Amnons un Tamāra
1 Pēc tam bija tā: Dāvida dēlam Abšālomam bija skaista māsa, vārdā Tamāra, un Dāvida dēls Amnons iemīlējās viņā. 2 Amnons tā cieta, ka kļuva slims savas māsas Tamāras dēļ, jo viņa bija jaunava, un Amnons saprata, ka viņam to neiegūt. 3 Bet Amnonam bija draugs, vārdā Jehonādābs, Dāvida brāļa Šemāas dēls, un Jehonādābs bija ļoti apķērīgs. 4 Viņš tam teica: “Kāpēc tu katru dienu tāds sanīcis, ķēniņa dēls? Vai neizstāstīsi man?” Amnons tam atbildēja: “Es esmu iemīlējies Tamārā, sava brāļa Abšāloma māsā.” 5 Un Jehonādābs viņam teica: “Liecies gultā un sirgsti. Kad tēvs nāks tevi apraudzīt, saki viņam: lūdzu, lai nāk mana māsa Tamāra un dod man ēst. Lai viņa gatavo maltīti manā klātbūtnē, ka es to redzu un ēdu no viņas rokas.” 6 Un Amnons apgūlās un izlikās sasirdzis. Kad ķēniņš atnāca viņu apraudzīt, Amnons teica ķēniņam: “Lūdzu, lai atnāk mana māsa Tamāra un manā klātbūtnē pagatavo pāris cepumu, ka es tos ēdu no viņas rokas.” 7 Dāvids sūtīja uz mājām pēc Tamāras, sacīdams: “Jel nāc uz sava brāļa Amnona namu un pagatavo viņam maltīti!” 8 Tamāra atnāca uz sava brāļa Amnona namu, kur viņš gulēja, izmīcīja mīklu un viņa klātbūtnē sataisīja un izcepa cepumus. 9 Viņa ņēma pannu un nobēra viņam priekšā, bet viņš atteicās ēst. Amnons teica: “Sūtiet visus ārā!” – visi ļaudis aizgāja. 10 Tad Amnons teica: “Nes ēdienu manā guļamistabā, un es ēdīšu no tavas rokas.” Tamāra ņēma cepumus, ko bija pagatavojusi, un ienesa sava brāļa Amnona guļamistabā. 11 Kad viņa tos sniedza, lai tas ēstu, viņš to sagrāba un teica: “Nāc, guli ar mani, māsa!” 12 Viņa tam teica: “Nē, brāli! Nepiesmej mani, jo Israēlā tā netiek darīts. Nedari tādu trakumu! 13 Un es, kur lai es tad liekos ar savu kaunu? Un tu – tu kļūsi par nelgu Israēlā! Labāk runā ar ķēniņu, jo viņš mani tev neliegs.” 14 Bet viņš negribēja klausīties, pieveica viņu un gulēja ar viņu. 15 Pēc tam Amnonu pārņēma ļoti stiprs naids pret viņu. Naids, kas Amnonu pārņēma, bija vēl stiprāks par mīlestību, ko viņš bija jutis, un viņš tai uzsauca: “Celies un ej!” 16 Viņa tam sacīja: “Nē, jo, sūtīdams mani prom, tu rīkojies daudz ļaunāk par to, ko man esi jau nodarījis!” Bet viņš negribēja klausīties. 17 Viņš pasauca puisi, savu kalpu, un teica: “Izraidi jel šo te prom no manis, ārā no nama un aizslēdz durvis!” 18 Viņa kalps izveda viņu ārā un aizslēdza durvis. Viņai mugurā bija tērps ar piedurknēm – šādas drānas ķēniņa meitas valkāja jaunavības laikā. 19 Tamāra kaisīja pīšļus uz galvas, pārplēsa savu garpiedurkņu tērpu, lika sev rokas uz galvas un gāja prom vaimanādama. 20 Un viņas brālis Abšāloms teica viņai: “Vai tad kopā ar tevi nebija tavs brālis? Tad nu paliec klusu, mana māsa, viņš ir tavs brālis. Neņem to tik ļoti pie sirds.” Un Tamāra pamesta dzīvoja sava brāļa Abšāloma namā. 21 Kad ķēniņš Dāvids to uzzināja, viņš ļoti noskaitās. 22 Bet Abšāloms neteica Amnonam ne vārda – ne labu, ne ļaunu, jo Abšāloms ienīda Amnonu par to, ka tas piesmējis viņa māsu Tamāru.
Abšāloms atriebj savu māsu
23 Pēc diviem gadiem, kad pie Abšālomam Baal-Hācorā pie Efraima robežām bija sanākuši avju cirpēji, Abšāloms saaicināja visus ķēniņa dēlus. 24 Abšāloms nāca pie ķēniņa un sacīja: “Jel redzi, pie tava kalpa ir avju cirpēji. Es lūdzu, lai ķēniņš ar saviem ļaudīm nāk pie sava kalpa.” 25 Ķēniņš atbildēja Abšālomam: “Nē, mans dēls, mēs taču neiesim visi, ka nekļūstam tev par nastu.” Lai gan Abšāloms uzstāja, tomēr viņš negribēja iet un to svētīja. 26 Tad Abšāloms teica: “Ja ne, tad lai pie mums nāk vismaz mans brālis Amnons.” Ķēniņš viņam jautāja: “Kāpēc viņam jāiet tev līdzi?” 27 Bet viņš uzstāja, un ķēniņš atlaida viņam līdzi Amnonu un pārējos ķēniņa dēlus. 28 Abšāloms pavēlēja saviem puišiem: “Pielūkojiet, kad Amnons būs iesilis no vīna un es jums uzsaukšu: sitiet Amnonu! – tad nonāvējiet viņu un nebīstieties. Vai tad ne es jums to pavēlu? Esiet stipri un braši!” 29 Un Abšāloma puiši darīja Amnonam, kā Abšāloms bija licis. Tad visi ķēniņa dēli pietrūkās kājās, uzlēca savos mūļos un bēga. 30 Kamēr tie vēl bija ceļā, Dāvidu sasniedza ziņa: “Abšāloms ir nositis visus ķēniņa dēlus – neviens pats vairs nav dzīvs!”
31 Ķēniņš pielēca kājās, pārplēsa savas drānas un nokrita pie zemes – visi viņa kalpi stāvēja blakus pārplēstām drānām. 32 Tad Jehonādābs, Dāvida brāļa Šemāas dēls, bilda: “Lai mans kungs nedomā, ka viņi nokāvuši visus ķēniņa dēlus, vienīgi Amnons ir pagalam. Tāds ir bijis Abšāloma nodoms jau kopš tās dienas, kad tas piesmēja viņa māsu Tamāru. 33 Lai nu mans kungs, ķēniņš, neņem pie sirds sacīto, ka visi ķēniņa dēli ir miruši, jo pagalam ir vienīgi Amnons.”
34 Bet Abšāloms aizbēga. Puisis, kas stāvēja sardzē, paskatījās, un redzi – milzums ļaužu nāca no kalna puses pa to ceļu, kas viņam aiz muguras. 35 Un Jehonādābs teica ķēniņam: “Redzi, ķēniņa dēli ir pārnākuši. Tā arī bija, kā tavs kalps sacīja!” 36 Tikko viņš to bija pateicis, ienāca ķēniņa dēli un skaļi vaimanāja. Arī ķēniņš un visi viņa kalpi sāka vaimanāt skaļā balsī. 37 Abšāloms aizbēga pie Gešūras ķēniņa Talmaja, Amīhūda dēla. Dāvids augām dienām sēroja pēc sava dēla.
38 Bet Abšāloms trīs gadus palika Gešūrā, kur viņš bija aizbēdzis. 39 Ķēniņš Dāvids ilgojās pēc Abšāloma, jo viņš bija samierinājies ar to, ka Amnons miris.
Amnon Disgraces Tamar
1 David had a beautiful daughter named Tamar, who was the sister of Absalom. She was also the half sister of Amnon, who fell in love with her. 2 But Tamar was a virgin, and Amnon could not think of a way to be alone with her. He was so upset about it that he made himself sick.
3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, who was the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab always knew how to get what he wanted, 4 and he said to Amnon, “What's the matter? You're the king's son! You shouldn't have to go around feeling sorry for yourself every morning.”
Amnon said, “I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.”
5 Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, ask him to send Tamar, so you can watch her cook something for you. Then she can serve you the food.”
6 So Amnon went to bed and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please, ask Tamar to come over. She can make some special bread while I watch, and then she can serve it to me.”
7 David told Tamar, “Go over to Amnon's house and fix him some food.” 8 When she got there, he was lying in bed. She mixed the dough, made the loaves, and baked them while he watched. 9 Then she took the bread out of the pan and put it on his plate, but he refused to eat it.
Amnon said, “Send the servants out of the house.” After they had gone, 10 he said to Tamar, “Serve the food in my bedroom.”
Tamar picked up the bread that she had made and brought it into Amnon's bedroom. 11 But as she was taking it over to him, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me!”
12 She answered, “No! Please don't force me! This sort of thing isn't done in Israel. It's disgusting! 13 Think of me. I'll be disgraced forever! And think of yourself. Everyone in Israel will say you're nothing but trash! Just ask the king, and he will let you marry me.”
14 But Amnon would not listen to what she said. He was stronger than she was, so he overpowered her and raped her. 15 Then Amnon hated her even more than he had loved her before. So he told her, “Get up and get out!”
16 She said, “Don't send me away! That would be worse than what you have already done.”
But Amnon would not listen. 17 He called in his servant and said, “Throw this woman out and lock the door!”
18 The servant made her leave, and he locked the door behind her.
The king's unmarried daughters used to wear long robes with sleeves. 19 Tamar tore the robe she was wearing and put ashes on her head. Then she covered her face with her hands and cried loudly as she walked away.
Absalom Kills Amnon
20 Tamar's brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he's your brother, don't tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.”
Tamar soon moved into Absalom's house, but she was always sad and lonely. 21 When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy.
22 Absalom treated Amnon as though nothing had happened, but he hated Amnon for what he had done to his sister Tamar.
23 Two years later, Absalom's servants were cutting wool from his sheep in Baal-Hazor near the town of Ephraim, and Absalom invited all of the king's sons to be there. 24 Then he went to David and said, “My servants are cutting the wool from my sheep. Please come and join us!”
25 David answered, “No, my son, we won't go. It would be too expensive for you.” Absalom tried to get him to change his mind, but David did not want to go. He only said that he hoped they would have a good time.
26 Absalom said, “If you won't go, at least let my brother Amnon come with us.”
David asked, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom kept on insisting, and finally David let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom.
Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king. 28 But he told his servants, “Keep an eye on Amnon. When he gets a little drunk from the wine and is feeling relaxed, I'll give the signal. Then kill him! I've commanded you to do it, so don't be afraid. Be strong and brave.”
29 Absalom's servants killed Amnon, just as Absalom had told them. The rest of the king's sons quickly rode away on their mules to escape from Absalom.
30 While they were on their way to Jerusalem, someone told David, “Absalom has killed all of your sons! Not even one is left.” 31 David got up, and in his sorrow he tore his clothes and lay down on the ground. His servants remained standing, but they tore their clothes too.
32 Then David's nephew Jonadab said, “Your Majesty, not all of your sons were killed! Only Amnon is dead. On the day that Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom decided to kill him. 33 Don't worry about the report that all your sons were killed. Only Amnon is dead, 34 and Absalom has run away.”
One of the guards noticed a lot of people coming along the hillside on the road to Horonaim. He went and told the king, “I saw some men coming along Horonaim Road.”
35 Jonadab said, “Your Majesty, look! Here come your sons now, just as I told you.”
36 No sooner had he said it, than David's sons came in. They were weeping out loud, and David and all his officials cried just as loudly. 37-38 David was sad for a long time because Amnon was dead.
David Lets Absalom Come Home
Absalom had run away to Geshur, where he stayed for three years with King Talmai the son of Ammihud. 39 David still felt so sad over the loss of Amnon that he wanted to take his army there and capture Absalom.
