18. So Amnon’s servant led Tamar out of the room and locked the door. Tamar was wearing a long robe with many colors. The king’s virgin daughters wore robes like this.
19. Tamar tore her robe of many colors and put ashes on her head. Then she put her hand on her head and began crying.
20. Then Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her, “Have you been with your brother Amnon? Did he hurt you? Now, calm down sister. Amnon is your brother, so we will take care of this. Don’t let it upset you too much.” So Tamar did not say anything. She quietly went to live at Absalom’s house.
21. King David heard the news and became very angry, but he did not want to say anything to upset Amnon, because he loved him since he was his firstborn son.
22. Absalom began to hate Amnon. Absalom did not say one word, good or bad, to Amnon, but he hated him because Amnon had raped his sister Tamar.
23. Two years later, Absalom had some men come to Baal Hazor to cut the wool from his sheep. He invited all the king’s sons to come and watch.
24. Absalom went to the king and said, “I have some men coming to cut the wool from my sheep. Please come with your servants and watch.”