Study Desk

So gather the rest of the people together. Go against the city and take it, or I will take the city myself and it will be called by my name."

So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah. He fought against it, and took it.

Amnon was so troubled because of his sister Tamar that he became sick. She was a woman who had never had a man, and Amnon thought how hard it would be to have her.

He said to Amnon, "O son of the king, why are you so sad from day to day? Will you not tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom."

Then Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat. Let her make food ready here so I can see it and eat it from her hand.'"

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, "I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and make two loaves beside me, that I may eat from her hand."

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house. He was lying down. And she took dough and made loaves so he could watch. Then she baked them ready to eat.

And she took the dish and held it out in front of him. But he would not eat. Amnon said, "Have everyone leave me." So everyone left him.

Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food to my room, so I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the loaves she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon in his room.

As for me, where could I get rid of my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. So now I beg you, speak to the king, for he will not keep me from you."

Absalom her brother said to her, "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this to heart." So Tamar stayed in her brother Absalom's house, sad and alone.

So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom had told them. Then all the king's sons got up on their horses and left in a hurry.

So do not let my lord the king take this to heart and think that all the king's sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead."

So Absalom had run away to Geshur, and was there three years.

So Joab sent for a wise woman from Tekoa, and said to her, "Pretend to be filled with sorrow. Dress as if you were filled with sorrow, and do not pour oil on yourself. Dress like a woman who has been filled with sorrow for the dead many days.

Your woman servant had two sons. But they fought together in the field and there was no one to pull them apart. So one hit the other and killed him.

Now the whole family has come against your woman servant. They say, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So I would be without a son to receive what belonged to his parents when I die. They would put out the last of the fire which is left to me. My husband would be left without a name and with no children on the earth."

It is sure that we will die. We are like water poured on the ground, which cannot be picked up again. But God does not take away life. He plans ways so that the one who is driven away may not be kept away from Him.

So the king said, "Is Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered, "As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or left from anything my lord the king has said. Yes, it was your servant Joab who told me to do this. It was he who put all these words in the mouth of your woman servant.

So Joab got up and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.