Beginning
13 Now after this, so it was that Absalom, the son of David, had a fair sister whose name was Tamar. And Amnon, the son of David, loved her.
2 And Amnon was so severely troubled that he fell sick over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and it seemed extraordinary for Amnon to be able to do anything.
3 But Amnon had a friend called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very cunning man,
4 who said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so low from day to day? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon answered him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 And Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food. And let her prepare food in my sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar, my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may receive food by her hand.”
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8 So, Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. And he was laying down. And she took flour and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9 And she took a pan and poured them out before him. But he would not eat. Then Amnon said, “Have every man go out from me.” So, every man went out from him.
10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, so that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the chamber, to Amnon her brother.
11 And when she had set them before him to eat, he took her and said to her, “Come. Lie with me, my sister.”
12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me. For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not commit this folly.
13 “And me, where would my shame go? And you would be as one of the fools in Israel. Now, therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not deny me from you.”
14 However, he would not listen to her voice. But, being stronger than her, he forced her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Up! Go away!”
16 And she answered him, “There is no reason. This evil (to send me away) is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not hear her,
17 and called his servant who served him, and said, “Send this woman away from me now, and lock the door after her!”
18 And she had a garment of diverse colors upon her. For the king’s daughters who were virgins were appareled with such garments. Then his servant brought her out and locked the door after her.
19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the garment of diverse colors which was upon her and laid her hand on her head and went away, crying.
20 And Absalom, her brother, said to her, “Has Amnon, your brother, been with you? Now then, hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not let this thing grieve your heart.” So, Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 But when King David heard all these things, he was very angry.
22 And Absalom said to his brother, Amnon, neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 And after the time of two years, Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor (which is beside Ephraim). And Absalom called all the king’s sons.
24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, “Behold, now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25 But the king answered Absalom, “No my son. Please do not let us all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” Still, Absalom pressed hard upon him. However, he would not go, but thanked him.
26 Then Absalom said, “But, please, shall not my brother Amnon go with us?” And the king answered him, “Why should he go with you?”
27 But Absalom urged him, and he sent Amnon with him, and all the king’s children.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Mark, now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, “Strike Amnon! Kill him. Do not fear. For have I not commanded you? Be bold, therefore, and valiant.”
29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. And all the king’s sons arose. And every man got up upon his mule and fled.
30 And while they were on the way, tidings came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons. And there is not one of them left.”
31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Do not let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons. For only Amnon is dead. For so Absalom has decreed since Amnon forced his sister Tamar.
33 “Now, therefore, do not let my lord the king take the thing so grievously to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.”
34 Then Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons come. As your servant said, so it is.”
36 And as soon as he had stopped speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voices and wept. And the king, also, and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled away and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38 So, Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there for three years.
39 And King David desired to go forth to Absalom, because he was pacified concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
14 Then Joab, the son of Zeruiah, perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
2 And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a cunning woman there, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel. Do not anoint yourself with oil but be as a woman who has now mourned for the dead a long time.
3 “Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” For Joab told her what she should say.
4 Then the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, and fell down on her face to the ground, and prostrated herself, and said, “Help, O king!”
5 Then the king said to her, “What is wrong?” And she answered, “I am indeed a widow, and my husband is dead.
6 “And your handmaid had two sons. And the two struggled together in the field. And there was no one to part them. So, one struck the other and killed him.
7 “And behold, the whole family arose against your handmaid. And they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, so that we may kill him for the soul of his brother whom he killed, so that we may also destroy the heir.’ So shall they quench my ember which is left and shall not leave to my husband either name or posterity upon the Earth.”
8 And the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give you a charge.”
9 Then the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king! This trespass is on me and on my father’s House. And the king and his throne are guiltless.”
10 And the king said, “Bring him to me, who speaks against you. And he shall no longer touch you.”
11 Then she said, “Please, let the king remember the LORD your God, so that you would not allow revengers of blood to destroy anymore, lest they kill my son.” And he answered, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please, let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.”
13 Then the woman said, “Why, then, have you thought such a thing against the people of God? Or does the king speak as one who is at fault, in that he will not bring back his banished?
14 “For we must die and be as water, spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet does God take away life; but He appoints means by which not to cast the expelled out from Him.
15 “Now, therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Therefore, your handmaid said, ‘I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
16 ‘For the king will hear and deliver his handmaid (and also my son) out of the hand of the man who would destroy me from the inheritance of God.’
17 “Therefore, your handmaid said, ‘The word of my lord the king shall now be comforting. For my lord the king is as an angel of God in hearing good and bad. Therefore, the LORD your God be with you.’”
18 Then the king answered, and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me the thing that I shall ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king now speak.”
19 And the king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?” Then the woman answered, and said, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, I will not turn, to the right or to the left, from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me. And he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid.
20 “For with the intent of changing appearances, your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to understand all things that are on the Earth.”
21 And the king said to Joab, “Behold, now, I have done this thing. Go, then, and bring the young man Absalom back.”
22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself and thanked the king. Then Joab said, “This day your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.”
23 And Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24 And the king said, “Let him turn to his own house, and not see my face.” So, Absalom turned to his own house, and did not see the king’s face.
25 Now in all Israel, there was no one to be praised as much for beauty as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no blemish on him.
26 And when he shaved his head (for he shaved it at the end of every year because it was too heavy for him, therefore he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
27 And Absalom had three sons and one daughter, named Tamar, who was a fair woman to look upon.
28 So, Absalom dwelt in Jerusalem for the span of two years and did not see the king’s face.
29 Therefore, Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king. But he would not come to him. And when he sent for him again, he would not come.
30 Therefore, he said to his servants, “Behold, Joab has a field by my place, and has barley in it. Go and set it on fire!” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom, to his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants burnt my field with fire?”
32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, and I will send you to the king to say “Why have I come from Geshur? It would have been better for me to have still been there.”’ Now, therefore, let me see the king’s face. And if there is any trespass in me, let him kill me.”
33 Then Joab came to the king and told him. And he called for Absalom, who came to the king and bowed himself to the ground on his face before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.
15 After this, Absalom prepared chariots for himself, and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early and stood by the entrance of the gate. And every man who had any dispute, and had come to the king for judgment, Absalom called to himself, and said, “What city are you from?” And he answered, “Your servant is from…” (one of the tribes of Israel).
3 Then Absalom said to him, “See, your matters are good and righteous; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.”
4 Moreover, Absalom said, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who has any dispute might come to me, so that I might do him justice!”
5 And when any man came near to him and prostrated himself, he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him.
6 And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So, Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 And after forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Pleaase let me go to Hebron and render my vow which I have vowed to the LORD.
8 “For your servant vowed a vow when I remained at Geshur, in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD shall bring me back indeed to Jerusalem, I will serve the LORD.’”
9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So, he arose and went to Hebron.
10 Then, Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
11 And two hundred invited men went out of Jerusalem with Absalom. And they went innocently, knowing nothing.
12 Also, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, Giloh, while he offered Sacrifices. And the treason was great. For the people with Absalom steadily increased.
13 Then, a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have turned to follow Absalom.”
14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Up, and let us flee! For we shall not escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he comes suddenly and takes us and brings evil upon us and strikes the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 And the king’s servants said to him, “Behold, your servants are ready to do according to all that my lord the king shall appoint.”
16 So the king departed, with all his household following him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, with all the people following him, and stayed in a faraway place.
18 And all his servants went around him, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men, who had followed him from Gath, went before the king.
19 Then, the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why have you also come with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a stranger. Therefore, depart to your place!
20 “You came yesterday. And should I make you wander today and go with us? I will go where I can. Therefore, you return and carry back your brethren. Mercy and truth be with you.”
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, there will your servant surely be.”
22 Then David said to Ittai, “Come and go forward.” And Ittai the Gittite went, and all his men, and all the children who were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice. And all the people went forward. But the king passed over the brook Kidron. And all the people went over toward the way of the wilderness.
24 And lo, Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him, bearing the Ark of the Covenant of God. And they set the Ark of God down. And Abiathar went up until all the people had come out of the city.
25 Then, the king said to Zadok, “Carry the Ark of God back into the city. If I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me it and its Tabernacle.
26 “But if He says this: “I have no delight in you,” behold, I am here. Let Him do to me as seems good in His Eyes.”
27 Again, the king said to Zadok the Priest, “Are you not a Seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you: Ahimaaz, your son, and Jonathan, the son of Abiathar.
28 “Behold, I will wait in the fields of the wilderness until some word comes from you to be told to me.”
29 Therefore, Zadok and Abiathar carried the Ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they waited there.
30 And David went up the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and went barefooted. And all the people who were with him (every man) had his head covered. And as they went up, they wept.
31 Then one told David, saying, “Ahithophel is one of those who have conspired with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray! Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
32 Then David came to the top of the Mount, where he worshipped God. And behold, Hushai the Archite came against him, with his coat torn and having earth upon his head,
33 to whom David said, “If you go with me, you shall be a burden to me.
34 “But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king! As I have been in time past your father’s servant, so will I now be your servant!’ then you may bring me the counsel of Ahithophel to nothing.
35 “And do you not have there with you Zadok and Abiathar, the priests? Therefore, whatever you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 “Behold, their two sons are there with them: Ahimaaz, Zadok’s, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s. By them also shall you send me everything that you can hear.”
37 So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.
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