Study Desk

And he sayde, While the childe was yet aliue, I fasted, and wept: for I sayde, Who can tell whether God will haue mercy on me, that the childe may liue?

For the Lorde had sent by Nathan the Prophet: therefore he called his name Iedidiah, because the Lord loued him.

And Amnon was so sore vexed, that he fell sicke for his sister Tamar: for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to doe any thing to her.

But shee answered him, Nay, my brother, doe not force me: for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: commit not this follie.

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

(And she had a garment of diuers coulours vpon her: for with such garments were the Kings daughters that were virgins, apparelled) Then his seruant brought her out, and locked the doore after her.

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

Now had Absalom commanded his seruants, saying, Marke now when Amnons heart is merry with wine, & when I say vnto you, Smite Amnon, kil him, feare not, for haue not I commanded you? be bold therefore, & play the men.

And Ionadab the sonne of Shimeah Dauids brother answered and sayde, Let not my lord suppose that they haue slayne all the yong men the Kings sonnes: for Amnon onely is dead, because Absalom had reported so, since hee forced his sister Tamar.

Nowe therefore let not my lord the King take the thing so grieuously, to thinke that all ye Kings sonnes are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

But Absalom fled away, & went to Talmai the sonne of Ammihur King of Geshur: and Dauid mourned for his sonne euery day.

And Ioab sent to Tekoah, and brought thence a subtile woman, & sayd vnto her, I pray thee, fayne thy selfe to mourne, and nowe put on mourning apparel, & anoynt not thy selfe with oyle: but be as a woman that had now long time mourned for the dead.

And come to the King, and speake on this maner vnto him, (for Ioab taught her what she should say).

And beholde, the whole familie is risen against thine handmayde, and they sayde, Deliuer him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the soule of his brother whome hee slewe, that we may destroy the heire also: so they shall quenche my sparkle which is left, and shall not leaue to mine husband neither name nor posteritie vpon the earth.

And the King said vnto the woman, Go to thine house, and I wil giue a charge for thee.

For we must needes dye, and we are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered vp againe: neither doeth God spare any person, yet doeth he appoynt meanes, not to cast out from him, him that is expelled.

For the King wil heare, to deliuer his handmayde out of the hande of the man that woulde destroy mee, and also my sonne from the inheritance of God.

Therefore thine handmaid sayd, The word of my lord the King shall now be comfortable: for my lorde the King is euen as an Angel of God in hearing of good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God be with thee.

And the King said, Is not the hand of Ioab with thee in all this? Then the woman answered, and sayd, As thy soule liueth, my lord the King, I will not turne to the right hande nor to the left, from ought that my lorde the King hath spoken: for euen thy seruant Ioab bade mee, & he put all these wordes in the mouth of thine handmayde.

For to the intent that I should chage the forme of speach, thy seruant Ioab hath done this thing: but my lord is wise according to the wisdome of an Angel of God to vnderstande all things that are in the earth.