Study Desk

Then David sent a messenger to the house for Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him."

But she said to him, "No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful sin!

Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; indeed, 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, go away!"

Now she had on a long-sleeved garment; for this is how the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her.

But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, we should not all go, so that we will not be a burden to you." Though he urged him, he would not go; but he blessed him.

So Joab sent a messenger to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, "Please follow mourning rites, and put on mourning garments now, and do not anoint yourself with oil but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for many days.

And the king said to her, "What is troubling you?" And she answered, "Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead.

Then the woman said, "Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king." And he said, "Speak."

The woman said, "Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is like one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one.

And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.

Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent word again a second time, but he would not come.

Now it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.

And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the road to the gate; and when any man who had a lawsuit was to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and say, "From what city are you?" And he would say, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."

Moreover, Absalom would say, "Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!"

And whenever a man approached to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

"For your servant made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'"

Then a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom."

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you go with us too? Return and stay with your king, since you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place.

While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people were crossing over. The king was also crossing over the brook Kidron, and all the people were crossing over toward the way of the wilderness.

The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.