1 E aconteceu, depois disso, que, tendo Absalão, filho de Davi, uma irmã formosa, cujo nome era Tamar, Amnom, filho de Davi, amou-a. 2 E angustiou-se Amnom, até adoecer, por Tamar, sua irmã, porque era virgem; e parecia, aos olhos de Amnom, dificultoso fazer-lhe coisa alguma. 3 Tinha, porém, Amnom um amigo, cujo nome era Jonadabe, filho de Simeia, irmão de Davi. E era Jonadabe homem mui sagaz. 4 E ele lhe disse: Por que tu de manhã em manhã tanto emagreces, sendo filho do rei? Não mo farás saber a mim? Então, lhe disse Amnom: Amo a Tamar, irmã de Absalão, meu irmão. 5 E Jonadabe lhe disse: 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, e me dê de comer pão, e prepare a comida diante dos meus olhos, para que eu a veja e coma da sua mão. 6 Deitou-se, pois, Amnom e fingiu-se doente; e, vindo o rei visitá-lo, disse Amnom ao rei: Peço-te que minha irmã Tamar venha e prepare dois bolos diante dos meus olhos, para que eu coma de sua mão.

7 Mandou, então, Davi a casa, a Tamar, dizendo: Vai a casa de Amnom, teu irmão, e faze-lhe alguma comida. 8 E foi Tamar a casa de Amnom, seu irmão (ele, porém, estava deitado), e tomou massa, e a amassou, e fez bolos diante dos seus olhos, e cozeu os bolos. 9 E tomou a assadeira 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 à câmara e comerei da tua mão. E tomou Tamar os bolos que fizera e os trouxe a Amnom, seu irmão, à câmara. 11 E, chegando-lhos, para que comesse, pegou dela e disse-lhe: Vem, deita-te comigo, irmã minha. 12 Porém ela lhe disse: Não, irmão meu, não me forces, porque não se faz assim em Israel; não faças tal loucura. 13 Porque, aonde iria eu com a minha vergonha? E tu serias como um dos loucos de Israel. Agora, pois, peço-te que fales ao rei, porque não me negará a ti. 14 Porém ele não quis dar ouvidos à sua voz; antes, sendo mais forte do que ela, a forçou e se deitou com ela.

15 Depois, Amnom a aborreceu com grandíssimo aborrecimento, porque maior era o aborrecimento com que a aborrecia do que o amor com que a amara. E disse-lhe Amnom: Levanta-te e vai-te. 16 Então, ela lhe disse: Não há razão de me despedires assim; maior seria este mal do que o outro que já me tens feito. Porém não lhe quis dar ouvidos. 17 E chamou a seu moço que o servia e disse: Deita a esta fora e fecha a porta após ela. 18 E trazia ela uma roupa de muitas cores (porque assim se vestiam as filhas virgens dos reis, com capas), e seu criado a deitou fora e fechou a porta após ela. 19 Então, Tamar tomou cinza sobre a sua cabeça, e a roupa de muitas cores que trazia rasgou, e pôs as mãos sobre a cabeça, e foi-se andando e clamando. 20 E Absalão, seu irmão, lhe disse: Esteve Amnom, teu irmão, contigo? Ora, pois, irmã minha, cala-te; é teu irmão. Não se angustie o teu coração por isso. Assim ficou Tamar e esteve solitária em casa de Absalão, seu irmão. 21 E, ouvindo o rei Davi todas essas coisas, muito se acendeu em ira. 22 Porém Absalão não falou com Amnom, nem mal nem bem; porque Absalão aborrecia a Amnom, por ter forçado a Tamar, sua irmã.

23 E aconteceu que, passados dois anos inteiros, Absalão tinha tosquiadores em Baal-Hazor, que está junto a Efraim, e convidou Absalão a todos os filhos do rei. 24 E veio Absalão ao rei e disse: Eis que teu servo tem tosquiadores; peço que o rei e os seus servos venham com o teu servo. 25 O rei, porém, disse a Absalão: Não, filho meu, não vamos todos juntos, para não te sermos pesados. E instou com ele; porém ele não quis ir, mas o abençoou. 26 Então, disse Absalão: Quando não, deixa ir conosco Amnom, meu irmão. Porém o rei lhe disse: Para que iria contigo? 27 E, instando Absalão com ele, deixou ir com ele a Amnom e a todos os filhos do rei. 28 E Absalão deu ordem aos seus moços, dizendo: Tomai sentido; quando o coração de Amnom estiver alegre do vinho, e eu vos disser: Feri a Amnom! Então, o matareis; não temais; porventura, não sou eu quem vo-lo ordenou? Esforçai-vos e sede valentes. 29 E os moços de Absalão fizeram a Amnom como Absalão lho havia ordenado. Então, todos os filhos do rei se levantaram, e montaram cada um no seu mulo, e fugiram.

30 E aconteceu que, estando eles ainda no caminho, veio a nova a Davi, de que se dizia: Absalão feriu todos os filhos do rei, e nenhum deles ficou. 31 Então, o rei se levantou, e rasgou as suas vestes, e se lançou por terra; da mesma maneira todos os seus servos estavam com vestes rotas. 32 Mas Jonadabe, filho de Simeia, irmão de Davi, respondeu e disse: Não diga o meu senhor que mataram a todos os jovens 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 do rei, meu senhor, tal coisa, dizendo: Morreram todos os filhos do rei; porque só morreu Amnom. 34 E Absalão fugiu. E o jovem que estava de guarda levantou os seus olhos e olhou; e eis que muito povo vinha pelo caminho por detrás dele, pela banda do monte. 35 Então, disse Jonadabe ao rei: Eis aqui vêm os filhos do rei; conforme a palavra de teu servo, assim sucedeu. 36 E aconteceu que, quando acabou de falar, os filhos do rei vieram, e levantaram a sua voz, e choraram; e também o rei e todos os seus servos choraram com mui grande choro.

37 Assim, Absalão fugiu e se foi a Talmai, filho de Amiúde, rei de Gesur. E Davi trouxe dó por seu filho todos aqueles dias. 38 Assim, Absalão fugiu e foi para Gesur; esteve ali três anos. 39 Então, tinha o rei Davi saudades de Absalão, porque já se tinha consolado acerca de Amnom, que era morto.

1 And it came to pass after this, that Abshalom the son of David had a handsome sister, whose name was Thamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 And Amnon worried himself so that he fell sick on account of Thamar his sister; for she was a virgin; and it was impossible in the eyes of Amnon to do her the least harm.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Yonadab, the son of Shim’ah, David’s brother; and Yonadab was a very sensible man.

4 And he said to him, Why art thou so wasted, O prince, morning after morning? Wilt thou not tell me? Then said Amnon to him, Thamar the sister of Abshalom my brother do I love.

5 And Yonadab said to him, Lie down on thy couch, and feign thyself sick; and when thy father cometh to see thee, thou must say unto him, Let, I pray thee, Thamar my sister come, and give me some food, and prepare the refreshment before my eyes, in order that I may see it, and eat it out of her hand.

6 So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Let, I pray thee, Thamar my sister come, and mix up before my eyes a couple of cakes, that I may enjoy them out of her hand.

7 Then did David send home to Thamar, saying, Do go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and prepare for him the refreshment.

8 So Thamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down; and she took the dough and kneaded, and mixed it up before his eyes, and baked the cakes;

9 And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat; and Amnon said, Cause every man to go out from me; and they went out, every man, from him.

10 And Amnon said to Thamar, Bring the refreshment into the chamber, that I may enjoy it out of thy hand. So Thamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them unto Amnon her brother into the chamber.

11 And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister.

12 But she said to him, No, my brother, do not violate me; for such a deed ought not to be done in Israel; do not this scandalous act!

13 And I, whither should I carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wouldst be like one of the worthless in Israel; but now, O speak, I pray thee, unto the king, for he will not withhold me from thee.

14 Nevertheless, he would not hearken unto her voice; but he overpowered her, and violated her, and lay with her.

15 Then did Amnon hate her with a very great hatred; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her; and Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

16 And she said unto him, Do not add this yet greater wrong than the other which thou hast done with me, to send me now away! But he would not listen to her;

17 And he called his young man, his servant, and said, Do send this woman away from me, into the street, and lock the door behind her.

18 And she had on a garment of divers colors; for thus were usually appareled the king’s daughters when virgins, in robes; and his servant brought her out into the street, and locked the door behind her.

19 And Thamar put ashes on her head, and the garment of divers colors which was on her she rent: and she placed her hand on her head, and went away and cried as she went along.

20 Then said to her Abshalom her brother, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now, my sister, keep silence, he is thy brother, take this thing not to thy heart. So Thamar remained, and was secluded in the house of Abshalom her brother.

21 And when king David heard all these things, it displeased him greatly.

22 And Abshalom spoke not with Amnon either bad or good; for Abshalom hated Amnon, because he had violated Thamar his sister.

23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Abshalom had sheep–shearers at Ba’al–chazor, which is near Ephraim; and Abshalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 And Abshalom came to the king, and said, Behold, now, thy servant hath sheep–shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

25 And the king said to Abshalom, No, my son, do not let us all go now, that we may not be a burden upon thee. And he urged him much, but he would not go, and he blessed him.

26 And Abshalom said, If not, let, I pray thee, Amnon my brother go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?

27 But Abshalom urged him greatly, and he sent with him Amnon and all the sons of the king.

28 Now Abshalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye, I pray you, when Annon’s heart is merry with wine, and I say unto you, Smite Amnon: then kill him, fear not; behold, it is I who command it you; be firm and show yourselves men of valor.

29 And the servants of Abshalom did unto Amnon as Abshalom had commanded. Then arose all the king’s sons, and they rode off, every man on his mule, and fled.

30 And it happened, while they were on the way, that the report came to David, saying, Abshalom hath smitten all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.

31 Then arose the king and rent his garments, and laid himself on the earth: and all his servants were standing by with their garments rent.

32 But Yonadab the son of Shim’ah, David’s brother, commenced and said, Let not my Lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king’s sons; since Amnon alone is dead; for by the command of Abshalom was this ordained from the day that he violated Thamar his sister.

33 And now let not my Lord the king take the thing to his heart, thinking, that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead.

34 And Abshalom flew away. And the young man that was watching lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by the way behind him, by the side of the mount.

35 And Yonadab said to the king, The king’s sons are come: according to the word of thy servant, so hath it come to pass.

36 And it happened, as he had just finished speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and they lifted up their voice and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept very much.

37 But Abshalom had fled; and he went to Talmai, the son of ‘Ammihud, the king of Geshur: and David mourned for his son all the time.

38 So did Abshalom fly, and go to Geshur, and he remained there three years.

39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Abshalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, that he was dead.