1 Depois de algum tempo, Amnom, filho de Davi, apaixonou-se por Tamar; ela era muito bonita e era irmã de Absalão, outro filho de Davi.2 Amnom ficou angustiado a ponto de adoecer por causa de sua meio-irmã Tamar, pois ela era virgem, e parecia-lhe impossível aproximar-se dela.3 Amnom tinha um amigo muito astuto chamado Jonadabe, filho de Siméia, irmão de Davi.4 Ele perguntou a Amnom: "Filho do rei, por que todo dia você está abatido? Quer me contar o que se passa? " Amnom lhe disse: "Estou apaixonado por Tamar, irmã de meu irmão Absalão".5 Então disse Jonadabe: "Vá para a cama e finja estar doente". "Quando seu pai vier visitá-lo, diga-lhe: Permite que minha irmã Tamar venha dar-me de comer. Gostaria que ela preparasse a comida aqui mesmo e me servisse. Assim poderei vê-la. "6 Amnom atendeu e deitou-se na cama, fingindo-se doente. Quando o rei foi visitá-lo, Amnom lhe disse: "Eu gostaria que minha irmã Tamar viesse e preparasse dois bolos aqui mesmo e me servisse".7 Davi mandou dizer a Tamar no palácio: "Vá à casa de seu irmão Amnom e prepare algo para ele comer".8 Assim, Tamar foi à casa de seu irmão, que estava deitado. Ela amassou a farinha, preparou os bolos na presença dele e os assou.9 Depois pegou a assadeira e lhe serviu os bolos, mas ele não quis comer. Então Amnom deu ordem para que todos saíssem; depois que todos saíram,10 Amnom disse a Tamar: "Traga os bolos e sirva-me aqui no meu quarto". Tamar levou os bolos que havia preparado ao quarto de seu irmão.11 Mas quando ela se aproximou para servi-lo, ele a agarrou e disse: "Deite-se comigo, minha irmã".12 Mas ela lhe disse: "Não, meu irmão! Não me faça essa violência. Não se faz uma coisa dessas em Israel! Não cometa essa loucura.13 O que seria de mim? Como eu poderia livrar-me da minha desonra? E o que seria de você? Você cairia em desgraça em Israel. Fale com o rei; ele deixará que eu me case com você".14 Mas Amnom não quis ouvir e, sendo mais forte que ela, violentou-a.15 Logo depois Amnom sentiu uma forte aversão por ela, mais forte que a paixão que sentira. E disse a ela: "Levante-se e saia! "16 Mas ela lhe disse: "Não, meu irmão, mandar-me embora seria pior do que o mal que você já me fez". Ele, porém, não quis ouvi-la,17 e chamando seu servo, disse-lhe: "Ponha esta mulher para fora daqui e tranque a porta".18 Então o servo a pôs para fora e trancou a porta. Ela estava vestindo uma túnica longa, pois esse era o tipo de roupa que as filhas virgens do rei usavam desde a puberdade.19 Tamar pôs cinza na cabeça, rasgou a túnica longa que estava usando e se pôs a caminho, com as mãos sobre a cabeça e chorando em alta voz.20 Absalão, seu irmão, lhe perguntou: "Seu irmão, Amnom, lhe fez algum mal? Agora, acalme-se, minha irmã; ele é seu irmão! Não se deixe dominar pela angústia". E Tamar, muito triste, ficou na casa de seu irmão Absalão.21 Ao saber de tudo isso, o rei Davi ficou furioso.22 E Absalão não falou nada com Amnom, nem bem, nem mal, embora o odiasse por ter violentado sua irmã Tamar.23 Dois anos depois, quando os tosquiadores de ovelhas de Absalão estavam em Baal-Hazor, perto da fronteira de Efraim, Absalão convidou todos os filhos do rei para se reunirem com ele.24 Absalão foi ao rei e lhe disse: "Eu, teu servo, estou tosquiando as ovelhas e gostaria que o rei e os seus conselheiros estivessem comigo".25 Respondeu o rei: "Não, meu filho. Não iremos todos, pois isso seria um peso para você". Embora Absalão insistisse, ele se recusou a ir, mas o abençoou.26 Então Absalão lhe disse: "Se não queres ir, permite, por favor, que o meu irmão Amnom vá conosco". O rei perguntou: "Mas, por que ele iria com você? "27 Mas Absalão insistiu tanto que o rei acabou deixando que Amnom e os seus outros filhos fossem com ele.28 Absalão ordenou aos seus homens: "Ouçam! Quando Amnom estiver embriagado de vinho e eu disser: ‘Matem Amnom! ’, vocês o matarão. Não tenham medo; eu assumo a responsabilidade. Sejam fortes e corajosos! "29 Assim os homens de Absalão mataram Amnom, obedecendo às suas ordens. Então todos os filhos do rei montaram em suas mulas e fugiram.30 Estando eles ainda a caminho, chegou a seguinte notícia ao rei: "Absalão matou todos os teus filhos; nenhum deles escapou".31 O rei levantou-se, rasgou as suas vestes, prostrou-se, e todos os conselheiros que estavam com ele também rasgaram as vestes.32 Mas, Jonadabe, filho de Siméia, irmão de Davi, disse: "Não pense o meu senhor que mataram todos os teus filhos. Somente Amnom foi morto. Essa era a intenção de Absalão desde o dia em que Amnom violentou Tamar, irmã dele.33 O rei, meu senhor, não deve acreditar que todos os seus filhos estão mortos. Apenas Amnom morreu".34 Enquanto isso, Absalão fugiu. Nesse meio tempo o sentinela viu muita gente que vinha pela estrada de Horonaim, descendo pela encosta da colina, e disse ao rei: "Vejo homens vindo pela estrada de Horonaim, na encosta da colina".35 E Jonadabe disse ao rei: "São os filhos do rei! Aconteceu como o teu servo disse".36 Acabando de falar, os filhos do rei chegaram, chorando em alta voz. Também o rei e todos os seus conselheiros choraram muito.37 Absalão fugiu para o território de Talmai, filho de Amiúde, rei de Gesur. E o rei Davi pranteava por seu filho todos os dias.38 Depois que Absalão fugiu para Gesur, e lá permaneceu três anos,39 a ira do rei contra Absalão cessou, pois ele se sentia consolado da morte de Amnom.

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 frustrated that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. And Jonadab was a very sly man.4 And he said to him, Why, O son of the king, are thou emaciated this way from day to day? Will thou not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.5 And Jonadab said to him, Lay down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick. And when thy father comes to see thee, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may se6 So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and make food for him.8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.9 And she took the pan, and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have all men out from me. And they went out every man from him.10 And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes that she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.11 And when she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lay 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 do thou this folly.13 And I, where shall I carry my shame? And as for thee, thou will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from thee.14 However he would not hearken to her voice, but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.15 Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred, for 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, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is [worse] than the other that thou did to me. But he would not hearken to her.17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, Put this woman out from me now, and bolt the door after her.18 And she had a garment of various colors upon her, for with such robes were the king's daughters who were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her. And she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.20 And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon thy brother been with thee? But now hold thy peace, my sister. He is thy brother. Do not take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.22 And Absalom spoke to 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 Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant has sheep-shearers. Let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.25 And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to thee. And he pressed him. However he would not go, but blessed him.26 Then Absalom said, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?27 But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.28 And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Notice ye now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon, then kill him. Fear not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant.29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got up upon his mule, and fled.30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, Absalom has 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 earth, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons, for Amnon only is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined fr33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead.34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who 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's sons have come; as thy 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's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very much.37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, 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.