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 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.

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

4 He said to him, “Why, son of the king,
are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you
tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my
brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 Jonadabsaidtohim, “Laydownonyour
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,
thatI may see it and eat itfrom her hand.’ ”

6 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 inmy sight,thatImay eatfromher
hand.”

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now 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. She took
dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight,
and baked the cakes.

9 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.

10 Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food
into the room, that I may eat from your
hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she
hadmade, andbroughttheminto the room
to Amnon her brother.

11 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!”

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!

13 As for me, where would I carry my
shame? And as for you, you will be as one
ofthe fools in Israel. Now therefore, please
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, 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. Amnon
said to her, “Arise, be gone!”

16 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.

17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Now put this
woman out from me, and bolt the door
after her.”

18 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.

19 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 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.”
So Tamar remained desolate in her
brother Absalom’s house.