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2 Samuel 13:23-39
New English Translation

Absalom Has Amnon Put to Death

23 Two years later Absalom’s sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 Then Absalom went to the king and said, “My shearers have begun their work.[a] Let the king and his servants go with me.”

25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. We shouldn’t all go. We shouldn’t burden you in that way.” Though Absalom[b] pressed[c] him, the king[d] was not willing to go. Instead, David[e] blessed him.

26 Then Absalom said, “If you will not go,[f] then let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king replied to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons along with him.

28 Absalom instructed his servants, “Look! When Amnon is drunk[g] and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ kill him then and there. Don’t fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!”[h] 29 So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed. Then all the king’s sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.

30 While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one of them is left!” 31 Then the king stood up and tore his garments and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well.

32 Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, said, “My lord should not say, ‘They have killed all the young men who are the king’s sons.’ For only Amnon is dead. This is what Absalom has talked about[i] from the day that Amnon[j] humiliated his sister Tamar. 33 Now don’t let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, ‘All the king’s sons are dead.’ It is only Amnon who is dead.”

34 In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west[k] on a road beside the hill. 35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look! The king’s sons have come! It’s just as I said.”

36 Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived, wailing and weeping.[l] The king and all his servants wept loudly[m] as well. 37 But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David[n] grieved over his son every day.

38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three years. 39 The king longed[o] to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon.[p]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 13:24 tn Heb “your servant has sheepshearers.” The phrase “your servant” also occurs at the end of the verse and is translated as "me".
  2. 2 Samuel 13:25 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. 2 Samuel 13:25 tc Here and in v. 27 the translation follows 4QSama ויפצר (vayyiftsar, “and he pressed”) rather than the MT וַיִּפְרָץ (vayyifrats, “and he broke through”). This emended reading seems also to underlie the translations of the LXX (καὶ ἐβιάσατο, kai ebiasato), the Syriac Peshitta (weʾalseh), and Vulgate (cogeret eum).
  4. 2 Samuel 13:25 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  5. 2 Samuel 13:25 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  6. 2 Samuel 13:26 tn Heb “and not.”
  7. 2 Samuel 13:28 tn Heb “when good is the heart of Amnon with wine.”
  8. 2 Samuel 13:28 tn Heb “and become sons of valor.”
  9. 2 Samuel 13:32 tn Heb “it was placed on the mouth of Absalom.”
  10. 2 Samuel 13:32 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Amnon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  11. 2 Samuel 13:34 tn Heb “behind him.”
  12. 2 Samuel 13:36 tn Heb “and they lifted their voice and wept.”
  13. 2 Samuel 13:36 tn Heb “with a great weeping.”
  14. 2 Samuel 13:37 tc The Hebrew text leaves the word “David” to be inferred. The Syriac Peshitta and Vulgate add the word “David.” Most of the Greek tradition includes the words “King David” here.
  15. 2 Samuel 13:39 tc The translation follows 4QSama in reading רוּחַ הַמֶּלֶךְ (ruakh hammelekh, “the spirit of the king”) rather than the MT דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ (david hammelekh, “David the king”). The understanding reflected in the translation above is that David, though alienated during this time from his son Absalom, still had an abiding love and concern for him. He longed for reconciliation with him. A rather different interpretation of the verse supposes that David’s interest in taking military action against Absalom grew slack with the passing of time, and this in turn enabled David’s advisers to encourage him toward reconciliation with Absalom. For the latter view, see P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 344, and cf. CEV.
  16. 2 Samuel 13:39 tn Heb “was consoled over Amnon, because he was dead.”
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2 Samuel 13:23-39
English Standard Version

Absalom Murders Amnon

23 After two full years Absalom had (A)sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's (B)heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and (C)tore his garments and (D)lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But (E)Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so (F)take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34 (G)But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him[a] by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 (H)But Absalom fled and went to (I)Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of (J)Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 (K)So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king[b] longed to go out[c] to Absalom, because (L)he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 13:34 Septuagint the Horonaim Road
  2. 2 Samuel 13:39 Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint; Hebrew David
  3. 2 Samuel 13:39 Compare Vulgate ceased to go out
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