After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 1Ch 3:92Sa 3:2-31Ch 3:22Sa 13:152Sa 14:271Ki 11:12Sa 11:2Gen 29:18 Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 1Ki 21:42Co 7:10Sng 5:8 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. 1Sa 16:91Co 3:192Sa 13:322Sa 14:19-202Sa 14:2Est 5:10Est 5:14Est 6:13 He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Est 5:13-14Isa 3:9Jer 8:12Lev 18:9Lev 20:17Luk 12:32Mic 7:31Ki 21:7
Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” Mrk 6:24-252Sa 16:21Act 23:15Pro 19:27Psa 50:18-19
So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” Gen 18:6Mat 13:33
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. She took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Then every man went out from him. Gen 45:1Jdg 3:19Jhn 3:20 Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother. When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!” Gen 39:11-12
She answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don’t you do this folly! Jdg 19:23Jdg 20:6Lev 20:17Gen 34:7Lev 18:11Lev 18:9Deu 22:29Gen 34:2 As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.” Gen 19:8Gen 20:12Jdg 19:24
However, he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. 2Sa 12:11Deu 22:25-27Est 7:8Jdg 20:5 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. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” Ezk 23:17
She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!”
But he would not listen to her. Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”
She had a garment of various colors on her, for the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her. Gen 37:3Jdg 5:30Gen 37:23Gen 37:32Psa 45:13-14 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. Jer 2:37Jos 7:62Sa 1:112Sa 1:21Sa 4:12Est 4:1Job 2:12Job 42:6 Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” Rom 12:19Gen 34:2Gen 46:15Pro 26:24
So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. Gen 34:71Sa 2:22-251Sa 2:292Sa 12:102Sa 12:52Sa 3:28-29Psa 101:8 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. Gen 31:24Lev 19:17-181Jn 2:111Jn 3:15Gen 24:501Jn 2:9Ecc 7:9Eph 4:26
After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 1Sa 25:4Gen 38:12-131Ki 1:191Ki 1:251Ki 1:91Sa 25:21Sa 25:361Sa 25:7 Absalom came to the king and said, “See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 2Sa 11:8-15Jer 41:6-7Psa 12:2Psa 55:21
The king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let’s not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him. 2Sa 14:22Act 16:15Gen 19:2-3Jdg 19:7-10Luk 14:23Luk 24:29Rut 2:4
Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” 2Sa 11:13-152Sa 20:92Sa 3:27Psa 55:21
The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. Pro 26:24-26 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!” Jdg 19:6Jdg 19:22Jdg 19:91Sa 25:36-38Nam 1:10Rut 3:71Ki 20:161Sa 22:17-18
The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got up on his mule and fled. 1Ki 1:332Sa 18:91Ki 21:11-131Sa 22:18-192Ki 1:9-12Gen 36:24Lev 19:19Mic 7:3
While they were on the way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left!”
Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 2Sa 1:112Sa 12:162Sa 3:31Gen 37:29Gen 37:34Job 1:20Jos 7:6 Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, “Don’t let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s 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. 1Sa 16:92Sa 13:3Gen 27:41Pro 24:11-12Psa 7:14 Now therefore don’t let 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.” 2Sa 19:19 But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him. 2Sa 13:37-38Amo 5:19Gen 4:8-14Pro 28:17 Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming! It is as your servant said.” As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voices and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly. 2Sa 12:212Sa 13:152Sa 18:33
But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day. 2Sa 3:32Sa 14:231Ch 3:22Sa 13:342Sa 14:32 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 2Sa 14:232Sa 14:322Sa 15:8 King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead. Gen 24:67Gen 37:35Gen 38:122Sa 12:19-23Deu 28:32Gen 31:30Php 2:26Psa 119:20