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2 Samuel 13
New International Version
2 Samuel 13
New International Version
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.
2 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.
3 Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah,(D) David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 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.”
5 “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.’”
6 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.”
7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” 8 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. 9 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.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 13:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verse 19.
- 2 Samuel 13:34 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have this sentence.
2 Samuel 13
La Bible du Semeur
2 Samuel 13
La Bible du Semeur
Le viol de la princesse Tamar
13 Absalom, un fils de David, avait une sœur qui était très belle et qui se nommait Tamar[a]. Amnôn, un autre fils du roi David, en tomba passionnément amoureux. 2 Il se rongeait tant à propos de sa demi-sœur qu’il s’en rendait malade, car elle était vierge et il lui semblait impossible de l’approcher[b]. 3 Amnôn avait un ami nommé Yonadab, un fils de Shimea, le frère de David. C’était un homme très astucieux. 4 Il demanda à Amnôn : Fils du roi, pourquoi es-tu si déprimé ? Chaque matin tu parais l’être davantage. Ne veux-tu pas m’en dire la cause ?
Amnôn lui répondit : Je suis amoureux de Tamar, la sœur de mon frère Absalom.
5 Yonadab lui dit alors : Mets-toi au lit et fais comme si tu étais malade. Quand ton père viendra te voir, dis-lui : « Permets à ma sœur Tamar de venir me faire à manger, qu’elle prépare le repas sous mes yeux afin que je la voie faire, puis je mangerai de sa main. »
6 Amnôn se mit donc au lit et fit semblant d’être malade. Le roi vint le voir et Amnôn lui dit : Fais venir ma sœur Tamar pour qu’elle me prépare deux galettes sous mes yeux, et je les mangerai de sa main.
7 David envoya dire à Tamar dans son appartement : Va chez ton frère Amnôn et prépare-lui son repas.
8 Tamar se rendit donc chez son frère Amnôn et le trouva couché. Elle prépara de la pâte et la pétrit, puis confectionna des galettes devant lui et les fit cuire. 9 Ensuite elle prit la poêle et lui en servit le contenu devant lui, mais il refusa d’en manger et dit : Faites sortir tout le monde d’ici.
Tous se retirèrent. 10 Alors il demanda à Tamar : Apporte-moi ces galettes dans ma chambre pour que je les mange de ta main.
Tamar prit les galettes qu’elle avait faites et les apporta à son frère Amnôn dans sa chambre. 11 Au moment où elle les lui présentait, il l’empoigna et lui dit : Viens, couche avec moi, ma sœur !
12 Mais elle s’écria : Non, mon frère, ne me fais pas violence ! Cela ne se fait pas en Israël[c]. Ne commets pas une telle infamie ! 13 Après cela, où irais-je porter ma honte ? Et toi, tu serais considéré comme un individu méprisable dans notre peuple. Pourquoi ne parles-tu pas au roi ? Il ne refusera pas de me donner à toi.
14 Mais il ne voulut rien entendre, et comme il était plus fort qu’elle, il lui fit violence et coucha avec elle.
15 Après cela, il conçut pour elle une forte aversion, plus violente que la passion qu’il avait éprouvée pour elle. Tout à coup, il lui ordonna : Lève-toi, va-t’en !
16 – Non, lui dit-elle, en me chassant, tu commettrais un crime encore pire que le mal que tu m’as déjà fait.
Mais il ne voulut pas l’écouter. 17 Il appela le domestique qui était à son service et lui ordonna : Débarrassez-moi de cette fille ! Jetez-la dehors et verrouillez la porte derrière elle !
18 Elle portait jusque-là une longue robe multicolore, car c’était autrefois la tenue des princesses aussi longtemps qu’elles étaient vierges. Le domestique la mit dehors et verrouilla la porte derrière elle. 19 Alors Tamar répandit de la cendre sur sa tête, elle déchira sa longue robe, se prit à deux mains la tête, puis elle partit en poussant des cris. 20 Son frère Absalom lui demanda : Ton frère Amnôn t’a-t-il fait violence ? Maintenant, ma sœur, n’en parle pas, c’est ton frère, et ne prends pas la chose trop à cœur !
Dès lors Tamar alla demeurer dans la maison d’Absalom, comme une femme abandonnée.
21 Le roi David apprit tout ce qui s’était passé et il en fut très irrité[d]. 22 Quant à Absalom, il n’adressait plus la parole à Amnôn, ni en bien, ni en mal, car il l’avait pris en haine à cause du viol de sa sœur Tamar.
Absalom venge sa sœur et prend la fuite
23 Deux ans plus tard, Absalom avait les tondeurs à Baal-Hatsor, près d’Ephraïm[e]. Il invita tous les fils du roi. 24 Il se rendit chez le roi et lui dit : Tu sais que ton serviteur fait tondre ses moutons ; que le roi et ses hauts fonctionnaires veuillent bien venir chez ton serviteur !
25 Mais le roi lui répondit : Non, mon fils, nous n’allons pas tous venir, ce serait une trop lourde charge pour toi !
Absalom insista, mais le roi refusa l’invitation et lui donna simplement sa bénédiction. 26 Absalom reprit : Si tu ne veux pas venir, permets au moins à mon frère Amnôn de nous accompagner.
Le roi lui dit : Pourquoi t’accompagnerait-il ?
27 Mais Absalom insista tellement que David laissa partir avec lui Amnôn et tous les autres fils du roi.
28 Absalom donna des ordres à ses serviteurs en disant : Quand vous verrez qu’Amnôn sera égayé par le vin, et que je vous dirai : « Frappez Amnôn ! » vous le tuerez. Ne craignez rien, car c’est moi qui en prends la responsabilité. Ayez du courage et soyez forts !
29 Les serviteurs d’Absalom exécutèrent les ordres de leur maître et tuèrent Amnôn. Aussitôt, tous les autres fils du roi se levèrent de table, enfourchèrent chacun son mulet et prirent la fuite. 30 Ils étaient encore en route quand la nouvelle parvint à David qu’Absalom avait tué tous les fils du roi sans qu’aucun d’eux en réchappe. 31 Le roi se leva, déchira ses vêtements en signe de deuil et s’étendit à même le sol. Tous ses ministres se tenaient autour de lui avec leurs habits déchirés[f]. 32 A ce moment-là, Yonadab, fils de Shimea, le frère de David, prit la parole et déclara : Que mon seigneur ne pense pas que tous les fils du roi ont été tués ; Amnôn seul est mort. Depuis le jour où il a violé sa sœur Tamar, Absalom parlait de le tuer. 33 Que le roi mon seigneur ne s’imagine donc pas que tous les princes ont péri ! Non, Amnôn seul est mort.
34 Absalom, quant à lui, avait pris la fuite. Lorsque le guetteur regarda au loin, il aperçut soudain une troupe nombreuse arrivant par la route occidentale[g], au flanc de la colline. 35 Alors Yonadab dit au roi : Ce sont les fils du roi qui viennent. Tout s’est passé comme ton serviteur l’a dit.
36 A peine achevait-il de parler, que les fils du roi entrèrent et se mirent à parler fort et à pleurer. Alors le roi et toute sa cour se répandirent aussi en pleurs et en lamentations. 37 Entre-temps, Absalom avait fui jusque chez Talmaï, fils d’Ammihoud, roi de Gueshour. Pendant tout ce temps, David porta le deuil de son fils.
38 Absalom resta pendant trois ans réfugié à Gueshour. 39 Le roi David finit par renoncer à poursuivre Absalom[h], car il se consolait peu à peu de la mort d’Amnôn.
Footnotes
- 13.1 Fille de Maaka, princesse de Gueshour (3.3). Amnôn était fils d’Ahinoam, première femme de David ; il était le fils aîné de David, donc l’héritier présomptif du trône (3.2).
- 13.2 Les filles non mariées vivaient dans l’appartement des femmes et ne fréquentaient guère les hommes, pas même leurs demi-frères.
- 13.12 Voir Dt 22.23-29.
- 13.21 Un manuscrit hébreu, l’ancienne version grecque et la Vulgate ajoutent ici : il ne fit cependant aucun reproche à Amnôn, car c’était son fils aîné et il l’aimait beaucoup.
- 13.23 Près de Béthel, à 25 kilomètres au nord de Jérusalem (Né 11.33). La tonte des moutons était une occasion annuelle de réjouissances (1 S 25.2-8).
- 13.31 Voir Jos 7.6 ; 1 R 21.27 ; Est 4.1 ; Jb 1.20.
- 13.34 L’ancienne version grecque a : par la route de Horonaïm. A la suite du verset, l’ancienne version grecque ajoute : il vint en informer le roi en ces termes : « J’ai vu des hommes arriver par la route de Horonaïm, au flanc de la colline. »
- 13.39 Autres traductions : le roi David languissait après Absalom ou la colère du roi David contre Absalom s’apaisait. Le nom David manque dans le texte hébreu de Qumrân et dans certains manuscrits de l’ancienne version grecque.
Shmuel Bais 13
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Shmuel Bais 13
Orthodox Jewish Bible
13 And it came to pass after this, that Avshalom Ben Dovid had an achot yafeh (beautiful sister), whose shem was Tamar; and Amnon Ben Dovid loved her.
2 And Amnon was so distressed, that he fell ill for his achot Tamar; for she was betulah; but Amnon thought it impossible for him to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a re’a, shmo Yonadav Ben Shime’ah Achi Dovid; and Yonadav was an ish chacham (shrewd man).
4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being Ben HaMelech, becoming dal (weak, wretched) from day to day? Wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, Ani ohev (I love) Tamar achot Avshalom achi.
5 And Yonadav said unto him, Lay thee down on thy mishkav, and make thyself sick; and when avicha cometh to see thee, say unto him, now, let my achot Tamar come, and cause me to eat lechem, and prepare the briyah (food) in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her yad.
6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick; and when HaMelech was come to see him, Amnon said unto HaMelech, Now, let Tamar my achot come, and make me a couple of [heart-shaped] cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her yad.
7 Then Dovid sent to Tamar to the palace, saying, Go now to the bais of thy brother Amnon, and prepare for him briyah (food).
8 So Tamar went to the bais of her brother Amnon; and he was lying down. And she took batzek (dough), and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the [heartshaped] cakes.
9 And she took a masret (pan), and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have kol ish go out from me. And they went out kol ish from him.
10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the briyah into the cheder ([bed] room), that I may eat from thine yad. And Tamar took the [heart-shaped] cakes which she had prepared, and brought them into the bedroom 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 lie with me, my achot.
12 And she answered him, No, achi, do not violate me; for no such thing ought to be done in Yisroel; do not thou this nevalah (foul deed, shameful thing).
13 And I, to where shall I cause my cherpah (shame, disgrace) to go? And as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the nevalim (wicked fools) in Yisroel. Now therefore, speak unto HaMelech; for he will not withhold me from thee.
14 Howbeit he would not pay heed unto her voice; but, being stronger than she, violated her and raped her, and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the sinah (hatred) wherewith he hated her was gedolah me’od than the ahavah wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Get up, get out.
16 And she said unto him, No, do not this ra’ah in sending me away which is gedolah than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not pay heed unto her.
17 Then he called his na’ar that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this outside from me, and bolt the delet after her.
18 She had a kesones of various colors upon her; for with such were the banot HaMelech that were betulot apparelled. Then his mesharet (servant) brought her outside, and bolted the delet after her.
19 And Tamar put efer (ash) on her rosh (head) and made the kri’ah (tearing, rending) on her kesones of various colors that was on her, and laid her yad on her rosh, and went on weeping as she went.
20 And Avshalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? But hold now thy peace, my achot; he is thy brother; this thing take not to heart. So Tamar remained shomemah (desolate) in the bais of her brother Avshalom.
21 But when Dovid HaMelech heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22 And Avshalom spoke unto his brother Amnon not a davar neither rah nor tov; for Avshalom hated Amnon, because he had violated and raped his achot Tamar.
23 And it came to pass after two full shanim, that Avshalom had gozezim (sheepshearers) in Baal-Chazor, which is in Ephrayim; and Avshalom invited all the Bnei HaMelech.
24 And Avshalom came to HaMelech, and said, Hinei now, thy eved hath gozezim; let HaMelech, now, and his avadim go with thy eved.
25 And HaMelech said to Avshalom, No, beni (my son), let us not all now go, lest we be a burden unto thee. And he urged him; howbeit he would not go, but put a bracha on him.
26 Then said Avshalom, If not, now, let achi Amnon go with us. And HaMelech said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Avshalom urged him, that he let Amnon and kol Bnei HaMelech go with him.
28 Now Avshalom had commanded his avadim, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s lev is high with yayin, and when I say unto you, Strike Amnon; then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? Be chazak (courageous), and be bnei chayil.
29 And the na’arei Avshalom did unto Amnon as Avshalom had commanded. Then all the Bnei HaMelech arose, and every man mounted him up upon his pered (mule), and fled.
30 And it came to pass, while they were baderech (on the way), that report came to Dovid, saying, Avshalom hath slain all the Bnei HaMelech, and there is not one of them left.
31 Then HaMelech arose, and made the kri’ah on his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his avadim stood by with their clothes torn.
32 And Yonadav Ben Shime’ah achi Dovid, answered and said, Let not adoni suppose that they have slain all the young men, the Bnei HaMelech; for Amnon only is dead; for by the command of Avshalom this hath been determined from the day that he violated and raped Tamar his achot.
33 Now therefore let not adoni HaMelech take the thing to his lev, to think that all the Bnei HaMelech are dead; for Amnon only is dead.
34 But Avshalom fled. And the na’ar tzofeh (watchman) lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, hinei, there came am rav (much people) by the derech of the hillside behind him.
35 And Yonadav said unto HaMelech, Hinei, the Bnei HaMelech come; as the davar avdecha (word of thy servant), so it is.
36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, hinei, the Bnei HaMelech came, and lifted up their voice and wailed; and HaMelech also and all his avadim wept gadol me’od.
37 But Avshalom fled, and went to Talmai Ben Ammichud Melech Geshur. And Dovid mourned for bno kol hayamim.
38 So Avshalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there shalosh shanim.
39 And the nefesh of Dovid HaMelech longed to go forth unto Avshalom; for he was consoled concerning Amnon that died.
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Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
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