2Samuel:13-15

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* And it came to pass after this , that Abshalom the son of David had a handsome sister , whose name was Thamar ; and Amnon the son of David loved her . * And Amnon worried himself so that he fell sick on account of Thamar his sister ; for she was a virgin ; and it was impossible in the eyes of Amnon to do her the least . * But Amnon had a friend , whose name was Yonadab , the son of Shim ’ah , David ’s brother ; and Yonadab was a very sensible man . * And he said to him , Why art thou so wasted , O prince , morning after morning ? Wilt thou not tell me ? Then said Amnon to him , Thamar the sister of Abshalom my brother do I love . * And Yonadab said to him , Lie down on thy couch , and feign thyself sick ; and when thy father cometh to see thee , thou must say unto him , Let , I pray thee , Thamar my sister come , and give me some food , and prepare the refreshment before my eyes , in order that I may see it , and eat it out of her hand . * So Amnon lay down , and feigned himself sick ; and when the king came to see him , Amnon said to the king , Let , I pray thee , Thamar my sister come , and mix up before my eyes a couple of cakes , that I may enjoy them out of her hand . * Then did David send home to Thamar , saying , Do go now to thy brother Amnon ’s house , and prepare for him the refreshment . * So Thamar went to the house of Amnon her brother , and he was lying down ; and she took the dough and kneaded , and mixed it up before his eyes , and baked the cakes ; * And she took the pan , and poured them out before him ; but he refused to eat ; and Amnon said , Cause every man to go out from me ; and they went out , every man , from him . * And Amnon said to Thamar , Bring the refreshment into the chamber , that I may enjoy it out of thy hand . So Thamar took the cakes which she had made , and brought them unto Amnon her brother into the chamber . * And when she had brought them near unto him to eat , he took hold of her , and said unto her , Come , lie with me , my sister . * But she said to him , No , my brother , do not violate me ; for such a deed ought not to be done in Israel ; do not this scandalous act ! * And I , whither should I carry my shame ? and as for thee , thou wouldst be like one of the worthless in Israel ; but now , O speak , I pray thee , unto the king , for he will not withhold me from thee . * Nevertheless , he would not hearken unto her voice ; but he overpowered her , and violated her , and lay with her . * Then did Amnon hate her with a very great hatred ; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her ; and Amnon said unto her , Arise , be gone . * And she said unto him , not add this yet greater wrong than the other which thou hast done with me , to send me away ! But he would not listen to her ; * And he called his young man , his servant , and said , Do send this woman away from me , into the street , and lock the door behind her . * And she had on a garment of divers colors ; for thus were usually appareled the king ’s daughters when virgins , in robes ; and his servant brought her out into the street , and locked the door behind her . * And Thamar put ashes on her head , and the garment of divers colors which was on her she rent : and she placed her hand on her head , and went away and cried as she went along . * Then said to her Abshalom her brother , Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee ? but now , my sister , keep silence , he is thy brother , take this thing not to thy heart . So Thamar remained , and was secluded in the house of Abshalom her brother . * And when king David heard all these things , it displeased him greatly . * And Abshalom spoke not with Amnon either bad or good ; for Abshalom hated Amnon , because he had violated Thamar his sister . * And it came to pass after two full years , that Abshalom had sheep –shearers at Ba ’al –chazor , which is near Ephraim ; and Abshalom invited all the king ’s sons . * And Abshalom came to the king , and said , Behold , now , thy servant hath sheep –shearers ; let the king , I pray thee , and his servants go with thy servant . * And the king said to Abshalom , No , my son , do not let us all go now , that we may not be a burden upon thee . And he urged him much , but he would not go , and he blessed him . * And Abshalom said , If not , let , I pray thee , Amnon my brother go with us . And the king said to him , Why should he go with thee ? * But Abshalom urged him greatly , and he sent with him Amnon and all the sons of the king . * Now Abshalom commanded his servants , saying , Mark ye , I pray you , when Annon ’s heart is merry with wine , and I say unto you , Smite Amnon : then kill him , fear not ; behold , it is I who command it you ; be firm and show yourselves men of valor . * And the servants of Abshalom did unto Amnon as Abshalom had commanded . Then arose all the king ’s sons , and they rode off , every man on his mule , and fled . * And it happened , while they were on the way , that the report came to David , saying , Abshalom hath smitten all the king ’s sons , and there is not one of them left . * Then arose the king and rent his garments , and laid himself on the earth : and all his servants were standing by with their garments rent . * But Yonadab the son of Shim ’ah , David ’s brother , commenced and said , Let not my Lord suppose that they have slain all the young men , the king ’s sons ; since Amnon alone is dead ; for by the command of Abshalom was this ordained from the day that he violated Thamar his sister . * And now let not my Lord the king take the thing to his heart , thinking , that all the king ’s sons are dead ; for Amnon alone is dead . * And Abshalom flew away . And the young man that was watching lifted up his eyes , and looked , and behold , many people were coming by the way behind him , by the side of the mount . * And Yonadab said to the king , The king ’s sons are come : according to the word of thy servant , so hath it come to pass . * And it happened , as he had just finished speaking , that , behold , the king ’s sons came , and they lifted up their voice and wept ; and also the king and all his servants wept very much . * But Abshalom had fled ; and he went to Talmai , the son of ‘Ammihud , the king of Geshur : and mourned for his son all the time . * So did Abshalom fly , and go to Geshur , and he remained there three years . * And king David longed to go forth unto Abshalom ; for he was comforted concerning Amnon , that he was dead . * And when now Joab the son of Zeruyah perceived that the heart of the king was toward Abshalom : * Then sent Joab to Tekoa ’, and he fetched thence a wise woman , and said to her , Feign . I pray thee , as though thou mournest , and do put on mourning garments , and anoint thyself not with oil ; but be as a woman that hath these many days been mourning for the dead . * And thou must come to the king and speak with him after these words : and Joab put the words into her mouth . * And the woman from Tekoa ’ spoke to the king , and fell on her face to the ground , and bowed herself , and said , Help , O king ! * And the king said unto her , What aileth thee ? And she said , Truly , I am a widow –woman ; since my husband is dead . * And thy hand –maid had two sons , and they two quarreled together in the field , and there was no one between them to help ; so the one smote the other , and slew him . * And , behold , the whole family is risen up against thy handmaid , and they said , Give up the slayer of his brother , that we may have him put to death , for the life of his brother whom he hath killed ; and we will destroy also the heir : and thus they will quench my coal which is remaining , so as not to allow to my husband either name or remainder upon the face of the earth . * And the king said unto the woman , Go to thy house , and I will issue charge concerning thee . * Then said the woman of Tekoa unto the king , On me , my Lord , O king , be the iniquity , and on my father ’s house : and may the king and his throne be guiltless . * And the king said , Whosoever speaketh aught unto thee , bring him to me , and he shall not touch thee any more . * Then said she , Let the king , I pray thee , remember the Lord thy God , so as not to suffer the avenger of the blood to cause yet more destruction , and that they may not destroy my son . And he said , As the Lord liveth , there shall not fall one hair of thy son to the earth . * Then said the woman , Let thy hand –maid , I pray thee , speak unto my Lord the king one word . And he said , Speak on . * And the woman said , Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God ? and since the king doth speak this thing , he is as a guilty man , if the king do not permit his banished one to return home . * For we must needs die , and are as water which is spilt on the ground , which cannot be gathered up again ; and yet doth God not take away life ; and he deviseth thoughts , so that the banished one may not remain banished from him . * And now that I am come to speak unto my Lord the king of this thing , because the people made me afraid ; and therefore thy hand –maid said , I will still speak unto the king ; perhaps the king may act the word of his hand –maid . * For the king may hear , to deliver his hand –maid out of the hand of the man to exterminate me and my son together out of the inheritance of God . * And thy hand –maid said , May the word of my Lord the king now become repose ; for as an angel of God , so is my Lord the king to comprehend the good and the bad : and may the Lord thy God be with thee . * Then answered the king and said unto the woman , Conceal not , I pray thee , from me a word concerning what I am going to ask thee . And the woman said , Let my Lord the king but speak . * And the king said , Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this ? And the woman answered and said , As thy soul liveth , my Lord , O king ! none can turn to the right or to the left from all that my Lord the king hath spoken ; for it was thy servant Joab who hath bidden me , and it was he that hath put in the mouth of thy hand –maid all these words . * In order to change the appearance of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing : and my Lord is wise , according to the wisdom of an angel of God , to know all that is on the earth . * And the king said unto Joab , Behold , now , thou hast done this thing : go then , bring back the young man Abshalom . * And Joab fell on his face to the ground , and bowed himself , and blessed the king : and Joab said , Today is thy servant convinced that I have found grace in thy eyes , my Lord , O king ; since the king hath acted in accordance with the word of thy servant . * And Joab arose and went to Geshur , and brought Abshalom to Jerusalem . * And the king said , Let him repair to his own house , but my face he shall not see . So Abshalom repaired to his own house , but the king ’s face he did not see . * And like Abshalom there was no man as handsome in all Israel , so that he was greatly praised : from the sole of his foot up to the crown of his head there was no blemish on him . * And when he shaved off his head he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king ’s weight . * And there was born unto Abshalom three sons and one daughter , whose name was Thamar : this one was a woman of handsome appearance . * And Abshalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem , and the king ’s face he did not see . * Abshalom sent out therefore for Joab , to send him to the king ; but he would not come to him : and he sent again the second time ; but he would not come . * He thereupon said unto his servants , See , Joab ’s field is alongside of mine , and he hath barley there : go and set it on fire . And Abshalom ’s servants set the field on fire . * Then did Joab arise , and he went to Abshalom unto his house , and said unto him , Wherefore have thy servants set the field belonging to me on fire ? * And Abshalom said to Joab , Behold , I had sent unto thee , saying , Come hither , that I may send thee to the king , to say , Wherefore am I come from Geshur ? it would be better for me were I yet there : and now let me see the king ’s face ; and if there be any iniquity in me , let him put me to death . * So Joab went to the king , and told it to him : and he called for Abshalom , who came to the king , and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king ; and the king kissed Abshalom . * And it came to pass after this , that Abshalom provided for himself a chariot and horses , and fifty men who ran before him . * And Abshalom rose up early , and stood on the side of the way to the gate : and it happened , that whenever a man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment , Abshalom called to him , and said , From what city art thou ? And he said , Thy servant is from one of the tribes of Israel . * And Abshalom said unto him , See , thy words are good and right ; but no one listeneth to thee on the part of the king . * And Abshalom said , Oh , if there were but one to appoint me judge in the land , so that every man who may have any controversy or cause might come unto me , and I would do him justice ! * And it happened , that when a man came nigh to bow down to him , he used to put forth his hand , and laid hold of him , and kissed him . * And Abshalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment : and thus did Abshalom steal the heart of the men of Israel . * And it came to pass at the end of forty years , that Abshalom said unto the king , Let me go , I pray thee , and fulfill my vow , which I have vowed unto the Lord , at Hebron . * For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria , saying , If the Lord will ever bring me back again to Jerusalem , then will I serve the Lord . * And the king said unto him , Go in peace : and he arose , and went to Hebron . * But Abshalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel , saying , When ye hear the sound of the cornet , then shall ye say , Abshalom is become king at Hebron . * And with Abshalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem , who were invited , and going in their simplicity ; and they knew of nothing whatever . * And Abshalom sent for Achithophel the Gilomite , David ’s counsellor , from his city , from Giloh , while he offered the sacrifices . And the conspiracy became strong ; and the people increased continually with Abshalom . * And there came a news –bearer to David , saying , the heart of the men of Israel is turned after Abshalom . * And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem , Arise , and let us flee ; for there will not be any escape for us from Abshalom : make haste , to depart , lest he make haste and overtake us suddenly and overwhelm us with evil , and smite the city with the edge of the sword . * And the king ’s servants said unto the king , In accordance with all that my Lord the king may choose , are thy servants ready . * And the king went forth , and all his household in his train . And the king left behind ten women , who were concubines , to guard the house . * And the king went forth , and all the people in his train , and tarried in a place that was far off . * And all his servants passed on alongside of him , and all the Kerethites , and all the Pelethites ; and all the Gittites , six hundred men , who were come in his train from Gath , passed on before the king . * Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite , Wherefore wilt thou also go with us ? turn back and abide with the king ; for thou art a stranger , and also an exile from thy place . * Yesterday thou camest ; and today should I move thee about with us to wander ? seeing that I go whither I may : return thou , and take back thy brethren with thee , in kindness and truth . * And Ittai answered the king , and said , As the Lord liveth , and as my Lord the king liveth , surely in whatever place my Lord the king may be , whether for death or for life , even there will thy servant be . * And David said then to Ittai , Go and pass on . And Ittai the Gittite passed on , and all his men , and all the little ones that were with him . * And all the country wept with a loud voice , as all the people passed on : and the king passed over the brook Kidron , and all the people passed over , along the way to the wilderness . * And lo , Zadok also , and all the Levites with him , were bearing the ark of the covenant of God ; and they set down the ark of God ; and Ebyathar went up , until all the people had finished passing out of the city . * And the king said unto Zadok , Carry back the ark of God into the city ; if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord , he will bring me back again , and show me both it , and his dwelling ; * But if he should thus say , I have no delight in thee : here am I , let him do to me as seemeth good in his eyes . * The king said also unto Zadok the priest , If thou see the justice of this , return to the city in peace : and your two sons , Achima ’az thy son , and Jonathan the son of Ebyathar , are with you . * See , I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness , until there come word from you to bring me news . * Zadok therefore and Ebyathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem : and they remained there . * And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives , weeping as he went up , and had his head covered , and he was walking barefoot : and all the people that were with him covered every man his head , and they went up , weeping as they went up . * And some one told David , saying , Achithophel is among the conspirators with Abshalom . And David said , I pray thee , turn into foolishness the counsel of Achithophel , O Lord ! * And it came to pass , that , when David was come to the top , where he used to bow himself down to God , behold , Chushai the Arkite came to meet him with his coat rent , and earth upon his head . * And David said unto him , If thou passest on with me , thou wouldst be a burden unto me ; * But if thou shouldst return to the city , and say unto Abshalom , Thy servant will I be , O king ; thy father ’s servant have I been this long time past , and now will I also be thy servant : then mightest thou defeat for me the counsel of Achithophel . * And , behold , thou hast with thee there Zadok and Ebyathar the priests ; therefore shall it be , that what thing soever thou mayest hear out of the king ’s house , shalt thou tell to Zadok and Ebyathar the priests . * Behold , they have there with them their two sons . Achima ’az for Zadok , and Jonathan for Ebyathar : and ye shall send by means of them unto me whatever thing ye can hear . * So Chushai , David ’s friend , came into the city , as Abshalom had just resolved to enter into Jerusalem . * And when David was passed a little beyond the top , behold , Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came toward him , with a couple of asses saddled , and upon them two hundred loaves of bread , and a hundred bunches of raisins , and a hundred of dried figs , and a bottle of wine .

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