23. Two years went by. It was sheep-shearing time for Absalom in Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24. Absalom went to the king and said: “Your servant has hired the shearers. Please, may the king come with all his servants to your servant.”
25. But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, all of us should not go lest we be a burden to you.” And though Absalom urged him, he would not go but began to bid him good-bye.
26. Absalom then said, “If not you, then please let my brother Amnon come with us.” The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?”
27. But at Absalom’s urging, the king sent Amnon and with him all his other sons. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king.
28. But Absalom had instructed his attendants: “Now watch! When Amnon is merry with wine and I say to you, ‘Kill Amnon,’ put him to death. Do not be afraid, for it is I who order you to do it. Be strong and act like warriors.”
29. When the attendants did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded, all the king’s other sons rose up, mounted their mules, and fled.
30. While they were still on the road, a report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons and not one of them is left.”
31. The king stood up, tore his garments, and lay on the ground. All his servants standing by him also tore their garments.
32. But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “Let not my lord think that all the young men, the king’s sons, have been killed! Amnon alone is dead, for Absalom was set on this ever since Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar.
33. Now let my lord the king not take so to heart that report, ‘All the king’s sons are dead.’ Amnon alone is dead.”
34. Meanwhile, Absalom had taken flight. Then the servant on watch looked out and saw a large group coming down the slope from the direction of Bahurim. He came in and reported this to the king: “I saw some men coming down the mountainside from the direction of Bahurim.”
35. So Jonadab said to the king: “There! The king’s sons have come. It is as your servant said.”
36. No sooner had he finished speaking than the king’s sons came in, weeping aloud. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37. But Absalom, who had taken flight, went to Talmai, son of Ammihud, king of Geshur,
38. and stayed in Geshur for three years.
39. All that time the king continued to mourn his son; but his intention of going out against Absalom abated as he was consoled over the death of Amnon.