²⁷ When the time of mourning was over, David sent servants and ^[a]had her brought to his house and ^(A)she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But ^(B)the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Amnon and Tamar

13 Now it was after this that ^(A)Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was ^(B)Tamar, and ^(C)Amnon the son of David was in love with her.

¹⁵ Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; indeed, the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go away!”

¹⁷ Then he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her!”

²¹ Now when King David heard about all these matters, he became very angry. ²² But Absalom did not speak with Amnon ^(A)either good or bad; for ^(B)Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

⁶ Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; ^(A)so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

David Flees Jerusalem

¹³ Then a messenger came to David, saying, “^(A)The hearts of the people of Israel are ^[a]with Absalom.” ¹⁴ So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “^(B)Arise and let’s flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go quickly, or he will hurry and overtake us, and bring disaster on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

⁵ But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And ^(A)all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.

^33 [a]Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “^(A)My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! ^(B)If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”