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But when David saw his servants whispering to each other, he suspected that the child was dead. David asked his servants, "Is the child dead?" and they answered, "He is dead."

Then David got up off the ground, washed, anointed himself and changed his clothes. He went into the house of Adonai and worshipped; then he went to his own palace; and when he asked for food, they served it to him; and he ate.

His servants asked him, "What are you doing? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat food!"

He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; because I thought, ‘Maybe Adonai will show his grace to me and let the child live.'

David comforted his wife Bat-Sheva, came to her and went to bed with her; she gave birth to a son and named him Shlomo. Adonai loved him

Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he became ill, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it would be impossible to approach her.

But then he was filled with utter revulsion for her — his hatred of her was even greater than the love he had had for her before. Amnon said to her, "Get up, and get out of here!"

he called his personal servant and said, "Get rid of this woman for me! Throw her out, and lock the door after her!"

She was wearing a long-sleeved robe (this was how they used to dress the king's daughters who were virgins). His servant took her out and locked the door after her.

As for Avshalom, he refused to say a word to Amnon, either good or bad; for Avshalom hated Amnon for having raped his sister Tamar.

Avshalom went to the king and said, "Your servant has sheep-shearers; please let the king and his servants come along with your servant."

The king replied to Avshalom, "No, my son, let's not all go — we don't want to be a burden to you." Avshalom pressed him, but he wouldn't go; however he gave him his blessing.

Avshalom ordered his servants, "Pay close attention: when Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine, and I say to you, ‘Kill Amnon,' then strike him down. Don't be afraid — I'm the one ordering you to do it — but take courage, and be bold."

The king got up, tore his clothes and lay on the ground, while all his servants stood by with their clothes torn too.

But then Yonadav, the son of Shim‘ah, David's brother, spoke up; he said, "My lord shouldn't think they have killed all the young men, the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead; for Avshalom has meant to do this ever since the day he raped his sister Tamar.

The moment he finished speaking, the king's sons came, cried out and wept; and the king too, with all his servants, cried out in great pain.

Avshalom fled and went to Talmai the son of ‘Ammihud, king of G'shur. David mourned for his son every day.

But as King David became reconciled to the death of his son Amnon, he was increasingly filled with longing to see Avshalom.

Now the whole family has come against me, your servant; they're saying, ‘Hand over the one who hit his brother, so that we can put him to death for killing his brother.' They want to destroy the heir as well and thus quench my one remaining coal; then my husband will have neither name nor survivor anywhere on earth."

The woman of T'koa said to the king, "My lord, king, let the guilt be on me and my father's family; the king and his throne be guiltless."