Chronological
13 14 Amnon David’s son defileth his sister Tamar. 20 Tamar is comforted by her brother Absalom. 29 Absalom therefore killeth Amnon.
1 Now after this, so it was, that Absalom the son of David having a fair sister, whose name was [a]Tamar, Amnon the son of David loved her.
2 And Amnon was so sore vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar: for she was a [b]virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man,
4 Who said unto him, Why art thou the king’s son, so lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? Then Amnon answered him, I love Tamar my brother Absalom’s sister.
5 And Jonadab said unto him, [c]Lie down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father shall come to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and let her dress meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it of her hand.
6 ¶ So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king came to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of [d]cakes in my sight, that I may receive meat at her hand.
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
8 ¶ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he lay down: and she took [e]flour, and knead it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9 And she took a pan, and [f]poured them out before him, but he would not eat. Then Amnon said, Cause ye every man to go out from [g]me: so every man went out from him.
10 Then Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine 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 unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister.
12 But she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me: for no such thing (A)ought to be done in Israel: commit not this folly.
13 And I, [h]whither shall I cause my shame to go? and thou shalt be as one of [i]the fools in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee speak to the king, for he will not deny me unto thee.
14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice, but being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred wherewith he hated her, was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her: and Amnon said unto her, Up, get thee hence.
16 And she answered him, [j]There is no cause: this evil (to put me away) is greater than the other that thou didst unto me: but he would not hear her,
17 But called his [k]servant that served him, and said, Put this woman now out from me, and lock the door after her.
18 (And she had a garment of [l]diverse colors upon her: for with such garments were the King’s daughters that were virgins, appareled) Then his servant brought her out, and locked the door after her.
19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent the garment of diverse colors which was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went her way crying.
20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? Now yet be [m]still, my sister: he is thy brother: let not this thing grieve thine heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 ¶ But when King David heard all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Absalom said unto 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 [n]Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim, and [o]Absalom called all the king’s sons.
24 And Absalom came to the King, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers: I pray thee, that the king with his servants would go with thy servant.
25 But the King answered Absalom, Nay my son, I pray thee, let us not go all, lest we be chargeable unto thee. Yet Absalom lay sore upon him: howbeit he would not go, but [p]thanked him.
26 Then said Absalom, But, I pray thee, shall not my brother [q]Amnon go with us? And the king answered him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Absalom was instant upon him, and he sent Amnon with him, and all the king’s children.
28 ¶ Now had Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, kill him, fear not, for have not [r]I commanded you? be bold therefore, and play the men.
29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon, as Absalom had commanded: and all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled.
30 ¶ And while they were in the way, tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain 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 [s]ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32 And Jonadab the son of Shimeah David’s brother answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the King’s sons: for Amnon only is dead, [t]because Absalom had reported so, since he forced his sister Tamar.
33 Now therefore let not my lord the King [u]take the thing so grievously; to think that all the King’s sons are dead: [v]for Amnon only is dead.
34 ¶ Then Absalom fled: and the young man that kept the watch, lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side [w]behind him.
35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, [x]so it is.
36 And as soon as he had left speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lift up their voices, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept exceedingly sore.
37 But Absalom fled away, and went to [y]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 three years.
39 And king David [z]desired to go forth unto Absalom, because he was pacified concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
14 2 Absalom is reconciled to his father by the subtlety of Joab. 24 Absalom may not see the King’s face. 25 The beauty of Absalom. 30 He causeth Joab’s corn to be burnt, and is brought to his father’s presence.
1 Then Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived, that the king’s [aa]heart was toward Absalom,
2 And Joab sent to Tekoa, and brought thence a [ab]subtle woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to mourn, and now put on mourning apparel, and [ac]anoint not thyself with oil: but be as a woman that had now long time mourned for the dead.
3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him, (for Joab [ad]taught her what she should say).
4 ¶ Then the woman of Tekoa spake unto the king, and fell down on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, [ae]Help, O King.
5 Then the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a [af]widow, and mine husband is dead:
6 And thine handmaid had two [ag]sons, and they two strove together in the field, (and there was none to part them) so the one smote the other, and slew him.
7 And behold the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the [ah]soul of his brother whom he slew, that we may destroy the heir also: so they shall quench my sparkle which is left, and shall not leave to mine husband neither name nor posterity upon the earth.
8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give a charge for thee.
9 Then the woman of Tekoa said unto the King, My lord, O King, this [ai]trespass be on me, and on my father’s house, and the King and his throne be [aj]guiltless.
10 And the King said, Bring him to me that speaketh against thee, and he shall touch thee no more.
11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king [ak]remember the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer many revengers of blood to destroy, lest they slay my son. And he answered, As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
12 Then the woman said, I pray thee, let thine handmaid speak a word to my lord the King. And he said, Say on.
13 Then the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou [al]thought such a thing against the people of God? or why doth the King, as one which is faulty, speak this thing, that he will not bring again his banished?
14 For we must needs die, and we are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again: neither doth God [am]spare any person, yet doth he appoint [an]means, not to cast out from him, him that is expelled.
15 Now therefore, that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the King, the cause is that the people [ao]have made me afraid: therefore thine handmaid said, Now will I speak unto the King: it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me, and also my son from the inheritance of God.
17 Therefore thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be [ap]comfortable: for my lord the King is even as an [aq]Angel of God in hearing of good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God be with thee.
18 Then the king answered, and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
19 And the king said, Is not [ar]the hand of Joab with thee in all this? Then the woman answered, and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the King, I will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for even thy servant Joab bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid.
20 For to the intent that I [as]should change the form of speech, thy servant Joab hath done this thing: but [at]my lord is wise according to the wisdom of an Angel of God, to understand all things that are in the earth.
21 ¶ And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have [au]done this thing: go then, and bring the young man Absalom again.
22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself and [av]thanked the King. Then Joab said, This day thy servant knoweth, that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord the king, in that the king hath 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 [aw]turn to his own house, and not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
25 Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised for beauty as Absalom: from the sole of his foot even to the top of his head there was no blemish in him.
26 And when he polled his head, (for at every year’s end he polled it: because it was too heavy for him, therefore he polled it) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred [ax]shekels by the king’s weight.
27 And Absalom had three sons, and one daughter named Tamar, which was a fair woman to look upon.
28 ¶ So Absalom dwelt the space of two years in Jerusalem, and saw not 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 again, he would not come.
30 Therefore he said unto his servants, Behold, Joab hath a [ay]field by my place, and hath barley therein: go, and set it [az]on fire: and Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants burnt my field with fire?
32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent for thee, saying, Come thou hither, and I will send thee to the king for to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? It had been better for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face: and [ba]if there be 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 2 The practices of Absalom to aspire to the kingdom. 14 David and his flee. 31 David’s prayer. 34 Hushai is sent to Absalom to discover his counsel.
1 After this, Absalom [bb]prepared him chariots, and horses, and fifty men to [bc]run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood hard by the entering in of the gate: and every man that had any [bd]matter, and came to the king for judgment, him did Absalom call unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he answered, Thy servant is of one of the [be]tribes of Israel.
3 Then Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and righteous, but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 Absalom said moreover, [bf]Oh that I were made Judge in the land, that every man which hath any matter of controversy, might come to me, that I might do him justice.
5 And when any man came near to him, and did him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel, that came to the King for judgment: so Absalom [bg]stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 ¶ And after [bh]forty years, Absalom said unto the King, I pray thee, let me go to Hebron, and render my vow which I have vowed unto the Lord.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow when I remained at Geshur, in Aram, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, I will [bi]serve the Lord.
9 And the King said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 ¶ Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11 ¶ And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were [bj]called: and they went in their simplicity, 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 [bk]increased still with Absalom.
13 ¶ Then came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are turned after Absalom.
14 Then David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Up, and let us flee: for we shall not escape from [bl]Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he come suddenly and take us, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, thy servants are ready to do according to all that my lord the king shall [bm]appoint.
16 So the king departed and all his household [bn]after him, and the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth and all the people after him, and tarried in a [bo]place [bp]far off.
18 And all his servants went about him, and all the [bq]Cherethites and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, even six hundred men which were come after him from Gath, went before the king.
19 Then said the King to [br]Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore comest thou also with us? Return and abide with the King, for thou art a stranger, depart thou therefore to thy place.
20 Thou camest yesterday, and should I cause thee to wander today and go with us? I will go whither I can: therefore return thou, and carry again thy [bs]brethren: mercy and [bt]truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the King, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there surely will thy servant be.
22 Then David said to Ittai, Come, and go forward. And Ittai the Gittite went, and all his men, and all the children that were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and [bu]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 also was there, and all the Levites with him, [bv]bearing the Ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the Ark of God: and Abiathar went [bw]up until the people were all come out of the city.
25 Then the King said unto Zadok, Carry the Ark of God again into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and the [bx]Tabernacle thereof.
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold, [by]here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good in his eyes.
27 The King said again unto Zadok the Priest, Art not thou a (B)Seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you: to wit, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 Behold, I will tarry in the fields of the wilderness, until there come some word from you to be told me.
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the Ark of God again to Jerusalem, and they tarried there.
30 And David went up the mount of olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head [bz]covered, and went barefooted: and all the people that was with him, had every man his head covered, and as they went up, they wept.
31 Then one told David, saying, Ahithophel is one of them that have conspired with Absalom: and David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the [ca]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 Unto whom David said, If thou go with me, thou shalt be a burthen unto me.
34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy [cb]servant, O King (as I have been in time past thy father’s servant, so will I now be thy servant) then thou mayest bring me the counsel of Ahithophel to nought.
35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the Priests? therefore whatsoever thou shalt hear out of the King’s house, thou shalt show to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.
36 Behold, there are with them their two sons: Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son: by them also shall ye send me everything that ye can hear.
37 So Hushai David’s friend went into the city: and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
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