1 After this Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin; and it was difficult in Amnon’s eyes to do anything to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

4 And he said to him, Why are you, the king’s son, so low morning after morning? Will you not tell me? Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

5 So Jonadab said to him, Lie down on your bed and make yourself sick. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food before my eyes, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.

6 So Amnon lay down and made himself sick; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me before my eyes, that I may eat from her hand.

7 And David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes 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, Have everyone go out from me. And they all went out from him.

10 And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the inner room, that I may eat from your hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the inner room.

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 should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!

13 And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.

14 However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, 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, Arise and go!

16 And she said to him, For what reason? This evil to send me away is worse than the other that you have done to me. But he would not listen to her.

17 Then he summoned his servant who attended him, and said, Send this woman out away from me, and bolt the door behind her.

18 And she had on a tunic of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such robes. And his servant brought her outside and bolted the door behind her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her tunic of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away, crying out as she went.

20 And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister. He is your 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 extremely furious.

22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had humbled his sister Tamar.

23 And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 And Absalom came to the king and said, Behold, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.

25 But the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you. And he pressed him, but he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then Absalom said, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?

27 But Absalom pressed him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Strike Amnon! then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.

29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. And all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.

30 And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!

31 So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon has died. For at the mouth of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he humbled his sister Tamar.

33 Now therefore, let not my lord the king take this word to heart, to think that all the king’s sons have died; for only Amnon has died.

34 Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the way along the hillside behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, Look! The king’s sons have come; according to your servant’s word, so it is.

36 So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that behold the king’s sons came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept with a very great weeping.

37 But Absalom had fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom had fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he had died.

1 E ACONTECEU depois disto 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 cousa alguma. 3 Tinha porém Amnom um amigo, cujo nome era Jonadabe, filho de Simeia, irmão de Davi: e era Jonadabe homem mui sagaz. 4 O qual 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 Amnon 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 sertã, 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 isto. Assim ficou Tamar, e esteve solitária em casa de Absalão seu irmão. 21 E, ouvindo o rei Davi todas estas cousas, 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 Balazor, 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 de Davi, de que se dizia: Absalão feriu a todos os filhos do rei, e nenhum deles ficou. 31 Então o rei se levantou, e rasgou os seus vestidos, e se lançou por terra: da mesma maneira todos os seus servos estavam com vestidos rotos. 32 Mas Jonadabe, filho de Simeia, irmão de Davi, respondeu, e disse: Não diga o meu senhor que mataram a 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 do rei meu senhor tal cousa, dizendo: Morreram todos os filhos do rei: porque só morreu Amnom. 34 E Absalão fugiu: e o mancebo 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 à 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 Amiur, 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.