1. After this, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom.
2. Amnon was so obsessed with his half sister Tamar that he made himself sick. It seemed impossible for him to be alone with her because she was a virgin.
3. Amnon had a friend by the name of Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimea. Jonadab was a very clever man.
4. He asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so worn out morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”“I’m in love with Absalom’s sister Tamar,” he answered.
5. Then Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed. Act sick, and when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come to feed me. She can prepare a meal in front of me as I watch her, and she can feed me.’ ”
6. So Amnon lay down and acted sick, and the king came to see him. Amnon asked the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make some bread in front of me, and she can feed me.”
7. David sent for Tamar at the palace. “Please go to your brother Amnon’s home,” he said, “and prepare some food for him.”