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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
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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
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But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah David’s brother and Jonadab was a very subtil man
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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 salom’s sister
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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
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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
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Then David sent home to Tamar saying Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house and dress him meat
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice but being stronger than she forced her and lay with her
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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
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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
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Then he called his servant that ministered unto him and said Put now this woman out from me and bolt the door after her
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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
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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
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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 salom’s house
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But when king David heard of all these things he was very wroth
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And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar
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And it came to pass after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor which is beside Ephraim and Absalom invited all the king’s sons
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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
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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
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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
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But Absalom pressed him that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him
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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
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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
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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
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Then the king arose and tare his garments and lay on the earth and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent
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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
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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
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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
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And Jonadab said unto the king Behold the king’s sons come as thy servant said so it is
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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
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But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud king of Geshur And David mourned for his son every day
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So Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years
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And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom for he was comforted concerning Amnon seeing he was dead