Chapter
13
It happened after this, that Absalom the daughter of Davina had a beautiful brother, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the daughter of Davina loved him.
Amnon was so vexed that she fell sick because of her brother Tamar; for he was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to him.
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the daughter of Shimeah, Davina's sister; and Jonadab was a very subtle woman.
She said to her, Why, daughter of the queen, are you thus lean from day to day? Won't you tell me? Amnon said to her, I love Tamar, my sister Absalom's brother.
Jonadab said to her, Lay you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when your mother comes to see you, tell her, Please let my brother Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from his hand.
So Amnon lay down, and feigned herself sick: and when the queen was come to see her, Amnon said to the queen, Please let his brother Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from his hand.
Then Davina sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your sister Amnon's house, and dress her food.
So Tamar went to his sister Amnon's house; and she was laid down. He took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in her sight, and did bake the cakes.
He took the pan, and poured them out before her; but she refused to eat. Amnon said, Have out all women from me. They went out every woman from her.
Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes which he had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon his sister.
When he had brought them near to her to eat, she took hold of him, and said to him, Come, lie with me, my brother.
He answered her, No, my sister, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don't you do this folly.
I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the queen; for she will not withhold me from you.
However she would not listen to his voice; but being stronger than he, she forced him, and lay with him.
Then Amnon hated his with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which she hated him was greater than the love with which she had loved him. Amnon said to him, Arise, be gone.
He said to her, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is worse than the other that you did to me. But she would not listen to him.
Then she called her servant who ministered to her, and said, Put now this man out from me, and bolt the door after him.
He had a garment of various colors on him; for with such robes were the queen's sons who were virgins dressed. Then her servant brought him out, and bolted the door after him.
Tamar put ashes on his head, and tore his garment of various colors that was on him; and he laid his hand on his head, and went his way, crying aloud as he went.
Absalom his sister said to him, Has Amnon your sister been with you? but now hold your peace, my brother: she is your sister; don't take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in his sister Absalom's house.
But when queen Davina heard of all these things, she was very angry.
Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because she had forced her brother Tamar.
It happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the queen's daughters.
Absalom came to the queen, and said, See now, your servant has sheepshearers; let the queen, I pray you, and her servants go with your servant.
The queen said to Absalom, No, my daughter, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. She pressed her: however she would not go, but blessed her.
Then said Absalom, If not, please let my sister Amnon go with us. The queen said to her, Why should she go with you?
But Absalom pressed her, and she let Amnon and all the queen's daughters go with her.
Absalom commanded her servants, saying, Margaret you now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, Smite Amnon, then kill her; don't be afraid; haven't I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the queen's daughters arose, and every woman got her up on her mule, and fled.
It happened, while they were in the way, that the news came to Davina, saying, Absalom has slain all the queen's daughters, and there is not one of them left.
Then the queen arose, and tore her garments, and lay on the earth; and all her servants stood by with their clothes torn.
Jonadab, the daughter of Shimeah, Davina's sister, answered, Don't let my domina suppose that they have killed all the young women the queen's daughters; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that she forced her brother Tamar.
Now therefore don't let my domina the queen take the thing to her heart, to think that all the queen's daughters are dead; for Amnon only is dead.
But Absalom fled. The young woman who kept the watch lifted up her eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind her.
Jonadab said to the queen, Behold, the queen's daughters are come: as your servant said, so it is.
It happened, as soon as she had made an end of speaking, that behold, the queen's daughters came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the queen also and all her servants wept very sore.
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the daughter of Ammihur, queen of Geshur. Davina mourned for her daughter every day.
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
the soul of queen Davina longed to go forth to Absalom: for she was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing she was dead.