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13  Muri iho i enei mea, na he tuahine to Apoharama tama a Rawiri, ko Tamara te ingoa, he attahua; a i arohaina ia e Amoanono tama a Rawiri.

Na ngaua kinotia ana a Amanono, no ka mate ia mo tona tuahine, mo Tamara, he wahine hoki ia, a ki te whakaaro o Amanono he he rawa ki te meatia tetahi mea ki a ia.

He hoa ia to Amanono, tona ingoa ko Ionarapa, he tama na Himea, na tetahi o nga tuakana o Rawiri; he tangata murere rawa ano a Ionarapa.

Na ka mea ia ki a ia, He aha koe, e te tama a te kingi, i penei ai te kikokore i tenei ata, i tenei ata? e kore ianei koe e whakaatu ki ahau? Ano ra ko Amanono ki a ia, E aroha ana ahau ki a Tamara, ki te tuahine o Apoharama, o toku teina.

Na ka mea a Ionarapa ki a ia, Takoto i runga i tou moenga, ka whakamatemate hoki i a koe, a ka tae mai tou papa kia kite i a koe, na ka mea ki a ia, Kia haere mai toku tuahine, a Tamara ki te whangai i ahau ki te kai, ki te taka hoki i te kai i t aku tirohanga, kia kite atu ai ahau, kia kai ai i ta tona ringa.

Heoi ka takoto a Amanono, ka whakamatemate; a, i te taenga mai o te kingi kia kite i a ia, ka mea a Amanono ki te kingi, Tena kia haere mai a Tamara, toku tuahine ki te hanga i etahi keke i taku tirohanga, kia rua, a ka kai ahau i ta tona ringa.

Katahi ka tono tangata a Rawiri ki te whare ki a Tamara, ka mea, Tena, haere ki te whare o tou tungane, o Amanono, ki te taka kai mana.

Heoi haere ana a Tamara ki te whare o tona tungane, o Amanono, a i te takoto tera: na ka mau ia ki te paraoa, a pokepokea ana, hanga ana hei keke i tana tirohanga, na tunua ana e ia nga keke.

Na kua mau ia ki te parai, ringihia ana e ia ki tona aroaro: heoi ka whakaparahako tera ki te kai. Na ka mea a Amanono, Kia mawehe katoa atu nga tangata i ahau. Na ka mawehe katoa nga tangata i a ia.

10 Na ka mea a Amanono ki a Tamara, Maua ake te kai na ki te whare moenga, a ma tou ringa ahau e whangai. Na ka mau a Tamara ki nga keke i hanga e ia, a kawea ana ki a Amanono, ki tona tungane, ki te whare moenga.

11 A, i tana kawenga ki a ia kia kainga, na ka hopu tera i a ia, ka mea, Haere mai, taua ka takoto tahi, e toku tuahine.

12 Na ka mea ia ki a ia, Kauaka, e toku tungane, kaua ahau e whakaititia, kahore hoki he mahi penei i roto i a Iharaira; kati ra tenei mahi wairangi.

13 Ko ahau hoki, kei hea he hunanga mo toku whakama? a ka rite koe ki tetahi o te hunga wairangi o Iharaira. Engari ra korero ki te kingi; e kore hoki ahau e kaiponuhia e ia ki a koe.

14 Heoi kihai ia i pai ki te whakarongo ki tona reo: na he kaha rawa ia i a ia, a whakaititia ana ia e ia, a takotoria ana e ia.

15 Katahi ka nui atu te kino i kino ai a Amanono ki a ia; nui atu te kino i kino ai ia ki a ia i te aroha i aroha ai ia ki a ia. A ka mea a Amanono ki a ia, Whakatika, haere.

16 Na ka mea tera ki a ia, Kahore he rawa; nui atu te kino o tenei tononga i ahau i tera i meatia e koe ki ahau. Otiia kihai ia i pai ki te whakarongo ki a ia.

17 Katahi ka karangatia e ia tana tangata i mahi nei ki a ia, a ka mea, Tonoa atu tenei wahine i toku aroaro ki waho, whakarawatia hoki te tatau i muri i a ia.

18 Na he kakahu purepure to te wahine, he pera hoki nga koroka i kakahuria ai nga tamahine wahine a te kingi. Katahi ka kawea ia e tana tangata ki waho, a whakarawatia ana te tatau i muri i a ia.

19 Na ka opehia e Tamara he pungarehu ki runga ki tona matenga, a haea ana e ia tona kakahu purepure, taupokina iho ona ringa ki runga ki tona matenga, a haere ana, me te aue haere.

20 Na ka mea a Apoharama tona tungane ki a ia, I a koe tou tungane a Amanono? tena, noho puku, e toku tuahine; ko tou tungane hoki ia, kaua tou ngakau e mea ki tenei mea. Na noho ana a Tamara, whakapouaru ana i te whare o tona tungane, o Apoharama.

21 I te rongonga ia o Kingi Rawiri i enei mea katoa, nui rawa tona riri.

22 Na kahore a Apoharama kupu ki a Amanono, ahakoa pai, ahakoa kino: e mauahara ana hoki a Apoharama ki a Amanono, mona i whakaiti i tona tuahine i a Tamara.

23 A, e rua rawa tau i muri, na he kaikutikuti hipi a Apoharama i Paara Hatoro, i te taha o Eparaima, a karangatia ana e Apoharama nga tama katoa a te kingi.

24 Na ka haere a Apoharama ki te kingi, a ka mea, Nana, he kaikutikuti enei a tau pononga, na kia haere te kingi ratou ko ana pononga hei hoa mo tau pononga.

25 Na ka mea te kingi ki a Apoharama, Kauaka, e taku tama, kaua matou katoa e haere, kei taimaha koe i a matou. Na tohe ana ia ki a ia: otiia kihai tera i pai ki te haere; engari i manaaki i a ia.

26 Katahi ka mea a Apoharama, Ki te kore, tukua toku tuakana a Amanono, kia haere tahi matou. Na ka mea te kingi, Kia haere ia i a koe hei aha?

27 Ka tohe ia a Apoharama ki a ia, a ka tukua e ia a Amanono ratou ko nga tama katoa a te kingi hei hoa mona.

28 Na i whakahau a Apoharama i ana tangata, i mea, E kite koutou i te ngakau o Amanono e koa ana i te waina, a ka mea ahau ki a koutou, Patua a Amanono, na me whakamate, kaua e wehi; he teka ianei naku koutou i whakahau? kia maia, kia toa.

29 A rite tonu ta nga tangata a Apoharama i mea ai ki a Amanono ki ta Apoharama i whakahau ai. Katahi ka whakatika katoa nga tama a te kingi, a eke ana ki tona muera, ki tona muera, a rere ana.

30 I a ratou ano i te ara, ka tae te rongo ki a Rawiri, ka korerotia, Kua patua e Apoharama nga tama katoa a te kingi, kihai hoki tetahi o ratou i mahue.

31 Katahi ka whakatika te kingi, a haea ana e ia ona kakahu, takoto ana ki te whenua; me te tu ano ana tangata katoa, he mea haehae nga kakahu.

32 Na ka oho a Ionarapa tama a Himea, a te tuakana o Rawiri, ka ki, Kei mea toku ariki, ko nga taitama katoa, ko nga tama a te kingi kua whakamatea nei; engari ko Amanono anake i mate: ko ta Apoharama hoki tenei i karanga ai, he mea whakatakoto no te ra ano i whakaiti ai tera i tona tuahine, i a Tamara.

33 Na, tena, kaua te ngakau o toku ariki, o te kingi e mea ki taua mea, e whakaaro, Ko nga tama katoa a te kingi kua mate: kahore, ko Amanono anake i mate.

34 Rere ana ia a Apoharama. Na, ko te marangatanga o nga kanohi o te tamaiti e tutei atu ana, ka titiro, na he nui te hunga e haere mai ana i te ara i te taha o te puke i tona tuara.

35 Na ka mea a Ionarapa ki te kingi, Nana, ko nga tama a te kingi te haere mai nei; e rite ana ki ta tau pononga i mea ai.

36 Mutu kau tana korero, na ko te haerenga mai o nga tama a te kingi, a nui atu to ratou reo ki te tangi: a nui atu te tangi i tangi ai te kingi ratou ko ana tangata katoa.

37 Rere ana ia a Apoharama, a haere ana ki a Taramai tama a Amihuru, kingi o Kehuru. Ko Rawiri ia, tangihia ana e ia tana tama i nga ra katoa.

38 Heoi rere ana a Apoharama, haere ana ki Kehuru, a e toru ona tau ki reira.

39 Na ka koingo te ngakau o Kingi Rawiri kia haere ki a Apoharama: kua marie hoki ia ki a Amonono, i te mea kua mate ia.

14  Na ka kite a Ioapa tama a Teruia e anga ana te ngakau o te kingi ki a Apoharama,

Ka tono tangata a Ioapa ki Tekoa ki te tiki i tetahi wahine mohio i reira, a ka mea ki a ia, Me mea koe i a koe he wahine e tangi tupapaku ana, me kakahu he kakahu taua, kaua ano e whakawahi i a koe ki te hinu; engari kia rite ki te wahine kua ta ngi noa ake ki te tupapaku.

A haere ki te kingi, a ko enei nga kupu mau ki a ia. Heoi hoatu ana e Ioapa nga kupu ki tona mangai.

Na korerotia ana e te wahine o Tekoa ki te kingi, me te tapapa ano ki te whenua, me te piko ano. I mea hoki, Whakaorangia, e te kingi.

Na ka mea te kingi ki a ia, He aha tou mate? a ka ki tera, He wahine pouaru nei ahau, kua mate hoki taku tahu.

Na tokorua nga tama a tau pononga, heoi whawhai ana raua ki a raua i te parae, a kahore he kaiwawao mo raua. Na patua iho tetahi e tetahi, a mate iho.

Na ka whakatika nga whanaunga katoa ki tau pononga, e mea ana, Homai te kaipatu i tona teina kia whakamatea hei utu mo te matenga o tona teina, i patua nei e ia, a ka huna e matou te tangata mona te kainga. Na ka keto i a ratou taku ngarahu i te toe, a kahore noa iho e mahue he ingoa mo taku tahu, he toenga ranei i te mata o te whenua.

Na ka mea te kingi ki te wahine, Haere ki tou whare, a maku nga tikanga mo tau mea.

Na ka mea taua wahine o Tekoa ki te kingi, Hei runga i ahau te kino, e toku ariki, e te kingi, hei runga ano hoki i te whare o toku papa: kia harakore ia te kingi me tona torona.

10 Na ka mea te kingi, Ki te korero tetahi ki a koe, kawea mai ia ki ahau, a e kore ia e pa ki a koe i muri iho.

11 Katahi ia ka mea, Kia mahara ra te kingi ki a Ihowa, ki tou Atua, kia kaua te kaitakitaki toto e whakangaro a mua ake, kei huna taku tama. Na ka ki ia, E ora ana a Ihowa e kore tetahi makawe o tau tama e taka ki te whenua.

12 Na ka mea taua wahine, Tena, kia korerotia e tau pononga tetahi kupu ki toku ariki, ki te kingi. Ano ra ko ia, Korero.

13 Na ka mea taua wahine, He aha ra koe i he ai ki te iwi a te Atua, i whakaaro ai i tenei mea? i te kingi hoki e korero ana i tenei mea, e rite ana ia ki te tangata kua he, i te kingi e kore nei e whakahoki mai i tana i peia atu ra.

14 Mo te mate nei hoki tatou, a ka rite ki te wai i maringi ki te whenua, kahore nei e kohikohia ake; na kahore te Atua e tango atu ana i te ora, engari e whakaaro ana i nga whakaaro e kore ai e peia rawatia atu i a ia te mea i peia.

15 Koia ahau i haere mai ai ki te korero i tenei mea ki te kingi, ki toku ariki, he wehi noku i ta te iwi; koia tau pononga i mea ai, Me korero ahau ki te kingi; tera pea te kingi e mea i ta tana pononga e korero ai.

16 Tera hoki te kingi e rongo, e whakaora i tana pononga i te ringa o te tangata e huna ai maua tahi ko taku tama i to te Atua wahi tupu.

17 Koia tau pononga i mea ai, Akuanei he whakamarie te kupu a toku ariki, a te kingi; e rite ana hoki toku ariki, te kingi ki te anahera a te Atua, hei whakarongo ki te pai, ki te kino; hei hoa ano mou a Ihowa, te Atua.

18 Na ka whakahoki te kingi, ka mea ki te wahine, Na, kaua e huna ki ahau te kupu e uia e ahau ki a koe. Na ka mea te wahine, Tena, kia korero toku ariki, te kingi.

19 Na ka mea te kingi, Kahore ianei te ringa o Ioapa i a koe i tenei mea katoa? Ano ra ko te wahine, i mea ia, E ora ana tou wairua, e toku ariki, e te kingi, ina, kahore he tahuritanga mo tetahi ki matau, ki maui, i nga kupu katoa i korero ai toku ariki, te kingi: na tau pononga hoki, na Ioapa, nana ahau i whakahau, nana hoki i homai enei kupu katoa ki te mangai o tau pononga.

20 He whakaahua ke i te tikanga o tenei korero i mea ai tau pononga, a Ioapa i tenei mea: a he mohio toku ariki, he pera me te mohio o te anahera a te Atua, he mohio ki nga mea katoa o te whenua.

21 Na ka mea te kingi ki a Ioapa, Na kua meatia nei tenei mea e ahau: tikina, whakahokia mai taua tamaiti, a Apoharama.

22 Na ka tapapa a Ioapa ki te whenua, ka piko, ka whakapai i te kingi: i mea ano a Ioapa, No tenei ra tau pononga i mohio ai e manakohia ana ahau e koe, e toku ariki, e te kingi, no te kingi hoki ka whakamana i te kupu a tana pononga.

23 Heoi whakatika ana a Ioapa, a haere ana ki Kehuru, a kawea ana e ia a Apoharama ki Hiruharama.

24 Na ka mea te kingi, Kia tahuri atu ia ki tona whare, kaua hoki ia e kite i toku kanohi. Na tahuri ana a Apoharama ki tona whare, kihai hoki i kite i te kanohi o te kingi.

25 Na kahore he rite mo Apoharama, te korerotia tona ataahua i roto i a Iharaira katoa: kahore ona koha i te kapu o tona waewae a tae noa ki tona tumuaki.

26 A ka kutikutia e ia tona matenga; i kutikutia hoki e ia i te takanga o te tau: he taimaha hoki nona koia i kutikutia ai: na ka paunatia e ia nga makawe o tona matenga, e rua rau nga hekere o ta te kingi pauna.

27 A tokotoru nga tama i whanau ma Apoharama, kotahi hoki te kotiro, ko tona ingoa ko Tamara; he wahine kanohi ataahua ano ia.

28 Na e rua tino tau i noho ai a Apoharama ki Hiruharama, a kihai i i kitea e ia te kanohi o te kingi.

29 Na ka tono tangata a Apoharama ki a Ioapa, he mea kia tonoa ia ki te kingi; heoi kihai tera i pai ki te haere mai ki a ia. Na ka tono ano ia, otiia kihai tera i pai ki te haere mai.

30 Na reira ka mea ia ki ana pononga, Nana, tata tonu ki toku to Ioapa wahi whenua, he parei ano tana kei reira; tikina tahuna ki te ahi. Na kua tahuna e nga tangata a Apoharama ki te ahi.

31 Na ka whakatika a Ioapa, a haere ana ki a Apoharama ki te whare, a ka mea ki a ia, He aha i tahuna ai toku wahi e au tangata ki te ahi?

32 Na ka mea a Apoharama ki a Ioapa, Nana, i tono tangata ahau ki a koe, i mea, Haere mai ki konei kia tonoa ai koe e ahau ki te kingi hei mea, Mo te aha ahau i haere mai ai i Kehuru? He pai ke moku me i noho tonu ahau ki reira; ko tenei kia kite a hau i te kanohi o te kingi; a ki te mea he kino toku, me whakamate ahau e ia.

33 Heoi haere ana a Ioapa ki te kingi, ki te korero ki a ia. Na ka karangatia a Apoharama e ia, a Haere ana ia ki te kingi. Na piko ana ia ki a ia, ahu ana tona mata ki te whenua i te aroaro o te kingi: a kihia ana a Apoharama e te kingi.

15  Na, muri iho i tenei ka mea hariata a Apoharama mona, me etahi hoiho, me nga tangata e rima tekau hei rere i tona aroaro.

Na ka maranga wawe a Apoharama, a ka tu ki te taha o te huarahi, ki te kuwaha, na ki te mea he take ta tetahi tangata e tika ana kia tae ki te kingi kia whakaritea, ka karanga a Apoharama ki a ia, ka mea, No tehea pa koe? A ka pea tera, No tetahi o nga iwi o Iharaira tau pononga.

Na ka mea a Apoharama ki a ia, Nana, he pai au korero, he tika; heoi kahore he tangata a te kingi hei whakarongo ki a koe.

I mea ano a Apoharama, Aue, me i tu ahau hei kaiwhakarite mo te whenua, a ka tae mai ki ahau nga tangata katoa he take nei ta ratou, he whakawa, ina ka whakarite tika ahau ki a ia!

Na ka whakatata mai he tangata ka piko ki a ia, na ka totoro tona ringa ka hopu i a ia, ka kihi i a ia.

Penei tonu te mahi a Apoharama ki a Iharaira katoa, i haere mai ki te kingi kia whakaritea he whakawa; na tahaetia ana e Apoharama nga ngakau o nga tangata o Iharaira.

Na, ka pau nga tau e wha, ka mea a Apoharama ki te kingi, Tukua ahau kia haere ki te whakamana i aku kupu taurangi, ki Heperona, i puaki ra i ahau ki a Ihowa.

I puaki hoki te kupu taurangi a tau pononga i ahau e noho ana i Kehuru i Hiria; i mea ahau, Ki te whakahokia ahau e Ihowa ki Hiruharama, katahi ahau ka mahi ki a Ihowa.

Na ka mea te kingi ki a ia, Haere marie. Na whakatika ana ia, a haere ana ki Heperona.

10 Otiia ka tono tutei a Apoharama puta noa i nga iwi katoa o Iharaira, hei mea, Rongo kau koutou i te tangi o te tetere, ko reira koutou ka mea, Ko Apoharama te kingi kei Heperona.

11 E rua rau ano nga tangata i haere tahi i a Apoharama i Hiruharama, he hunga i karangatia: otiia he haere noa ta ratou, kihai hoki i mohio ki tetahi mea.

12 I tikina ano e Apoharama a Ahitopere Kironi, te kaiwhakatakoto whakaaro a Rawiri i tona pa i Kiroho, i a ia ano e patu ana i nga patunga tapu. Na kua kaha te whakapiko; i tini haere hoki nga tangata a Apoharama.

13 Na ko te taenga o tetahi kaikorero ki a Rawiri, ko tana kupu, Kei te whai i a Apoharama nga ngakau o nga tangata o Iharaira.

14 Na ka mea a Rawiri ki ana tangata katoa i tona taha i Hiruharama, Whakatika, ka rere tatou; kei kore hoki he mawhititanga atu mo tetahi o tatou i te aroaro o Apoharama: hohoro te haere, kei hohoro mai ia, a ka mau tatou; na ka akina mai e ia he kino ki a tatou, a ka tukitukia te pa ki te mata o te hoari.

15 Na ka mea nga tangata a te kingi ki te kingi, Tenei au pononga hei mea i nga mea katoa e whakarite ai toku ariki, te kingi.

16 Na haere ana te kingi me tona whare katoa i muri i a ia. Na i mahue i te kingi tekau nga wahine, he wahine iti nana, hei tiaki i te whare.

17 A haere ana te kingi ratou ko te iwi katoa i muri i a ia, a whanga ana i Petemerehaka.

18 I haere atu ano ana tangata katoa i tona taha; i haere atu ano hoki i mua i te kingi, nga Kereti katoa, nga Pereti katoa, me nga Kiti katoa; nga rau e ono i whai mai nei i a ia i Kata.

19 Na ka mea te kingi ki a Itai Kiti, He aha koe i haere mai ai i a matou? hoki atu, e noho i te kingi: he tangata ke hoki koe, he noho ke i tou whenua.

20 Nonanahi noa nei koe i tae mai ai, a kia mea ahau i a koe i tenei ra kia kopikopiko noa iho i a matou, i taku haere noa atu? Hoki atu, whakahokia ano ou teina; kia whai tahi te pono me te aroha i a koe.

21 Na ka whakahoki a Itai ki te kingi, ka mea, E ora ana a Ihowa, e ora ana hoki toku ariki te kingi, na, ko te wahi e noho ai toku ariki, te kingi, ahakoa i te mate, ahakoa i te ora, ko reira ano tau pononga.

22 Ano ra ko Rawiri ki a Itai, Hoatu, whiti atu. Na whiti ana a Itai Kiti, ratou ko ana tangata katoa me nga tamariki katoa i a ia.

23 Nui atu hoki te reo i tangi ai te whenua katoa, a ka whiti atu te iwi katoa; i whiti atu hoki te kingi i te awaawa o Kitirono, a i whiti atu ano te iwi katoa i te huarahi e tika ana ki te koraha.

24 Ko Haroko ano tera, me nga Riwaiti katoa e amo ana i te aaka o te kawenata a te Atua: na ka whakatakotoria te aaka a te Atua; na ka piki a Apiatara, a poto noa te iwi katoa te whiti atu i roto i te pa.

25 Na ka mea te kingi ki a Haroko, Whakahokia te aaka a te Atua ki te pa: ki te manakohia ahau e Ihowa, ka whakahokia ahau, a ka whakakitea taua aaka me tona nohoanga ki ahau.

26 A ki te mea ia ki ahau, Kahore ahau e pai ki a koe; tenei ahau, mana e mea ki ahau te mea e pai ana ki tana titiro.

27 I mea ano te kingi ki a Haroko tohunga, Ehara ianei koe i te matakite? hoki marie ki te pa, koutou ko a korua tama tokorua, ara tau tama a Ahimaata, me Honatana tama a Apiatara.

28 Nana, me tatari ahau ki nga kauanga i te koraha, kia tae ake ra ano he korero i a korua hei whakaatu tikanga ki ahau.

29 Na whakahokia ana te aaka a te Atua e Haroko raua ko Apiatara ki Hiruharama, a noho ana raua i reira.

30 Na piki atu ana a Rawiri i te pikitanga o Maunga Oriwa, me te tangi, me te piki haere; hipoki rawa tona matenga, kahore hoki ona hu i a ia e haere ana: na, ko nga tangata katoa i a ia, hipoki rawa te matenga o tenei, o tenei; heoi piki ana ratou, me te tangi ano i a ratou e piki ana.

31 Na ka korero tetahi ki a Rawiri, ka mea, Kei roto a Ahitopere i nga kaiwhakatupu i te he, kei a Apoharama. Na ka mea a Rawiri, Tena ra, e Ihowa, whakakuwaretia nga whakaaro o Ahitopere.

32 A, no te ekenga o Rawiri ki te tihi, ki te wahi e koropiko ai ki te Atua, na, ko Huhai Araki ka whakatau i a ia, he mea haehae tona kakahu, me te oneone i runga i tona matenga.

33 Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a ia, Ki te haere tahi tatou, hei whakaware kau koe ki ahau:

34 Engari ki te hoki koe ki te pa, a ka mea ki a Apoharama, Hei pononga ahau mau, e te kingi, he pononga ahau na tou papa i mua, inaianei hei pononga ahau mau: penei mau e whakataka te whakaaro o Ahitopere moku.

35 Kahore ianei i reira hei hoa mou a Haroko raua ko Apiatara nga tohunga? na, ko nga mea katoa e rongo ai koe ki te whare o te kingi, mau e whakaatu ki nga tohunga, ki a Haroko raua ko Apiatara.

36 Na kei reira, kei a raua tonu a raua tama tokorua, a Ahimaata, ta Haroko, a Honatana, ta Apiatara; me unga hei kawe mai ki ahau i nga mea katoa e rongo ai koutou.

37 Na haere ana a Huhai, te hoa o Rawiri ki te pa, a ka tae hoki a Apoharama ki Hiruharama.

Amnon and Tamar

13 In the course of time, Amnon(A) son of David fell in love with Tamar,(B) the beautiful sister of Absalom(C) son of David.

Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah,(D) David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”

Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

“Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’”

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand.”

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.

“Send everyone out of here,”(E) Amnon said. So everyone left him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. 11 But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed(F) her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.”(G)

12 “No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel!(H) Don’t do this wicked thing.(I) 13 What about me?(J) Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” 14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.(K)

15 Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”

16 “No!” she said to him. “Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me.”

But he refused to listen to her. 17 He called his personal servant and said, “Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door after her.” 18 So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing an ornate[a] robe,(L) for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore. 19 Tamar put ashes(M) on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.

20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.

21 When King David heard all this, he was furious.(N) 22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad;(O) he hated(P) Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.

Absalom Kills Amnon

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers(Q) were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his attendants please join me?”

25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go but gave him his blessing.

26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.”

The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.

28 Absalom(R) ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high(S) spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.(T) 29 So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.

30 While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.” 31 The king stood up, tore(U) his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33 My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.

Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, “I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill.”[b]

35 Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come; it has happened just as your servant said.”

36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly.

37 Absalom fled and went to Talmai(V) son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.

38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom,(W) for he was consoled(X) concerning Amnon’s death.

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

14 Joab(Y) son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. So Joab sent someone to Tekoa(Z) and had a wise woman(AA) brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions.(AB) Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab(AC) put the words in her mouth.

When the woman from Tekoa went[c] to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”

The king asked her, “What is troubling you?”

She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death(AD) for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir(AE) as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left,(AF) leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”

The king said to the woman, “Go home,(AG) and I will issue an order in your behalf.”

But the woman from Tekoa said to him, “Let my lord the king pardon(AH) me and my family,(AI) and let the king and his throne be without guilt.(AJ)

10 The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me, and they will not bother you again.”

11 She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger(AK) of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.”

“As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair(AL) of your son’s head will fall to the ground.(AM)

12 Then the woman said, “Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.”

“Speak,” he replied.

13 The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself,(AN) for the king has not brought back his banished son?(AO) 14 Like water(AP) spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die.(AQ) But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person(AR) does not remain banished from him.

15 “And now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; perhaps he will grant his servant’s request. 16 Perhaps the king will agree to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who is trying to cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’(AS)

17 “And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king secure my inheritance, for my lord the king is like an angel(AT) of God in discerning(AU) good and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’”

18 Then the king said to the woman, “Don’t keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you.”

“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman said.

19 The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab(AV) with you in all this?”

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. 20 Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom(AW) like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.(AX)

21 The king said to Joab, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

22 Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor, and he blessed the king.(AY) Joab said, “Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant’s request.”

23 Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24 But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.

25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 26 Whenever he cut the hair of his head(AZ)—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels[d] by the royal standard.

27 Three sons(BA) and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar,(BB) and she became a beautiful woman.

28 Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley(BC) there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house, and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?(BD)

32 Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur?(BE) It would be better for me if I were still there!”’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”(BF)

33 So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed(BG) Absalom.

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 In the course of time,(BH) Absalom provided himself with a chariot(BI) and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.(BJ) Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”(BK) And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land!(BL) Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts(BM) of the people of Israel.

At the end of four[e] years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. While your servant was living at Geshur(BN) in Aram, I made this vow:(BO) ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.[f]’”

The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets,(BP) then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel(BQ) the Gilonite, David’s counselor,(BR) to come from Giloh,(BS) his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.(BT)

David Flees

13 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,(BU) or none of us will escape from Absalom.(BV) We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

15 The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines(BW) to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites(BX) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai(BY) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,(BZ) an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander(CA) about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”[g](CB)

21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”(CC)

22 David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

23 The whole countryside wept aloud(CD) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,(CE) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

24 Zadok(CF) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark(CG) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar(CH) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place(CI) again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.(CJ)

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?(CK) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.(CL) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fords(CM) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping(CN) as he went; his head(CO) was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel(CP) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai(CQ) the Arkite(CR) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust(CS) on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden(CT) to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’(CU) then you can help me by frustrating(CV) Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.(CW) 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz(CX) son of Zadok and Jonathan(CY) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

37 So Hushai,(CZ) David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom(DA) was entering the city.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 13:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verse 19.
  2. 2 Samuel 13:34 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have this sentence.
  3. 2 Samuel 14:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts spoke
  4. 2 Samuel 14:26 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
  5. 2 Samuel 15:7 Some Septuagint manuscripts, Syriac and Josephus; Hebrew forty
  6. 2 Samuel 15:8 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew does not have in Hebron.
  7. 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you