12. She answered, “No! Please don't force me! This sort of thing isn't done in Israel. It's too disgusting!
13. Think of me. I'll be disgraced for ever! And think of yourself. Everyone in Israel will say you're nothing but a load of rubbish! Just ask the king, and he will let you marry me.”
14. But Amnon would not listen to what she said. He was stronger than she was, so he overpowered her and raped her.
15. Then Amnon hated her even more than he had loved her before. So he told her, “Get up and get out!”
16. She said, “Don't send me away! That would be worse than what you have already done.”But Amnon would not listen.
17. He called in his servant and said, “Throw this woman out and lock the door!”
18. The servant made her leave, and he locked the door behind her.The king's unmarried daughters used to wear long robes with sleeves.
19. Tamar tore the robe she was wearing and put ashes on her head. Then she covered her face with her hands and cried loudly as she walked away.
20. Tamar's brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he's your brother, don't tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.”Tamar soon moved into Absalom's house, but she was always sad and lonely.
21. When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his eldest son and also his favourite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy.
22. Absalom treated Amnon as though nothing had happened, but he hated Amnon for what he had done to his sister Tamar.
23. Two years later, Absalom's servants were cutting wool from his sheep in Baal-Hazor near the town of Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons to be there.
24. Then he went to David and said, “My servants are cutting the wool from my sheep. Please come and join us!”
25. David answered, “No, my son, we won't go. It would be too expensive for you.” Absalom tried to get him to change his mind, but David did not want to go. He only said that he hoped they would have a good time.