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.13.2 Amnon thought…: Heb. it was marvellous, or, hidden in the eyes of Amnon 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.13.4 lean: Heb. thin13.4 from day…: Heb. morning by morning 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.13.8 flour: or, paste 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.13.12 force…: Heb. humble me13.12 no such…: Heb. it ought not so to be done 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.13.15 exceedingly: Heb. with great hatred greatly 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.13.20 Amnon: Heb. Aminon13.20 regard…: Heb. set not thy heart13.20 desolate: Heb. and desolate
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.13.28 have…: or, will you not, since I have commanded you?13.28 valiant: Heb. sons of valour 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.13.29 gat…: Heb. rode
30¶ 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. 31Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32And 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.13.32 appointment: Heb. mouth13.32 determined: or, settled 33Now 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. 34But 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. 35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.13.35 as thy…: Heb. according to the word of thy servant 36And 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.13.36 very…: Heb. with a great weeping greatly
37¶ But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.13.37 Ammihud: or, Ammihur 38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.13.39 longed: or, was consumed
Amnon voldtager sin søster Tamar
1Nogen tid efter skete der følgende: Davids søn Absalom havde en smuk søster, som hed Tamar. En anden af Davids sønner, Tamars halvbror Amnon, forelskede sig i hende. 2Han var helt syg af begær efter hende, men hun var jomfru, og han havde ingen mulighed for at få sin vilje med hende, for det var skik, at kongens døtre blev holdt skarpt adskilt fra de unge mænd. 3Amnon havde imidlertid en snedig ven, hans fætter Jonadab, en søn af Davids bror Shima.
4En dag sagde Jonadab til Amnon: „Hvorfor hænger du med hovedet? Det passer sig ikke for en kongesøn! Fortæl mig, hvad der er i vejen!”
„Jeg er forelsket i min halvsøster Tamar,” betroede Amnon ham.
5„Aha,” svarede Jonadab, „det findes der råd for. Nu lægger du dig syg, og når din far kommer for at se til dig, siger du: ‚Lad min søster Tamar komme og lave mad til mig, så tror jeg, at jeg kan spise lidt. Hvis hun får lov at pleje mig, bliver jeg nok snart rask.’ ”
6Amnon gik ind på fætterens plan, og da kongen kom for at se til ham, bad Amnon ham om at sende Tamar ind til ham, så hun kunne bage nogle af sine dejlige kager til ham og selv servere dem for ham. 7Det gik David med til, og han sendte besked til Tamar om at indfinde sig hos Amnon og bage kager til ham. 8Tamar kom så over til Amnons hus, hvor han lå i sengen. Hun æltede dejen og bagte kagerne, mens han så på det. 9Men da de var færdige, og hun havde lagt dem på fadet, klar til, at de kunne blive bragt til ham, nægtede han at spise dem.
„Ud, alle sammen!” sagde han til tjenerne, hvorefter de alle gik deres vej.
10Så sagde han til Tamar: „Kom her ind i mit soveværelse med kagerne og server dem for mig.” Så gik hun hen til ham med kagefadet. 11Men da hun var kommet hen til sengen, greb han fat i hende og sagde: „Tamar, kom op til mig i sengen!”
12„Åh nej, bror, lad mig være!” protesterede hun. „Tag mig ikke med vold! Sådan gør man ikke i Israel. Det er tåbeligt at gøre sådan. 13Tænk på mig! Hvordan skulle jeg kunne bære min skam? Og tænk på dig selv! Du ville jo miste din ære og værdighed. Nej, tal hellere med kongen om det, så han kan give sin tilladelse til, at vi gifter os.”
14Men Amnon lod sig ikke overtale, og da han var stærkere end hende, endte det med, at han voldtog hende.
15Men bagefter blussede hadet op i Amnon, så han nu hadede hende mere, end han før havde elsket hende.
„Rejs dig og forsvind!” snerrede han.
16„Nej, nej,” græd hun, „hvis du forkaster mig nu, begår du en endnu større forbrydelse imod mig!”
Men han ville ikke høre på hende. 17I stedet kaldte han på sin kammertjener. „Smid den kvinde ud og lås døren efter hende!” befalede han.
18Så førte tjeneren hende udenfor og låste døren. Tamar var klædt i en lang kjole med ærmer, sådan som det var skik blandt kongens døtre, der var jomfruer. 19Nu rev hun imidlertid kjolen i stykker og strøede aske på hovedet for at vise sin fortvivlelse, og med hænderne for ansigtet løb hun skrigende gennem paladset.
20Hendes bror Absalom standsede hende og forsøgte at berolige hende. „Har Amnon ligget med dig?” spurgte han. „Ti nu stille, søster. Han er jo din bror. Lad det blive i familien. Tag det dog ikke så tungt.”
Så flyttede Tamar over i sin bror Absaloms hus, hvor hun siden levede i ensomhed.
21Da kong David hørte, hvad der var sket, blev han meget vred. Men han bebrejdede ikke Amnon noget, for Amnon var hans førstefødte søn og hans favorit.13,21 Den sidste sætning mangler i den masoretiske tekst. 22Men Absalom ville overhovedet ikke tale til Amnon, for han hadede ham af et godt hjerte, fordi han havde voldtaget hans søster.
Absalom tager hævn over Amnon
23Der gik to år. En dag var Absalom og hans folk i færd med at klippe får ved Ba’al-Hatzor tæt ved byen Efraim, og han ville gerne invitere sine brødre til fåreklipningsfest. 24Han gik så til kongen og sagde, „Vi er i gang med fåreklipningen. Vil kongen og hans tjenere ikke komme og holde fest med os?”
25Men kongen svarede: „Nej, min dreng! Det ville være for stor en byrde for dig, hvis vi alle sammen troppede op.”
Absalom forsøgte at overtale ham, men kongens beslutning var urokkelig, og han sagde nej tak.
26„Godt,” svarede Absalom, „men hvis du ikke vil komme, kan du i det mindste sende Amnon af sted.”
„Hvorfor lige Amnon?” spurgte kongen.
27Absalom blev ved med at presse kong David, så han til sidst sendte alle sønnerne af sted—også Amnon.
28Absalom sagde nu til sine mænd: „Vent til Amnon bliver beruset, og når jeg giver signal, overfalder I ham og slår ham ihjel. I skal ikke være bange for noget. Det er mig, der har givet ordren, og jeg påtager mig det fulde ansvar. I skal bare udføre min ordre.”
29Sådan gik det til, at Amnon blev myrdet. De andre kongesønner sprang skrækslagne på deres muldyr og flygtede. 30Mens de var undervejs tilbage til Jerusalem, nåede det rygte kong David, at Absalom havde myrdet alle kongesønnerne.
31Da sprang kongen op, rev i fortvivlelse sit tøj i stykker og kastede sig med ansigtet mod jorden. De omkringstående tjenere fulgte hans eksempel og flåede deres tøj i stykker.
32-33Men i samme øjeblik ankom Jonadab og sagde: „Nej, det er ikke sandt! Alle kongesønnerne er ikke blevet myrdet, det er kun Amnon! Absalom har haft skumle planer om at myrde Amnon, lige siden han voldtog Tamar!”
34Absalom var i mellemtiden flygtet.
Lidt senere fik vagtposten på Jerusalems mur øje på en flok mennesker, der nærmede sig fra nordvest ad vejen, der gik langs bjergsiden. Han skyndte sig at melde det til kongen: „Jeg ser en gruppe mennesker nærme sig på vejen fra Horon.”13,34 Den masoretiske tekst er mangelfuld, så oversættelsen her bygger på LXX.
35„Der kan du se,” sagde Jonadab til kongen, „nu kommer de! Dine sønner er uskadte! Var det ikke det jeg sagde?”
36Kort efter nåede kongesønnerne grædende og hulkende frem. Da brast også kongen og hans tjenere i gråd.
37-39Absalom flygtede til sin morfar, kong Talmaj af Geshur, der var søn af Ammihud, og blev der i tre år. I mellemtiden voksede Davids længsel efter at se sin søn igen, især efter at han var kommet sig over Amnons død.
