22. And Absalom hated Amnon so much for having raped his sister Tamar that he would no longer even speak to him.
23. Two years later Absalom was having his sheep sheared at Baal Hazor, near the town of Ephraim, and he invited all the king's sons to be there.
24. He went to King David and said, “Your Majesty, I am having my sheep sheared. Will you and your officials come and take part in the festivities?”
25. “No, my son,” the king answered. “It would be too much trouble for you if we all went.” Absalom insisted, but the king would not give in, and he asked Absalom to leave.
26. But Absalom said, “Well, then, will you at least let my brother Amnon come?”“Why should he?” the king asked.
27. But Absalom kept on insisting until David finally let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom.Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king
28. and instructed his servants: “Notice when Amnon has had too much to drink, and then when I give the order, kill him. Don't be afraid. I will take the responsibility myself. Be brave and don't hesitate!”
29. So the servants followed Absalom's instructions and killed Amnon. All the rest of David's sons mounted their mules and fled.
30. While they were on their way home, David was told: “Absalom has killed all your sons — not one of them is left!”
31. The king stood up, tore his clothes in sorrow, and threw himself to the ground. The servants who were there with him tore their clothes also.
32. But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shammah, said, “Your Majesty, they haven't killed all your sons. Only Amnon is dead. You could tell by looking at Absalom that he had made up his mind to do this from the time that Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
33. So don't believe the news that all your sons are dead; only Amnon was killed.”
34. In the meantime Absalom had fled.Just then the soldier on sentry duty saw a large crowd coming down the hill on the road from Horonaim. He went to the king and reported what he had seen.
35. Jonadab said to David, “Those are your sons coming, just as I said they would.”