1. Now after these things, it happened that Amnon, the son of David, was in love with the very beautiful sister of Absalom, the son of David, and she was called Tamar.
2. And he pined for her exceedingly, so much so that, out of love for her, he became ill. For, since she was a virgin, it seemed a difficulty to him that he would do anything dishonest with her.
3. Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, the brother of David: a very prudent man.
4. And he said to him: "Why are you becoming so thin from day to day, O son of the king? Why won't you tell me?" And Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom."
5. And Jonadab said to him: "Lie down upon your bed, and feign sickness. And when your father will come to visit you, say to him: 'I ask you to let my sister Tamar come to me, so that she may give me food, and may make a small meal, so that I may eat it from her hand.' "
6. And so, Amnon lay down, and he began to act as if he were ill. And when the king had come to visit him, Amnon said to the king, "I beg you to let my sister Tamar come to me, and make in my sight two little portions of food, so that I take it from her hand."
7. Therefore, David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Come to the house of your brother Amnon, and make a small meal for him."