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2 Samuel

Absalom Kills Amnon and Flees

13
Chapter 13
23 And it was after two full years, and there were shearers for Absalom at Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the sons of the king. 24 Absalom came to the king and said, "Behold, now shearers have come for your servant. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant." 25 And the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, so that we will not be a burden on you." And he pressed him, but he was not willing to go. And he blessed him. 26 Absalom said, "No, let my brother Amnon please go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" 27 Absalom urged him, and he sent him with Amnon and with all the sons of the king. 28 Absalom commanded his young men, saying, "Look, as soon as Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not be afraid; I myself have commanded you. Be strong and be men of valor." 29 And Absalom's young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded them. And all the king's sons arose and rode off, each on his mule, and they fled. 30 And it was they on the way, and the report came to David saying, "Absalom has struck all the sons of the king and not one remains from them." 31 The king arose and tore his garments and lay down on the ground, and all his servants were standing with torn garments. 32 And Jonadab son of Shimea, David's brother, answered and said, "May my lord not say that all the young men, the king's sons, have been killed. For only Amnon has died, for it was appointed by Absalom from the day he humbled his sister Tamar." 33 And now let not my lord the king put it in his heart to say, "All the king's sons have died"; for only Amnon has died. 34 Absalom fled, and the watchman boy lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, a great people walking on the way behind him from the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the sons of the king have come, just as your servant said—so it was." 36 And as he finished speaking, behold, the sons of the king came, and they lifted their voices and wept. And also the king and all his servants wept a very great weeping. 37 Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And he mourned over his son all the days. 38 Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years. 39 And the king longed to go to Absalom, for he was comforted over Amnon, for he had died.