2 Samuel 13:25-37
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 13
25But the king said to Absalom, 'No, my son, we should not all go, so that we will not be a burden to you.' Though he urged him, he would not go; but he blessed him. 26Then Absalom said, 'If not, please have my brother Amnon go with us.' But the king said to him, 'Why should he go with you?' 27Nevertheless Absalom urged him, so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28Then Absalom commanded his servants, saying, 'See now, when Amnon’s heart is cheerful with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have I not commanded you myself? Be courageous and be valiant.'
29And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons got up and each mounted his mule and fled.
30Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, 'Absalom has struck and killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.'
31Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn.
32And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, responded, 'Let my lord not assume that they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead; because this has been set up by the intent of Absalom since the day that he violated his sister Tamar.
33So now, may my lord the king not take the report to heart, claiming, ‘all the king’s sons are dead’; but only Amnon is dead.'
34Now Absalom had fled. And the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.
35And Jonadab said to the king, 'Behold, the king’s sons have come; so it has happened according to your servant’s word.'
36As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and raised their voices and wept; and the king and all his servants also wept very profusely.
King James Version
26Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
31Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
34But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
Christian Standard Bible
26"If not," Absalom said, "please let my brother Amnon go with us." The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?"
27But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons.
28Now Absalom commanded his young men, "Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and valiant!"
29So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on his mule.
30While they were on the way, a report reached David: "Absalom struck down all the king’s sons; not even one of them survived!"
31In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: "My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar.
33So now, my lord the king, don’t take seriously the report that says all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."
34Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.
35Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king’s sons have come! It’s exactly like your servant said."
36Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.
37But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
New Living Translation
26Well, then,' Absalom said, 'if you can’t come, how about sending my brother Amnon with us?' 'Why Amnon?' the king asked.
27But 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.
28Absalom 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!'
29So at Absalom’s signal they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled.
30As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: 'Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one is left alive!'
31The king got up, tore his robe, and threw himself on the ground. His advisers also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow.
32But just then Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimea, arrived and said, 'No, don’t believe that all the king’s sons have been killed! It was only Amnon! Absalom has been plotting this ever since Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
33No, my lord the king, your sons aren’t all dead! It was only Amnon.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 13
25But the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you." He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" 27But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king 's sons go with him. 28Then Absalom commanded his servants, "Mark when Amnon 's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant." 29So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king 's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
30While they were on the way, news came to David, "Absalom has struck down all the king 's sons, and not one of them is left."
31Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments.
32But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David 's brother, said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king 's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar.
33Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king 's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead."
34But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.
35And Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king 's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about."
36And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king 's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
New International Version
26Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us." The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?"
27But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.
28Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave."
29So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.
30While they were on their way, the report came to David: "Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left."
31The king stood up, tore his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn.
32But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, "My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
33My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead."
New King James Version
26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”
29So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.
30And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”
31So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.”
34Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.
35And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.”
36So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.
