2 Samuel 13:6-29

6So Amnon lay down on his bed. He pretended that he was ill. When the king came in to see him, Amnon said to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come in here. I want her to cook some little cakes while I watch her. Then she can feed me herself.’

7David sent a message to Tamar in the palace. He told her, ‘Go to your brother Amnon's house. Prepare some food for him to eat there.’

8So Tamar went to Amnon's house. He was lying down on his bed. She took some flour and water and she mixed them together. She made the cakes while he watched her. Then she baked them.

9Then she put the cakes on a plate and she put them in front of him. But he refused to eat them. Instead, Amnon said, ‘Everyone must go out and leave me alone here.’ So everyone left him alone with Tamar.

10Then Amnon said to Tamar, ‘Bring the food here into my bedroom. Then you can use your own hand to feed me.’ So Tamar took the cakes that she had made. She brought them to Amnon in his bedroom.

11But when she offered the cakes to him, he took hold of her. He said to her, ‘Come here, my sister! Come into bed with me.’

12Tamar answered him, ‘Do not do this, my brother! Do not make me ashamed. Nobody in Israel would do such a wicked thing. Do not be so foolish!

13Think about me. I would have to hide because of my shame. And people would say that you are the worst fool in Israel. No, you should speak to the king. I am sure that he will let you marry me.’

14But Amnon refused to listen to her. He was stronger than she was. So he took hold of her and he had sex with her.

15After that, Amnon hated Tamar very much. He now hated her more strongly than he had loved her. He said to her, ‘Go away from here!’

16But Tamar replied, ‘No, I will not go! If you send me away, that would be even worse. It would be more evil that what you have already done to me.’ But Amnon refused to listen to her.

17He called out to his own special servant. He told him, ‘Throw this woman out of my house! Then lock the door after she has gone.’

18So the servant took her out and then he locked the door. Tamar was wearing a beautiful long dress. All the king's daughters who were not yet married wore beautiful dresses like that.

19Now Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore the beautiful dress that she was wearing. She covered her head with her hands. She wept loudly as she went home.

20When her brother Absalom saw her, he said, ‘Has your brother Amnon done this to you? Now be quiet. Remember that he is your brother. So do not be too upset.’ After that, Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house. She was sad and lonely.

21When King David heard about what had happened, he was very angry.

22But Absalom would not say anything to Amnon, good or bad. He hated Amnon because he had brought shame on his sister, Tamar.

23Two years later, Absalom's men were cutting the wool from his sheep. They were in Baal Hazor, near to Ephraim's land. Absalom asked all the king's sons to meet him there.

24Then he went to the king and he said, ‘My men have started to cut the wool from my sheep. Please will your and your officers come and join us at this happy time?’

25King David replied to Absalom, ‘No, my son, we should not all go. It would cause you too much trouble.’ Absalom asked him again, but the king still refused to go. Instead, he asked God to bless Absalom.

26So Absalom said, ‘If you will not come with me, please let my brother Amnon come.’ The king said, ‘Why do you want him to go with you?’

27But Absalom asked the king more strongly. So the king agreed to send Amnon and all his other sons.

28Absalom then told his servants, ‘When Amnon has drunk a lot of wine I will tell you, “Knock him down!” Then you must kill him immediately. Do not be afraid. I am the one who is commanding you to do this. So be strong and brave.’

29So Absalom's men killed Amnon, as Absalom had told them to do. Then all the king's other sons got on their mules. They quickly rode away.