 22:16-17; 1Sam 28:10, 1Sam 28:13 ↩

  55. or, Will you not, since I have, etc. Josh 1:9 ↩

  56. Heb. sons of valour ↩

  57. 1Sam 22:18-19; 1Kgs 21:11-13; 2Kgs 1:9-12; Prov 29:12; Mic 7:3 ↩

  58. Heb. rode ↩

  59. 2Sam 18:9; Gen 36:24; Lev 19:19; 1Kgs 1:33 ↩

  60. 2Sam 12:16; Gen 37:29, Gen 37:34; Josh 7:6; Job 1:20 ↩

  61. 2Sam 1:11, 2Sam 3:31 ↩

  62. 2Sam 13:3-5 ↩

  63. 1Sam 16:9, Shammah ↩

  64. This was a very bad man. He had given his cousin Amnon the most detestable advice; and here speaks coolly of a most bloody tragedy of which he had been the cause. ↩

  65. Heb. mouth ↩

  66. or, settled, Gen 27:41; Ps 7:14; Prov 24:11-12 ↩

  67. 2Sam 19:19 ↩

  68. 2Sam 13:38; Gen 4:8-14; Prov 28:17; Amos 5:19 ↩

  69. as they servant said, Heb. according to the word of thy servant, 2Sam 13:35 ↩

  70. Heb. with a great weeping greatly, 2Sam 13:15 *marg. 2Sam 12:21, 2Sam 18:33 ↩

  71. As Absalom had committed wilful murder, he could not avail himself of a city of refuge; but went to Talmai, king of Geshur, his maternal grandfather. ↩

  72. 2Sam 3:3; 1Chr 3:2 ↩

  73. or, Ammihur ↩

  74. am 2974-2977, bc 1030-1027, An, Ex, Is, 461-464, Geshur. This was not the Geshur lying between Philistia and Egypt (Josh 13:13. 1Sam 27:8), but another in Syria; probably the same as that beyond Jordan, whose inhabitants are joined with those of Maachathi, Deut 3:14. Josh 12:5. 2Sam 14:23, 2Sam 14:32, 2Sam 15:8 ↩

  75. Gen 31:30; Deut 28:32; Phil 2:26 ↩

  76. or, was consumed, Ps 84:2, Ps 119:20 ↩

  77. 2Sam 12:23; Gen 24:67, Gen 37:35, Gen 38:12 ↩