2 Samuel 3:2–3

¹NOW these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

²The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:

³The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.

⁴These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.

¹¶ Now these were the sonnes of Dauid, which were borne vnto him in Hebron. The first borne ^*Amnon, of Ahinoam the ^*Iesreelitesse: the second ^‖Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitesse:

²The third, Absalom the sonne of Maacha, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adoniah the sonne of Haggith:

³The fifth, Shephatia of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by ^*Eglah his wife.

⁴ These sixe were borne vnto him in Hebron, and there hee reigned seuen yeeres, and sixe moneths: and in Ierusalem he reigned thirty and three yeres.

⁴²And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

⁴³David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

⁴²And Abigail hasted, and rose, and rode vpon an asse, with fiue damosels of hers that went ^†after her; and she went after the messengers of Dauid, and became his wife.

⁴³Dauid also tooke Ahinoam ^*of Iezreel, and they were also both of them his wiues.

¹AND 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.

²And 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.

³But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

⁴And 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.

⁵And 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.

⁶¶ 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.

⁷Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.

⁸So 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.

⁹And 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.

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

¹²And 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.

¹³And 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.

¹⁴Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

¹⁵¶ 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.

¹⁶And 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.

¹⁷Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

¹⁸And 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.

¹⁹¶ 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.

²⁰And 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.

²¹¶ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

²²And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

²³¶ 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.

²⁴And 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.

²⁵And 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.

²⁶Then 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?

²⁷But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

²⁸¶ 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.

²⁹And 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.

¹¶ And it came to passe after this, that Absalom the sonne of Dauid had a faire sister, whose name was Tamar: and Amnon the sonne of Dauid loued her.

²And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sicke for his sister Tamar: for she was a virgine, and ^†Amnon thought it hard for him to doe any thing to her.

³But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Ionadab, the sonne of Shimeah, Dauids brother: and Ionadab was a very subtill man.

⁴And he saide vnto him, Why art thou, being the Kings sonne, ^†leane ^†from day to day? Wilt thou not tel me? and Amnon said vnto him, I loue Tamar my brother Absaloms sister.

⁵And Ionadab said vnto him, Lay thee downe on thy bed, and make thy selfe sicke: and when thy father commeth to see thee, say vnto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and giue me meat, and dresse the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eate it at her hand.

⁶¶ So Amnon lay downe, and made himselfe sicke: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said vnto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, & make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

⁷Then Dauid sent home to Tamar, saying, Goe now to thy brother Amnons house, and dresse him meat.

⁸So Tamar went to her brother Amnons house (and hee was laide downe) and she tooke ^‖flowre, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

⁹And she tooke a pan, and powred them out before him, but hee refused to eate: and Amnon said, Haue out all men from mee: And they went out euery man from him.

¹⁰And Amnon saide vnto Tamar, Bring the meate into the chamber, that I may eate of thine hand. And Tamar tooke the cakes which shee had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

¹¹And when shee had brought them vnto him to eate, hee tooke hold of her, and said vnto her, Come lye with mee, my sister.

¹²And she answered him, Nay, my brother, doe not ^†force me: for ^*†no such thing ought to bee done in Israel; doe not thou this folly.

¹³And I, whither shall I cause my shame to goe? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fooles in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, speake vnto the king, for he will not withhold me from thee.

¹⁴Howbeit hee would not hearken vnto her voice, but being stronger then shee, forced her, and lay with her.

¹⁵¶ Then Amnon hated her ^†exceedingly, so that the hatred wherwith he hated her, was greater then the loue wherewith hee had loued her: And Amnon said vnto her, Arise, be gone.

¹⁶And she said vnto him, There is no cause: this euill in sending me away, is greater then the other that thou diddest vnto me: But he would not hearken vnto her.

¹⁷Then hee called his seruant that ministred vnto him, and said, Put now this woman out from mee, and bolt the doore after her.

¹⁸And shee had a garment of diuers colours vpon her: for with such robes were the Kings daughters, that were virgins, apparelled. Then his seruant brought her out, and bolted the doore after her.

¹⁹¶ And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of diuers colours that was on her, and layde her hand on her head, and went on, crying.

²⁰And Absalom her brother sayde vnto her, Hath Amnon thy brother beene with thee? But holde nowe thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother, ^†regard not this thing. So Tamar remained ^†desolate in her brother Absaloms house.

²¹¶ But when King Dauid heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

²²And Absalom spake vnto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

²³¶ And it came to passe after two full yeeres, that Absalom had sheepeshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom inuited all the kings sonnes.

²⁴And Absalom came to the King, and said, Behold now, thy seruant hath sheepe-shearers, Let the King, I beseech thee, and his seruants, goe with thy seruant.

²⁵And the King sayde to Absalom, Nay, my sonne, let vs not all now goe, lest we be chargeable vnto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not goe, but blessed him.

²⁶Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon goe with vs. And the King said vnto him, Why should he goe with thee?

²⁷But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the kings sonnes goe with him.

²⁸¶ Now Absalom had commanded his seruants, saying, Marke yee now when Amnons heart is merrie with wine, and when I say vnto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, feare not: ^‖haue not I commanded you? be couragious, and be ^†valiant.

²⁹And the seruants of Absalom did vnto Amnon as Absalom had commanded: then all the Kings sonnes arose, and euery man ^†gate him vp vpon his mule, and fled.

³¶ Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

⁴Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

³¶ Reuben, thou art my first borne, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellencie of dignitie, and the excellencie of power:

⁴Unstable as water, ^†thou shalt not excell, because thou ^*wentest vp to thy fathers bed: then defiledst thou it. ^‖He went vp to my couche.

⁸¶ And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

⁸¶ And Dauid and his men went vp and inuaded the Geshurites, and the ^‖Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, euen vnto the land of Egypt.

¹NOW these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

¹¶ Now these were the sonnes of Dauid, which were borne vnto him in Hebron. The first borne ^*Amnon, of Ahinoam the ^*Iesreelitesse: the second ^‖Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitesse:

³Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

³Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife, Abigail: and shee was a woman of good vnderstanding, and of a beautifull countenance: but the man was churlish and euill in his doings, and hee was of the house of Caleb.

⁴²And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

⁴²And Abigail hasted, and rose, and rode vpon an asse, with fiue damosels of hers that went ^†after her; and she went after the messengers of Dauid, and became his wife.

²⁰And 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.

²¹¶ But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

²²And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

²³¶ 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.

²⁴And 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.

²⁵And 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.

²⁶Then 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?

²⁷But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

²⁸¶ 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.

²⁰And Absalom her brother sayde vnto her, Hath Amnon thy brother beene with thee? But holde nowe thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother, ^†regard not this thing. So Tamar remained ^†desolate in her brother Absaloms house.

²¹¶ But when King Dauid heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

²²And Absalom spake vnto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

²³¶ And it came to passe after two full yeeres, that Absalom had sheepeshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom inuited all the kings sonnes.

²⁴And Absalom came to the King, and said, Behold now, thy seruant hath sheepe-shearers, Let the King, I beseech thee, and his seruants, goe with thy seruant.

²⁵And the King sayde to Absalom, Nay, my sonne, let vs not all now goe, lest we be chargeable vnto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not goe, but blessed him.

²⁶Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon goe with vs. And the King said vnto him, Why should he goe with thee?

²⁷But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the kings sonnes goe with him.

²⁸¶ Now Absalom had commanded his seruants, saying, Marke yee now when Amnons heart is merrie with wine, and when I say vnto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, feare not: ^‖haue not I commanded you? be couragious, and be ^†valiant.

³⁷¶ But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

³⁸So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

³⁷¶ But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the sonne of ^‖Ammihud king of Geshur: and Dauid mourned for his sonne euery day.

³⁸So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three yeeres.

²So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.

²So Dauid went vp thither, and his two wiues also, Ahinoam the Iezreelitesse, and Abigail Nabals wife the Carmelite.

¹⁴Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashan-havoth-jair, unto this day.

¹⁴Iair the sonne of Manasseh tooke all the countrey of Argob, vnto the coastes of Geshuri, and Maachathi; and called them after his owne name, Bashan ^*Hauoth Iair, vnto this day.

¹³Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

¹³Neuerthelesse, the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwel among the Israelites vntill this day.

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¹MOREOVER Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

²And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

³And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

⁴And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

⁵Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

⁶And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

⁷And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

⁸For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

⁹Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

¹⁰And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

¹¹Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

¹²So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

¹³Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

¹⁴And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.

¹¶ Moreouer Ahithophel said vnto Absalom, Let mee nowe chuse out twelue thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after Dauid this night.

²And I wil come vpon him while hee is wearie and weake handed, and wil make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee, and I will smite the king onely.

³And I wil bring backe all the people vnto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

⁴And the saying ^†pleased Absalom well, and all the Elders of Israel.

⁵Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let vs heare likewise ^†what he saith.

⁶And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake vnto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this maner: shall we doe after his ^†saying? if not, speake thou.

⁷And Hushai said vnto Absalom, The counsell that Ahithophel hath ^†giuen, is not good at this time.

⁸For, (said Hushai,) thou knowest thy father and his men, that they bee mightie men, and they be ^†chafed in their minds, as a beare robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of warre, and will not lodge with the people.

⁹Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it wil come to passe when some of them bee ^†ouerthrowen at the first, that whosoeuer heareth it, wil say, There is a slaughter among the people that followe Absalom.

¹⁰And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a Lyon, shall vtterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mightie man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

¹¹Therefore I counsell, that all Israel be generally gathered vnto thee, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and ^†that thou goe to battell in thine owne person.

¹²So shall wee come vpon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light vpon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him, there shall not be left so much as one.

¹³Moreouer, if hee be gotten into a citie, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the riuer, vntill there be not one small stone found there.

¹⁴And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsell of Hushai the Archite, is better then the counsell of Ahithophel: For the LORD had ^†appointed to defeate the good counsell of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring euill vpon Absalom.

³³¶ And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

³³¶ And the king was much moued, and went vp to the chamber ouer the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus hee said, O my sonne Absalom, my sonne, my sonne Absalom: would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my sonne, my sonne.

⁹¶ And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

¹⁰And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

¹¹And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

¹²And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

¹³Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

¹⁴Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

¹⁵And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

¹⁶And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

¹⁷And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

¹⁸¶ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.

⁹¶ And Absalom met the seruants of Dauid; and Absalom rode vpon a mule, and the mule went vnder the thicke boughs of a great Oke, and his head caught hold of the Oke, and hee was taken vp betweene the heauen and the earth, and the mule that was vnder him, went away.

¹⁰And a certaine man saw it, and told Ioab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an Oke.

¹¹And Ioab said vnto the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground, and I would haue giuen thee tenne shekels of siluer, and a girdle?

¹²And the man saide vnto Ioab, Though I should ^†receiue a thousand shekels of siluer in mine hand, yet would I not put foorth mine hand against the Kings sonne: for in our hearing the King charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying,^†Beware that none touch the yong man Absalom.

¹³Otherwyse, I should haue wrought falshood against mine owne life: for there is no matter hid from the King, and thou thy selfe wouldest haue set thy selfe against me.

¹⁴Then said Ioab, I may not tary thus ^†with thee. And hee tooke three darts in his hand, and thrust them thorow the heart of Absalom, while hee was yet aliue in the ^†midst of the Oke.

¹⁵And ten yong men that bare Ioabs armour, compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

¹⁶And Ioab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Ioab helde backe the people.

¹⁷And they tooke Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and layd a very great heape of stones vpon him: and all Israel fled euery one to his tent.

¹⁸¶ Now Absalom in his life time had taken and reared vp for himselfe a pillar, which is in ^*the Kings dale: for hee said, I haue no sonne to keepe my name in remembrance: And hee called the pillar after his owne name, and it is called vnto this day, Absaloms place.