1 And it came to pass after this, 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 vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David' brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man.4 And he said to him, Why are you, being the king' son, lean from day to day? will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom' sister.5 And Jonadab said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and make yourself sick: and when your father comes to see you, say to him, I pray you, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said to the king, I pray you, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon' house, and dress him meat.8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon' house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.10 And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of 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 brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister.12 And she answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not you this folly.13 And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? and as for you, you shall be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.14 However, he would not listen to her voice: but, being stronger than she, 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, Arise, be gone.16 And she said to him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her.17 Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.18 And she had a garment of divers colors on her: for with such robes were the king' daughters that were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.20 And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? but hold now your peace, my sister: he is your brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom' house.21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep shearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king' sons.24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, your servant has sheep shearers; let the king, I beseech you, and his servants go with your servant.25 And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable to you. And he pressed him: however, he would not go, but blessed him.26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king' sons go with him.28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now when Amnon' heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king' sons arose, and every man got him up on his mule, and fled.30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king' sons, and there is not one of them left.31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David' brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king' sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king' sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.35 And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king' sons come: as your servant said, so it is.36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king' sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.37 But Absalom fled, 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 three years.39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

1 Ora, Absalão, filho de Davi, tinha uma irmã formosa, cujo nome era Tamar; e sucedeu depois de algum tempo que Amnom, filho de Davi enamorou-se dela.2 E angustiou-se Amnom, até adoecer, por amar, sua irmã; pois era virgem, e parecia impossível a Amnom fazer coisa alguma com ela.3 Tinha, porém, Amnom um amigo, cujo nome era Jonadabe, filho de Siméia, irmão de Davi; e era Jonadabe homem mui sagaz.4 Este lhe perguntou: Por que tu de dia para dia tanto emagreces, ó filho do rei? não mo dirás a mim? Então lhe respondeu Amnom: Amo a Tamar, irmã de Absalão, meu irmão.5 Tornou-lhe Jonadabe: Deita-te na tua cama, e finge-te doente; e quando teu pai te vier visitar, dize-lhe: Peço-te que minha irmã Tamar venha dar-me de comer, preparando a comida diante dos meus olhos, para que eu veja e coma da sua mão.6 Deitou-se, pois, Amnom, e fingiu-se doente. Vindo o rei visitá-lo, disse-lhe Amnom: Peço-te que minha irmã Tamar venha e prepare dois bolos diante dos meus olhos, para que eu coma da sua mão.7 Mandou, então, Davi a casa, a dizer a Tamar: Vai a casa de Amnom, teu irmão, e faze-lhe alguma comida.8 Foi, pois, Tamar a casa de Amnom, seu irmão; e ele estava deitado. Ela tomou massa e, amassando-a, fez bolos e os cozeu diante dos seus olhos.9 E tomou a panela, e os tirou diante dele; porém ele recusou comer. E disse Amnom: Fazei retirar a todos da minha presença. E todos se retiraram dele.10 Então disse Amnom a Tamar: Traze a comida a câmara, para que eu coma da tua mão. E Tamar, tomando os bolos que fizera, levou-os à câmara, ao seu irmão Amnom.11 Quando lhos chegou, para que ele comesse, Amnom pegou dela, e disse-lhe: Vem, deita-te comigo, minha irmã.12 Ela, porém, lhe respondeu: Não, meu irmão, não me forces, porque não se faz assim em Israel; não faças tal loucura.13 Quanto a mim, para onde levaria o meu opróbrio? E tu passarias por um dos insensatos em Israel. Rogo-te, pois, que fales ao rei, porque ele não me negará a ti.14 Todavia ele não quis dar ouvidos à sua voz; antes, sendo mais forte do que ela, forçou-a e se deitou com ela.15 Depois sentiu Amnom grande aversão por ela, pois maior era a aversão que se sentiu por ela do que o amor que lhe tivera. E disse-lhe Amnom: Levanta-te, e vai-te.16 Então ela lhe respondeu: Não há razão de me despedires; maior seria este mal do que o outro já me tens feito. Porém ele não lhe quis dar ouvidos,17 mas, chamando o moço que o servia, disse-lhe: Deita fora a esta mulher, e fecha a porta após ela.18 Ora, trazia ela uma túnica talar; porque assim se vestiam as filhas virgens dos reis. Então o criado dele a deitou fora, e fechou a porta após ela.19 Pelo que Tamar, lançando cinza sobre a cabeça, e rasgando a túnica talar que trazia, pôs as mãos sobre a cabeça, e se foi andando e clamando.20 Mas Absalão, seu irmão, lhe perguntou: Esteve Amnom, teu irmão, contigo? Ora pois, minha irmã, cala-te; é teu irmão. Não se angustie o seu coração por isto. Assim ficou Tamar, desolada, em casa de Absalão, seu irmão.21 Quando o rei Davi ouviu todas estas coisas, muito se lhe acendeu a ira.22 Absalão, porém, não falou com Amnom, nem mal nem bem, porque odiava a Amnom por ter ele forçado a Tamar, sua irmã.23 Decorridos dois anos inteiros, tendo Absalão tosquiadores em Baal-Hazor, que está junto a Efraim, convidou todos os filhos do rei.24 Foi, pois, Absalão ter com o rei, e disse: Eis que agora o teu servo faz a tosquia. Peço que o rei e os seus servos venham com o teu servo.25 O rei, porém, respondeu a Absalão: Não, meu filho, não vamos todos, para não te sermos pesados. Absalão instou com ele; todavia ele não quis ir, mas deu-lhe a sua benção.26 Disse-lhe Absalão: Ao menos, deixa ir conosco Amnom, meu irmão. O rei, porém, lhe perguntou: Para que iria ele contigo?27 Mas como Absalão instasse com o rei, este deixou ir com ele Amnom, e os demais filhos do rei.28 Ora, Absalão deu ordem aos seus servos, dizendo: Tomai sentido; quando o coração de Amnom estiver alegre do vinho, e eu vos disser: Feri a Amnom; então matai-o. Não tenhais medo; não sou eu quem vo-lo ordenou? Esforçai-vos, e sede valentes.29 E os servos de Absalão fizeram a Amnom como Absalão lhes havia ordenado. Então todos os filhos do rei se levantaram e, montando cada um no seu mulo, fugiram.30 Enquanto eles ainda estavam em caminho, chegou a Davi um rumor, segundo o qual se dizia: Absalão matou todos os filhos do rei; nenhum deles ficou.31 Então o rei se levantou e, rasgando as suas vestes, lançou-se por terra; da mesma maneira todos os seus servos que lhe assistiam rasgaram as suas vestes.32 Mas Jonadabe, filho de Siméia, irmão de Davi, disse-lhe: Não presuma o meu senhor que mataram todos os mancebos filhos do rei, porque só morreu Amnom; porque assim o tinha resolvido fazer Absalão, desde o dia em que ele forçou a Tamar, sua irmã.33 Não se lhe meta, pois, agora no coração ao rei meu senhor o pensar que morreram todos os filhos do rei; porque só morreu Amnom.34 Absalão, porém, fugiu. E o mancebo que estava de guarda, levantando os olhos, orou, e eis que vinha muito povo pelo caminho por detrás dele, ao lado do monte.35 Então disse Jonadabe ao rei: Eis aí vêm os filhos do rei; conforme a palavra de teu servo, assim sucedeu.36 Acabando ele de falar, chegaram os filhos do rei e, levantando a sua voz, choraram; e também o rei e todos os seus servos choraram amargamente.37 Absalão, porém, fugiu, e foi ter com Talmai, filho de Amiur, rei de Gesur. E Davi pranteava a seu filho todos os dias.38 Tendo Absalão fugido para Gesur, esteve ali três anos.39 Então o rei Davi sentiu saudades de Absalão, pois já se tinha consolado acerca da morte de Amnom.