17. He shouted for his servant and demanded, “Throw this woman out, and lock the door behind her!”
18. So the servant put her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe, as was the custom in those days for the king’s virgin daughters.
19. But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying.
20. Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, “Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he’s your brother. Don’t you worry about it.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house.
21. When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry.
22. And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.
23. Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to a feast.
24. He went to the king and said, “My sheep-shearers are now at work. Would the king and his servants please come to celebrate the occasion with me?”
25. The king replied, “No, my son. If we all came, we would be too much of a burden on you.” Absalom pressed him, but the king would not come, though he gave Absalom his blessing.
26. “Well, then,” Absalom said, “if you can’t come, how about sending my brother Amnon with us?”“Why Amnon?” the king asked.
27. But Absalom kept on pressing the king until he finally agreed to let all his sons attend, including Amnon. So Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.
28. Absalom told his men, “Wait until Amnon gets drunk; then at my signal, kill him! Don’t be afraid. I’m the one who has given the command. Take courage and do it!”
29. So at Absalom’s signal they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled.