23
And it came to pass after two fullyears, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalominvited all the king'ssons.
24
And Absalomcame to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servantsgo with thy servant.
25
And the kingsaid to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26
Then saidAbsalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brotherAmnongo with us. And the kingsaid unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27
But Absalompressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king'ssonsgo with him.
28
Now Absalom had commanded his servants,saying, Mark ye now when Amnon'sheart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, SmiteAmnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant*.
29
And the servants of Absalomdid unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king'ssonsarose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidingscame to David,saying, Absalom hath slain all the king'ssons, and there is not one of them left.
31
Then the kingarose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servantsstood by with their clothesrent.
32
And Jonadab, the son of ShimeahDavid'sbrother,answered and said, Let not my lordsuppose that they have slain all the young men the king'ssons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment[a] of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sisterTamar.
33
Now therefore let not my lord the kingtake the thing to his heart, to think that all the king'ssons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
34
But Absalomfled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there camemuchpeople by the way of the hillsidebehind him.
35
And Jonadabsaid unto the king, Behold, the king'ssonscome: as thy servantsaid, so it is.
36
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king'ssonscame, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servantsweptvery[b]sore*.
37
But Absalomfled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud*,[c]king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38
So Absalomfled, and went to Geshur, and was there threeyears.
39
And the soul of kingDavidlonged[d] to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.