References (21)
And David had sons born to him in Hebron (Hebr. Chevrón) [six sons, all by different mothers]: His firstborn [son] was Amnon, [born] to Ahinoam the Jezreelite;
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. [She was the daughter of Maacah, see .] Amnon, David's [eldest] son [], loved her.
And Amnon was so unhappy that he felt sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible for Amnon to do anything with her. [They were half-siblings and incest was forbidden, see .]
But Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David's brother Shimeah. [David's son Amnon and Jonadab were cousins. Shimeah means "fame"; in he is called Shammah.] And Jonadab was a very cunning man.
And he said to him, "Why, son of the king, have you become so thin (skinny) from day to day? Won't you tell me?"
And Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Avshalom's sister."
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came and saw him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make some cakes in my presence, so that I may eat from her hand."
And David sent word to Tamar's house, saying, "Go, I beg you, to your brother Amnon's house and prepare food for him."
And Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, and he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight, and she baked the cakes.
And she took the pan and set it before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Send all the men out from me." And all the men went out from him.
And Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom so that I may eat from your hand." Then Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the bedroom to Amnon, her brother.
And Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up and go away."
And her brother Avshalom said to her, "Has Aminon [diminutive form of Amnon] your brother been with you? Now, calm down, my sister, he is your brother, do not take this to heart." [The diminutive form is probably used to emphasize how the meaning of Amnon's name, "faithful," did not match his actions. So Tamar remained abandoned (devastated, alone) in her brother Avshalom's house. ]
And Avshalom spoke neither good nor bad to Amnon, for Avshalom hated Amnon because he had raped his sister Tamar.
Then Avshalom said [to his father David], "If you don't want to, I beg you, let my brother Amnon go with us."
And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?"
But Avshalom pressed him [David], and he let Amnon and all the king's [David's] sons go with him.
[The scene now shifts from Jerusalem to the feast at Baal-Hatsor.]
And Avshalom commanded his servants, saying, "Mark the time when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not be afraid, for I have commanded you; be strong (firm, confident, brave) and be true warriors (literally: be sons of war)."
Then Absalom's servants did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. And all the king's sons arose, and every man got on his mule and fled.
But Jonadab, a son of David's brother Shimeah [], answered and said, "Let not my lord believe that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon is the only one who is dead, for Absalom has determined this and has been determined from the day he raped his sister Tamar.
And now, let not the king take this to heart and think that all the king's sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead."
And King David's soul yearned for Avshalom, for he was comforted after Amnon was dead.
[Geshur was an Aramean kingdom east of the Sea of Galilee. Manasseh's half-tribe in Transjordan had failed to drive them out during the conquest (; ), so Geshur continued as an independent kingdom. Talmai was Absalom's grandfather.]
These were the sons born to David in Hebron (Hebr. Chevrón):
Amnon, the firstborn – by Ahinoam of Jezreel,
Daniel, the second – by Abigail of Carmel,
