The Koine Bible

And it came to pass after these things, that Absalom son of David had a sister, very beautiful in appearance, and her name was Tamar; and Amnon son of David loved her.

And Amnon was distressed so as to become sick because of Tamar his sister, for she was a virgin, and it was too difficult in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.

And Amnon had a companion, and his name was Jonadab, son of Shammah, David’s brother, and Jonadab was a very wise man

And he said to him, Why is it with you that you are thus weak, son of the king, morning by morning? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, Tamar, the sister of Absalom my brother, I love.

And Ionadab said to him, Lie down on your bed and make yourself sick, and your father will enter to see you, and you shall say to him, Let Tamar my sister come now and feed me and make food in my sight, so that I may see and eat from her hands.

And Amnon lay down and became sick, and the king came in to see him, and Amnon said to the king, Let Tamar my sister come now to me and let her make two cakes in my sight, and I will eat from her hand.

And David sent to Tamar to the house, saying, Go now to the house of Amnon your brother and make him food.

And Tamar went into the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down, and she took the dough, and kneaded it, and made the cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

And she took the pan and poured it out before him, and he was not willing to eat. And Amnon said, Send out every man from around me; and they sent out every man from around him.

And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the inner chamber, and I will eat from your hand. And Tamar took the cakes that she made and brought them in to Amnon her brother into the bedroom.

And she brought it near to him to eat, and he took hold of her and said to her, Come, lie down with me, my sister.

And she said to him, No, my brother, do not humble me, because it will not be done so in Israel; do not do this folly.

And I, where shall I carry away my reproach? And you will be like one of the fools in Israel. And now speak, indeed, to the king, because he will surely not withhold me from you.

And Amnon was not willing to listen to her voice, and he overpowered her and humbled her and lay with her

And Amnon hated her with very great hatred, because the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her; and Amnon said to her, Rise up and go.

And Tamar said to him, No, my brother, because the latter evil is greater than the first that you did with me, to send me away; but Amnon was not willing to listen to her voice.

And he called his young servant, the one in charge of his house, and said to him, Send this one away now from me outside, and shut the door behind her.

And on her was a long-sleeved tunic, for thus the daughters of the king, the virgins, used to clothe themselves with their outer garments; and his attendant brought her outside and shut the door behind her.

And Tamar took ashes and put it on her head, and the ornamented tunic that was on her she tore, and she put her hands on her head and went, going and crying out

And Absalom her brother said to her, Did not Amnon your brother come to be with you? And now, my sister, keep silent, because he is your brother; do not set your heart to speak about this matter. And Tamar sat desolate in the house of Absalom her brother.

And King David heard all these words, and he was very angry; but he did not grieve the spirit of Amnon his son, because he loved him, because he was his firstborn.

And Absalom did not speak with Amnon from bad to good, for Absalom hated Amnon because of the matter by which he had humbled Tamar his sister

And it came to pass at the end of two years, and they were shearing for Absalom in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim, and Absalom called all the sons of the king

And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold now, they are shearing for your servant; let the king now go and his servants with your servant.

And the king said to Abessalom, No, my son, let us not go all of us, and we shall not press heavily upon you. And he urged him, but he was not willing to go, and he blessed him.

And Absalom said, If not, let Amnon my brother please go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?

And Absalom pressed him, and he sent with him Amnon and all the sons of the king, and Absalom made a drinking feast like the king’s drinking feast.

And Absalom commanded his young men, saying, See when Amnon’s heart is made good with wine, and I say to you, Strike Amnon and put him to death; do not fear, because is it not I who command you? Be courageous and be men of valor.

And the young men of Abessalom did to Amnon as Abessalom had commanded them, and all the sons of the king arose and mounted, each man on his mule, and fled.

And it happened, while they were on the way, that the report came to David, saying, Absalom has struck all the sons of the king, and not one of them was left.

And the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants who were standing around him tore their garments.

And Jonadab son of Shammaah, David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord the king say that they have killed all the young men, the sons of the king, for Amnon alone is dead, because it was by Absalom’s command that he was lying from the day when he humbled Tamar his sister

And now let not my lord the king put the matter on his heart, saying, All the sons of the king have died, for only Amnon alone has died.

And Absalom fled, and the watchman lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, a great people was walking on the road behind him from the side of the mountain in the descent, and the watchman came and reported to the king and said, I have seen men from the way of Horonaim, from the part of the mountain.

And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the sons of the king are present; according to the word of your servant, so it has happened.

And it happened, when he had finished speaking, behold, the sons of the king came, and they lifted up their voice and wept; and indeed the king and all his servants also wept a very great weeping exceedingly.

And Abessalom fled and went to Tholmai son of Emiud, king of Gedsur, to the land of Machad; and king David mourned over his son all the days.

And Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and he was there three years.

And the spirit of the king ceased from going out after Abessalom, because he was comforted concerning Amnon, because he had died.