2Samuel:13-15

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* And it came to pass after this , that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister , whose name was Tamar ; and Amnon the son of David loved her . * And Amnon was so vexed , that he fell sick for his sister Tamar ; for she was a virgin ; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her . * But Amnon had a friend , whose name was Jonadab , the son of Shimeah David 's brother : and Jonadab was a very subtil man . * And he said unto him , Why art thou , being the king 's son , lean from day to day ? wilt thou not tell me ? And Amnon said unto him , I love Tamar , my brother Absalom 's sister . * And Jonadab said unto him , Lay thee down on thy bed , and make thyself sick : and when thy father cometh to see thee , say unto him , I pray thee , let my sister Tamar come , and give me meat , and dress the meat in my sight , that I may see it , and eat it at her hand . * So Amnon lay down , and made himself sick : and when the king was come to see him , Amnon said unto the king , I pray thee , let Tamar my sister come , and make me a couple of cakes in my sight , that I may eat at her hand . * Then David sent home to Tamar , saying , Go now to thy brother Amnon 's house , and dress him meat . * So Tamar went to her brother Amnon 's house ; and he was laid down . And she took flour , and kneaded it , and made cakes in his sight , and did bake the cakes . * And she took a pan , and poured them out before him ; but he refused to eat . And Amnon said , Have out all men from me . And they went out every man from him . * And Amnon said unto Tamar , Bring the meat into the chamber , that I may eat of thine hand . And Tamar took the cakes which she had made , and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother . * And when she had brought them unto him to eat , he took hold of her , and said unto her , Come lie with me , my sister . * And she answered him , Nay , my brother , do not force me ; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel : do not thou this folly . * And I , whither shall I cause my shame to go ? and as for thee , thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel . Now therefore , I pray thee , speak unto the king ; for he will not withhold me from thee . * Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice : but , being stronger than she , forced her , and lay with her . * Then Amnon hated her exceedingly ; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her . And Amnon said unto her , Arise , be gone . * And she said unto him , There is no cause : this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me . But he would not hearken unto her . * Then he called his servant that ministered unto him , and said , Put now this woman out from me , and bolt the door after her . * And she had a garment of divers colours upon her : for with such robes were the king 's daughters that were virgins apparelled . Then his servant brought her out , and bolted the door after her . * And Tamar put ashes on her head , and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her , and laid her hand on her head , and went on crying . * And Absalom her brother said unto her , Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee ? but hold now thy peace , my sister : he is thy brother ; regard not this thing . So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom 's house . * But when king David heard of all these things , he was very wroth . * And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad : for Absalom hated Amnon , because he had forced his sister Tamar . * And it came to pass after two full years , that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor , which is beside Ephraim : and Absalom invited all the king 's sons . * And Absalom came to the king , and said , Behold now , thy servant hath sheepshearers ; let the king , I beseech thee , and his servants go with thy servant . * And the king said to Absalom , Nay , my son , let us not all now go , lest we be chargeable unto thee . And he pressed him : howbeit he would not go , but blessed him . * Then said Absalom , If not , I pray thee , let my brother Amnon go with us . And the king said unto him , Why should he go with thee ? * But Absalom pressed him , that he let Amnon and all the king 's sons go with him . * Now Absalom had commanded his servants , saying , Mark ye now when Amnon 's heart is merry with wine , and when I say unto you , Smite Amnon ; then kill him , fear not : have not I commanded you ? be courageous , and be valiant . * And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded . Then all the king 's sons arose , and every man gat him up upon his mule , and fled . * And it came to pass , while they were in the way , that tidings came to David , saying , Absalom hath slain all the king 's sons , and there is not one of them left . * Then the king arose , and tare his garments , and lay on the earth ; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent . * And Jonadab , the son of Shimeah David 's brother , answered and said , Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king 's sons ; for Amnon only is dead : for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar . * Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart , to think that all the king 's sons are dead : for Amnon only is dead . * But Absalom fled . And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes , and looked , and , behold , there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him . * And Jonadab said unto the king , Behold , the king 's sons come : as thy servant said , so it is . * And it came to pass , as soon as he had made an end of speaking , that , behold , the king 's sons came , and lifted up their voice and wept : and the king also and all his servants wept very sore . * But Absalom fled , and went to Talmai , the son of Ammihud , king of Geshur . And David mourned for his son every day . * So Absalom fled , and went to Geshur , and was there three years . * And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom : for he was comforted concerning Amnon , seeing he was dead . * Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king 's heart was toward Absalom . * And Joab sent to Tekoah , and fetched thence a wise woman , and said unto her , I pray thee , feign thyself to be a mourner , and put on now mourning apparel , and anoint not thyself with oil , but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead : * And come to the king , and speak on this manner unto him . So Joab put the words in her mouth . * And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king , she fell on her face to the ground , and did obeisance , and said , Help , O king . * And the king said unto her , What aileth thee ? And she answered , I am indeed a widow woman , and mine husband is dead . * And thy handmaid had two sons , and they two strove together in the field , and there was none to part them , but the one smote the other , and slew him . * And , behold , the whole family is risen against thine handmaid , and they said , Deliver him that smote his brother , that we may kill him , for the life of his brother whom he slew ; and we will destroy the heir also : and so they shall quench my coal which is left , and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth . * And the king said unto the woman , Go to thine house , and I will give charge concerning thee . * And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king , My lord , O king , the iniquity be on me , and on my father 's house : and the king and his throne be guiltless . * And the king said , Whosoever saith ought unto thee , bring him to me , and he shall not touch thee any more . * Then said she , I pray thee , let the king remember the LORD thy God , that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more , lest they destroy my son . And he said , As the LORD liveth , there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth . * Then the woman said , Let thine handmaid , I pray thee , speak one word unto my lord the king . And he said , Say on . * And the woman said , Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God ? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty , in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished . * For we must needs die , and are as water spilt on the ground , which cannot be gathered up again ; neither doth God respect any person : yet doth he devise means , that his banished be not expelled from him . * Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king , it is because the people have made me afraid : and thy handmaid said , I will now speak unto the king ; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid . * For the king will hear , to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God . * Then thine handmaid said , The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable : for as an angel of God , so is my lord the king to discern good and bad : therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee . * Then the king answered and said unto the woman , Hide not from me , I pray thee , the thing that I shall ask thee . And the woman said , Let my lord the king now 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 the king , none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken : for thy servant Joab , he bade me , and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid : * To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing : and my lord is wise , according to the wisdom of an angel of God , to know all things that are in the earth . * And the king said unto Joab , Behold now , I have done this thing : go therefore , bring the young man Absalom again . * And Joab fell to the ground on his face , and bowed himself , and thanked the king : and Joab said , To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight , my lord , O king , in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant . * So Joab arose and went to Geshur , and brought Absalom to Jerusalem . * And the king said , Let him turn to his own house , and let him not see my face . So Absalom returned to his own house , and saw not the king 's face . * But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty : from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him . * And when he polled his head , (for it was at every year 's end that he polled it : because the hair was heavy on him , therefore he polled it :) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king 's weight . * And unto Absalom there were born three sons , and one daughter , whose name was Tamar : she was a woman of a fair countenance . * So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem , and saw not the king 's face . * Therefore Absalom sent for Joab , to have sent him to the king ; but he would not come to him : and when he sent again the second time , he would not come . * Therefore he said unto his servants , See , Joab 's field is near mine , and he hath barley there ; go and set it on fire . And Absalom 's servants set the field on fire . * Then Joab arose , and came to Absalom unto his house , and said unto him , Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire ? * And Absalom answered Joab , Behold , I sent unto thee , saying , Come hither , that I may send thee to the king , to say , Wherefore am I come from Geshur ? it had been good for me to have been there still : now therefore let me see the king 's face ; and if there be any iniquity in me , let him kill me . * So Joab came to the king , and told him : and when he had called for Absalom , he came to the king , and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king : and the king kissed Absalom . * And it came to pass after this , that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses , and fifty men to run before him . * And Absalom rose up early , and stood beside the way of the gate : and it was so , that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment , then Absalom called unto him , and said , Of what city art thou ? And he said , Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel . * And Absalom said unto him , See , thy matters are good and right ; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee . * Absalom said moreover , Oh that I were made judge in the land , that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me , and I would do him justice ! * And it was so , that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance , he put forth his hand , and took him , and kissed him . * And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment : so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel . * And it came to pass after forty years , that Absalom said unto the king , I pray thee , let me go and pay my vow , which I have vowed unto the LORD , in Hebron . * For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria , saying , If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem , then I will serve the LORD . * And the king said unto him , Go in peace . So he arose , and went to Hebron . * But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel , saying , As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet , then ye shall say , Absalom reigneth in Hebron . * And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem , that were called ; and they went in their simplicity , and they knew not any thing . * And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite , David 's counsellor , from his city , even from Giloh , while he offered sacrifices . And the conspiracy was strong ; for the people increased continually with Absalom . * And there came a messenger to David , saying , The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom . * And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem , Arise , and let us flee ; for we shall not else escape from Absalom : make speed to depart , lest he overtake us suddenly , and bring evil upon us , and smite the city with the edge of the sword . * And the king 's servants said unto the king , Behold , thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint . * And the king went forth , and all his household after him . And the king left ten women , which were concubines , to keep the house . * And the king went forth , and all the people after him , and tarried in a place that was far off . * And all his servants passed on beside him ; and all the Cherethites , and all the Pelethites , and all the Gittites , six hundred men which came after him from Gath , passed on before the king . * Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite , Wherefore goest thou also with us ? return to thy place , and abide with the king : for thou art a stranger , and also an exile . * Whereas thou camest but yesterday , should I this day make thee go up and down with us ? seeing I go whither I may , return thou , and take back thy brethren : mercy and truth be with thee . * And Ittai answered the king , and said , As the LORD liveth , and as my lord the king liveth , surely in what place my lord the king shall be , whether in death or life , even there also will thy servant be . * And David said to Ittai , Go and pass over . And Ittai the Gittite passed over , and all his men , and all the little ones that were with him . * And all the country wept with a loud voice , and all the people passed over : the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron , and all the people passed over , toward the way of the wilderness . * And lo Zadok also , and all the Levites were with him , bearing the ark of the covenant of God : and they set down the ark of God ; and Abiathar went up , until all the people had done passing out of the city . * And the king said unto Zadok , Carry back the ark of God into the city : if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD , he will bring me again , and shew me both it , and his habitation : * But if he thus say , I have no delight in thee ; behold , here am I , let him do to me as seemeth good unto him . * The king said also unto Zadok the priest , Art not thou a seer ? return into the city in peace , and your two sons with you , Ahimaaz thy son , and Jonathan the son of Abiathar . * See , I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness , until there come word from you to certify me . * Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem : and they tarried there . * And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet , and wept as he went up , and had his head covered , and he went barefoot : and all the people that was with him covered every man his head , and they went up , weeping as they went up . * And one told David , saying , Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom . And David said , O LORD , I pray thee , turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness . * And it came to pass , that when David was come to the top of the mount , where he worshipped God , behold , Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent , and earth upon his head : * Unto whom David said , If thou passest on with me , then thou shalt be a burden unto me : * But if thou return to the city , and say unto Absalom , I will be thy servant , O king ; as I have been thy father 's servant hitherto , so will I now also be thy servant : then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel . * And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests ? therefore it shall be , that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king 's house , thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests . * Behold , they have there with them their two sons , Ahimaaz Zadok 's son , and Jonathan Abiathar 's son ; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear . * So Hushai David 's friend came into the city , and Absalom came into Jerusalem . * And when David was a little past the top of the hill , behold , Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him , with a couple of asses saddled , and upon them two hundred loaves of bread , and an hundred bunches of raisins , and an hundred of summer fruits , and a bottle of wine .

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