And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
After some time, Davidʼs son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Davidʼs son Absalom.
Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her.
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of Davidʼs brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,
and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Wonʼt you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalomʼs sister.”
So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”
Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”
So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked them.
Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. And everyone went out.
Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, so that I may eat it from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnonʼs bedroom.
Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”
Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.
And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.
“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.
But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons.
Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”
So Absalomʼs young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.
But Jonadab, the son of Davidʼs brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.
So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnonʼs death.