1O príncipe Absalão, filho de David, tinha uma irmã muito bonita chamada Tamar. E o príncipe Amnom, que era meio-irmão dela, apaixonou-se perdidamente pela rapariga.2Amnom estava tão enamorado que ficou doente. E não tinha maneira de lhe falar, pois os rapazes e as meninas eram mantidos separados.3Amnom tinha um amigo muito esperto, o seu primo Jonadabe, filho de um irmão de David chamado Simeia.4Um dia, Jonadabe perguntou a Amnom: “O que é que se passa contigo? Porque é que o filho de um rei há de andar definhando de dia para dia?” Respondeu-lhe: “Estou apaixonado por Tamar, minha meia-irmã.”5“Pois bem, vou dizer-te o que hás de fazer. Vai para a cama e finge que estás muito doente. Quando o teu pai vier ver-te, pede-lhe que Tamar venha preparar-te alguma comida; diz-lhe que te sentirás melhor se ela te vier trazer o alimento.”6Amnom assim fez. Quando o rei veio vê-lo, Amnom pediu-lhe, por favor, que a sua irmã Tamar fosse autorizada a preparar-lhe algum alimento para ele comer.7David concordou e mandou dizer a Tamar que fosse aos aposentos de Amnom preparar-lhe alguma coisa para comer.8Ela obedeceu e foi ao quarto dele; começou a amassar farinha e preparou-lhe um bolo especial.9Mas quando lho levou ele recusou comer: “Quero que toda a gente saia daqui”, disse aos criados. E as pessoas saíram todas.10Depois disse a Tamar: “Traz-me tu a comida aqui à cama e então hei de comer.” A moça assim fez.11Quando ela estava ali em frente dele, prendeu-a e pediu-lhe: “Vem, deita-te aqui comigo, minha irmã.”12“Oh! Não, meu irmão!”, gritou ela. “Não faças uma loucura dessas. Não me forces! Sabes bem o crime tremendo que isso seria em Israel.13Eu nem saberia onde esconder-me de vergonha! Tu serias considerado o maior louco da nação! Por favor, fala ao rei no assunto e ele certamente deixará que me case contigo.”14Ele não quis ouvi-la e, como tinha mais força, violentou-a.15Logo a seguir a sua paixão tornou-se ódio e acabou por odiá-la ainda mais do que a tinha amado. “Sai daqui!”, rosnou ele.16“Não! Rejeitares-me agora seria um crime ainda maior do que aquilo que me fizeste.” Mas ele não lhe deu ouvidos.17Chamou por um criado e ordenou-lhe: “Tira esta rapariga daqui e fecha a porta atrás dela.”18Assim a expulsou. Ela trazia vestida uma túnica até aos pés, às cores e com mangas, segundo o traje das princesas ainda virgens, naqueles dias.19Então rasgou a túnica, colocou cinza sobre si, cruzou as mãos na cabeça e foi andando e chorando.20Seu irmão Absalão veio ter com ela: “Então sempre é verdade que Amnom esteve contigo! Não te angusties, visto que tudo se passou em família. Não é caso para ficares assim!” E Tamar foi morar com o seu irmão Absalão como uma mulher solitária.21Ao ouvir o que acontecera, o rei David ficou extremamente irado.22Absalão não disse nada a Amnom, porque lhe tinha um ódio profundo pelo que fizera à irmã.
Absalão mata Amnom
23Dois anos mais tarde, quando as ovelhas de Absalão estavam a ser tosquiadas em Baal-Hazor em Efraim, Absalão convidou o pai e todos os irmãos para um banquete, a fim de festejarem a ocasião.24Foi ter com o rei e disse-lhe: “Chegou o tempo da tosquia do meu rebanho. Peço que o rei e os seus oficiais venham à festa deste seu servo.”25O rei respondeu-lhe: “Não, meu rapaz. Se fôssemos todos, seria um encargo enorme para ti.” Absalão insistiu, mas David não aceitou e mandou-lhe felicitações.26“Bom”, disse Absalão, “já que não vens, manda em teu lugar o meu irmão Amnom.” O rei perguntou: “Porquê Amnom?”27Absalão insistiu muito, até que o rei concordou e permitiu que todos os filhos lá fossem, incluindo Amnom. Absalão preparou um grande banquete como se fosse um rei.[1]28Absalão avisou os seus homens: “Esperem até que Amnom esteja embriagado e quando eu der o sinal matem-no! Não tenham receio. Aqui sou eu quem dá as ordens e é isto que estou a ordenar-vos. Vamos em frente e nada de ter medo!”29Foi dessa maneira que mataram Amnom. Os outros príncipes, seus irmãos, montaram nas suas mulas e fugiram.30Vinham ainda a caminho de Jerusalém, quando chegou aos ouvidos de David o seguinte rumor: “Absalão matou todos os irmãos; nem um ficou em vida!”31O rei levantou-se, rasgou a roupa que tinha vestida e prostrou-se no chão. Os seus conselheiros rasgaram igualmente as roupas em sinal de amargura.32Nessa altura, chegou Jonadabe, sobrinho de David, filho de Simeia, que explicou: “Não morreram todos! Só Amnom foi morto! Absalão tinha isto preparado desde que Tamar fora violentada por Amnom.33Os teus filhos não foram todos mortos! Só foi Amnom.”34Entretanto, Absalão fugiu. O guarda que estava de vigia na muralha de Jerusalém deu o aviso de que via gente a chegar, na direção da cidade, ao longo da estrada que corre junto da colina.35“Pronto”, disse Jonadabe ao rei. “Aqui estão eles. Os teus filhos estão a chegar, tal como te disse.”36Em breve os outros apareceram, a chorar e a lamentarem-se. O rei e os conselheiros também choraram com eles.37-39Absalão fugiu para junto do rei Talmai de Gesur, filho de Amiude, e ali ficou durante três anos. Entretanto, David já conformado com a morte de Amnom, andava cheio de saudades do seu filho Absalão.
1Now Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. (2 Sm 3:2; 1 Cr 3:2; 1 Cr 3:9)2And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. (1 Sm 16:9; 1 Sm 17:13; 1 Cr 2:13)4And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”5Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” (Gn 18:6)7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.”8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes.9And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. (Gn 45:1)10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.11But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”12She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate[1] me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. (Gn 34:7; Lv 18:9; Lv 18:11; Lv 20:17; Jz 19:23; Jz 20:6)13As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” (2 Sm 3:33)14But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.15Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!”16But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.”[2] But he would not listen to her.17He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.”18Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves,[3] for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. (Gn 37:3; Jz 5:30; Sl 45:14)19And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went. (Js 7:6; 2 Sm 1:11; Jr 2:37)20And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house.21When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.[4]22But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar. (Gn 24:50; Gn 31:24)
Absalom Murders Amnon
23After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. (Gn 31:19; Gn 38:12; 1 Sm 25:4)24And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”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.” (Jz 19:6)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. (2 Sm 1:11; 2 Sm 12:16)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. (2 Sm 13:3)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.” (2 Sm 19:19)
Absalom Flees to Geshur
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[5] by the side of the mountain. (2 Sm 13:37)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.37But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. (2 Sm 3:3; 2 Sm 13:34; 2 Sm 14:23; 2 Sm 14:32; 2 Sm 15:8; 1 Cr 3:2)38So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. (2 Sm 13:37)39And the spirit of the king[6] longed to go out[7] to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead. (Gn 24:67; Gn 37:35; Gn 38:12)