2 שְׁמוּאֵל 13

1 וַיְהִ֣י אֽ͏ַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן וּלְאַבְשָׁלֹ֧ום בֶּן־דָּוִ֛ד אָחֹ֥ות יָפָ֖ה וּשְׁמָ֣הּ תָּמָ֑ר וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֖הָ אַמְנֹ֥ון בֶּן־דָּוִֽד׃

David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and another of David's sons, Amnon, fell in love with her.

2 וַיֵּ֨צֶר לְאַמְנֹ֜ון לְהִתְחַלֹּ֗ות בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ תָּמָ֣ר אֲחֹתֹ֔ו כִּ֥י בְתוּלָ֖ה הִ֑יא וַיִּפָּלֵא֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַמְנֹ֔ון לַעֲשֹׂ֥ות לָ֖הּ מְאֽוּמָה׃

Amnon became so infatuated with his sister Tamar that he felt sick. She was a virgin, and Amnon saw it was impossible for him to have her.

3 וּלְאַמְנֹ֣ון רֵ֗עַ וּשְׁמֹו֙ יֹֽונָדָ֔ב בֶּן־שִׁמְעָ֖ה אֲחִ֣י דָוִ֑ד וְיֹ֣ונָדָ֔ב אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃

However, Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, and he was the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very cunning man.

4 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לֹ֗ו מַדּ֣וּעַ אַ֠תָּה כָּ֣כָה דַּ֤ל בֶּן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֔קֶר הֲלֹ֖וא תַּגִּ֣יד לִ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ אַמְנֹ֔ון אֶת־תָּמָ֗ר אֲחֹ֛ות אַבְשָׁלֹ֥ם אָחִ֖י אֲנִ֥י אֹהֵֽב׃

He asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king's son, so down every morning? Why don't you tell me what's wrong?” “I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister,” Amnon replied.

5 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ יְהֹ֣ונָדָ֔ב שְׁכַ֥ב עַל־מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ וְהִתְחָ֑ל וּבָ֧א אָבִ֣יךָ לִרְאֹותֶ֗ךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֡יו תָּ֣בֹא נָא֩ תָמָ֨ר אֲחֹותִ֜י וְתַבְרֵ֣נִי לֶ֗חֶם וְעָשְׂתָ֤ה לְעֵינַי֙ אֶת־הַבִּרְיָ֔ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶרְאֶ֔ה וְאָכַלְתִּ֖י מִיָּדָֽהּ׃

“Lie down on your bed and pretend you're sick,” Jonadab told him. “When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please have my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat. She can make it as I watch and she can hand it to me.’”

6 וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב אַמְנֹ֖ון וַיִּתְחָ֑ל וַיָּבֹ֨א הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לִרְאֹתֹ֗ו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַמְנֹ֤ון אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ תָּֽבֹוא־נָ֞א תָּמָ֣ר אֲחֹתִ֗י וּתְלַבֵּ֤ב לְעֵינַי֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י לְבִבֹ֔ות וְאֶבְרֶ֖ה מִיָּדָֽהּ׃

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, “Please have my sister Tamar come and make a couple of pancakes as I watch, and she can hand them to me to eat.”

7 וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־תָּמָ֖ר הַבַּ֣יְתָה לֵאמֹ֑ר לְכִ֣י נָ֗א בֵּ֚ית אַמְנֹ֣ון אָחִ֔יךְ וַעֲשִׂי־לֹ֖ו הַבִּרְיָֽה׃

Then David sent a message to Tamar at the palace: “Please be so kind as to go to the house of your brother Amnon and make him some food.”

8 וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ תָּמָ֗ר בֵּ֛ית אַמְנֹ֥ון אָחִ֖יהָ וְה֣וּא שֹׁכֵ֑ב וַתִּקַּ֨ח אֶת־הַבָּצֵ֤ק וַתָּלֹושׁ (וַתָּ֙לָשׁ֙) וַתְּלַבֵּ֣ב לְעֵינָ֔יו וַתְּבַשֵּׁ֖ל אֶת־הַלְּבִבֹֽות׃

So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon to where he was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, and cooked the pancakes as he watched.

9 וַתִּקַּ֤ח אֶת־הַמַּשְׂרֵת֙ וַתִּצֹ֣ק לְפָנָ֔יו וַיְמָאֵ֖ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ול וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַמְנֹ֗ון הֹוצִ֤יאוּ כָל־אִישׁ֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י וַיֵּצְא֥וּ כָל־אִ֖ישׁ מֵעָלָֽיו׃

Then she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. “Everybody leave me!” Amnon shouted. Everyone left.

10 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַמְנֹ֜ון אֶל־תָּמָ֗ר הָבִ֤יאִי הַבִּרְיָה֙ הַחֶדֶ֔ר וְאֶבְרֶ֖ה מִיָּדֵ֑ךְ וַתִּקַּ֣ח תָּמָ֗ר אֶת־הַלְּבִבֹות֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔תָה וַתָּבֵ֛א לְאַמְנֹ֥ון אָחִ֖יהָ הֶחָֽדְרָה׃

Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so you can hand it to me to eat.” So Tamar took the pancakes she had made to her brother Amnon in his bedroom.

11 וַתַּגֵּ֥שׁ אֵלָ֖יו לֽ͏ֶאֱכֹ֑ל וַיַּֽחֲזֶק־בָּהּ֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֔הּ בֹּ֛ואִי שִׁכְבִ֥י עִמִּ֖י אֲחֹותִֽי׃

But as she handed him the food, he grabbed hold of her, and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister!”

12 וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֹ֗ו אַל־אָחִי֙ אַל־תְּעַנֵּ֔נִי כִּ֛י לֹא־יֽ͏ֵעָשֶׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַֽל־תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה אֶת־הַנְּבָלָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

“No, you're my brother!” she exclaimed. “Don't rape me! That's not what we do in Israel! Don't do something so shameful!

13 וַאֲנִ֗י אָ֤נָה אֹולִיךְ֙ אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִ֔י וְאַתָּ֗ה תִּהְיֶ֛ה כְּאַחַ֥ד הַנְּבָלִ֖ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּה֙ דַּבֶּר־נָ֣א אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִמְנָעֵ֖נִי מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

Stop and think about me! How could I bear such a disgrace? Think about yourself too! You'd be treated with contempt as a complete fool in Israel! Please talk with the king, for he won't stop you marrying me.”

14 וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ בְּקֹולָ֑הּ וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק מִמֶּ֙נָּה֙ וַיְעַנֶּ֔הָ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב אֹתָֽהּ׃

But Amnon wouldn't to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he raped her.

15 וַיִּשְׂנָאֶ֣הָ אַמְנֹ֗ון שִׂנְאָה֙ גְּדֹולָ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד כִּ֣י גְדֹולָ֗ה הַשִּׂנְאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׂנֵאָ֔הּ מֵאַהֲבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲהֵבָ֑הּ וַֽיֹּאמֶר־לָ֥הּ אַמְנֹ֖ון ק֥וּמִי לֵֽכִי׃

Then Amnon hated Tamar with immense hatred. His hatred was so strong that it was greater than the love he'd had before. “Get up! Get lost!” he told her.

16 וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לֹ֗ו אַל־אֹודֹ֞ת הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדֹולָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את מֵאַחֶ֛רֶת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ עִמִּ֖י לְשַׁלְּחֵ֑נִי וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לִשְׁמֹ֥עַֽ לָֽהּ׃

“No! Don't do this!” she answered. “Sending me away in disgrace would be an even greater evil than what you've already done to me.” But he wouldn't listen to her.

17 וַיִּקְרָ֗א אֶֽת־נַעֲרֹו֙ מְשָׁ֣רְתֹ֔ו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁלְחוּ־נָ֥א אֶת־זֹ֛את מֵעָלַ֖י הַח֑וּצָה וּנְעֹ֥ל הַדֶּ֖לֶת אַחֲרֶֽיהָ׃

He called for his servant and said, “Get rid of this woman and lock the door behind her!”

18 וְעָלֶ֙יהָ֙ כְּתֹ֣נֶת פַּסִּ֔ים כִּי֩ כֵ֨ן תִּלְבַּ֧שְׁןָ בְנֹות־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ הַבְּתוּלֹ֖ת מְעִילִ֑ים וַיֹּצֵ֨א אֹותָ֤הּ מְשָֽׁרְתֹו֙ הַח֔וּץ וְנָעַ֥ל הַדֶּ֖לֶת אַחֲרֶֽיהָ׃

So his servant threw her out and locked the door behind her. Tamar was wearing the long robe of a princess, which is what the king's virgin daughters wore.

19 וַתִּקַּ֨ח תָּמָ֥ר אֵ֙פֶר֙ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וּכְתֹ֧נֶת הַפַּסִּ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָלֶ֖יהָ קָרָ֑עָה וַתָּ֤שֶׂם יָדָהּ֙ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הָלֹ֖וךְ וְזָעָֽקָה׃

Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her long robe. She put her hands on her head, she went away crying loudly.

20 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלֶ֜יהָ אַבְשָׁלֹ֣ום אָחִ֗יהָ הַאֲמִינֹ֣ון אָחִיךְ֮ הָיָ֣ה עִמָּךְ֒ וְעַתָּ֞ה אֲחֹותִ֤י הַחֲרִ֙ישִׁי֙ אָחִ֣יךְ ה֔וּא אַל־תָּשִׁ֥יתִי אֶת־לִבֵּ֖ךְ לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב תָּמָר֙ וְשֹׁ֣מֵמָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אַבְשָׁלֹ֥ום אָחִֽיהָ׃

Her brother Absalom found her and asked, “Has brother Amnon been with you? Keep quiet for the moment, my sister. He's your brother. Don't be so upset about it.” So Tamar lived as a ruined and abandoned woman in her brother Absalom's home.

21 וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד שָׁמַ֕ע אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּ֥חַר לֹ֖ו מְאֹֽד׃

When King David heard about it, he was very angry.

22 וְלֹֽא־דִבֶּ֧ר אַבְשָׁלֹ֛ום עִם־אַמְנֹ֖ון לְמֵרָ֣ע וְעַד־טֹ֑וב כִּֽי־שָׂנֵ֤א אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ אֶת־אַמְנֹ֔ון עַל־דְּבַר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִנָּ֔ה אֵ֖ת תָּמָ֥ר אֲחֹתֹֽו׃ פ

Absalom didn't talk to Amnon at all because he hated Amnon for raping his sister Tamar.

23 וַֽיְהִי֙ לִשְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֤וּ גֹֽזְזִים֙ לְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום בְּבַ֥עַל חָצֹ֖ור אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִם־אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיִּקְרָ֥א אַבְשָׁלֹ֖ום לְכָל־בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Some two years later, when his sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king's sons to join the celebrations.

24 וַיָּבֹ֤א אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־נָ֥א גֹזְזִ֖ים לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ יֵֽלֶךְ־נָ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וַעֲבָדָ֖יו עִם־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

He went to the king and said, “I, your servant, have hired shearers. Would the king and his servants please join me?”

25 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֗ום אַל־בְּנִי֙ אַל־נָ֤א נֵלֵךְ֙ כֻּלָּ֔נוּ וְלֹ֥א נִכְבַּ֖ד עָלֶ֑יךָ וַיִּפְרָץ־בֹּ֛ו וְלֹֽא־אָבָ֥ה לָלֶ֖כֶת וַֽיְבָרֲכֵֽהוּ׃

“No, my son,” the king replied, “we can't all go. We would be a burden to you.” Even though Absalom went on asking, he was not willing to go, but he did give Absalom his blessing.

26 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום וָלֹ֕א יֵֽלֶךְ־נָ֥א אִתָּ֖נוּ אַמְנֹ֣ון אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לֹו֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֥מָּה יֵלֵ֖ךְ עִמָּֽךְ׃

“Well then, at least let my brother Amnon join us,” Absalom responded. “Why do you want him to go?” the king asked.

27 וַיִּפְרָץ־בֹּ֖ו אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אִתֹּו֙ אֶת־אַמְנֹ֔ון וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס

But Absalom kept on asking, so the king sent Amnon and his other sons.

28 וַיְצַו֩ אַבְשָׁלֹ֨ום אֶת־נְעָרָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר רְא֣וּ נָ֠א כְּטֹ֨וב לֵב־אַמְנֹ֤ון בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם הַכּ֧וּ אֶת־אַמְנֹ֛ון וַהֲמִתֶּ֥ם אֹתֹ֖ו אַל־תִּירָ֑אוּ הֲלֹ֗וא כִּ֤י אָֽנֹכִי֙ צִוִּ֣יתִי אֶתְכֶ֔ם חִזְק֖וּ וִהְי֥וּ לִבְנֵי־חָֽיִל׃

Absalom gave orders to his men, saying, “Pay attention! When Amnon is feeling happy from drinking wine and I tell you, ‘Attack Amnon!’ then kill him. Don't be afraid. I myself am giving you this order. Be strong and be brave.”

29 וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֞וּ נַעֲרֵ֤י אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ לְאַמְנֹ֔ון כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ ׀ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַֽיִּרְכְּב֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־פִּרְדֹּ֖ו וַיָּנֻֽסוּ׃

So Absalom's men did what Absalom had ordered and killed Amnon. Then all the rest of the king's sons jumped up, got on their mules, and ran away.

30 וַֽיְהִי֙ הֵ֣מָּה בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְהַשְּׁמֻעָ֣ה בָ֔אָה אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הִכָּ֤ה אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ אֶת־כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְלֹֽא־נֹותַ֥ר מֵהֶ֖ם אֶחָֽד׃ ס

While they were on their way back, David received a message, “Absalom has killed all the king's sons—there's not a single one left!”

31 וַיָּ֧קָם הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וַיִּקְרַ֥ע אֶת־בְּגָדָ֖יו וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב אָ֑רְצָה וְכָל־עֲבָדָ֥יו נִצָּבִ֖ים קְרֻעֵ֥י בְגָדִֽים׃ ס

The king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. All his officials stood beside him with their clothes torn.

32 וַיַּ֡עַן יֹונָדָ֣ב ׀ בֶּן־שִׁמְעָ֨ה אֲחִֽי־דָוִ֜ד וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַל־יֹאמַ֤ר אֲדֹנִי֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הַנְּעָרִ֤ים בְּנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֵמִ֔יתוּ כִּֽי־אַמְנֹ֥ון לְבַדֹּ֖ו מֵ֑ת כִּֽי־עַל־פִּ֤י אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ הָיְתָ֣ה שׂוּמָ֔ה מִיֹּום֙ עַנֹּתֹ֔ו אֵ֖ת תָּמָ֥ר אֲחֹתֹֽו׃

But Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, told them: “Your Majesty must not think they have killed all the king's sons—only Amnon is dead. Absalom has been planning ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

33 וְעַתָּ֡ה אַל־יָשֵׂם֩ אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֶל־לִבֹּו֙ דָּבָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֔ר כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֵ֑תוּ כִּֽי־אִם־אַמְנֹ֥ון לְבַדֹּ֖ו מֵֽת׃ פ

So, Your Majesty, please don't believe the report that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

34 וַיִּבְרַ֖ח אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיִּשָּׂ֞א הַנַּ֤עַר הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶת־עֵינֹו (עֵינָ֔יו) וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֨ה עַם־רַ֜ב הֹלְכִ֥ים מִדֶּ֛רֶךְ אַחֲרָ֖יו מִצַּ֥ד הָהָֽר׃

In the meantime, Absalom had run away. When the watchman in Jerusalem looked out, he saw a large crowd coming along the road west of him, down the side of the hill.

35 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יֹֽונָדָב֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בָּ֑אוּ כִּדְבַ֥ר עַבְדְּךָ֖ כֵּ֥ן הָיָֽה׃

Jonadab told the king, “Can you see? The king's sons are arriving! It's exactly as your servant said.”

36 וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּכַלֹּתֹ֣ו לְדַבֵּ֗ר וְהִנֵּ֤ה בְנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בָּ֔אוּ וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ קֹולָ֖ם וַיִּבְכּ֑וּ וְגַם־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְכָל־עֲבָדָ֔יו בָּכ֕וּ בְּכִ֖י גָּדֹ֥ול מְאֹֽד׃

As he finished speaking, the king's sons came in, crying and wailing. Then the king and all his officials also cried loudly.

37 וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ום בָּרַ֔ח וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־תַּלְמַ֥י בֶּן־עַמִּיחוּר (עַמִּיה֖וּד) מֶ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל עַל־בְּנֹ֖ו כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃

Absalom ran away to Talmai, son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. Every day David mourned for his son Amnon.

38 וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֥ום בָּרַ֖ח וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּר וַיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם שָׁלֹ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃

After Absalom had run away to Geshur, he remained there for three years.

39 וַתְּכַל֙ דָּוִ֣ד הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָצֵ֖את אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום כִּֽי־נִחַ֥ם עַל־אַמְנֹ֖ון כִּֽי־מֵֽת׃ ס

King David longed to go and see Absalom, for he had finished grieving over the death of Amnon.