1. After this, the following occurred. David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David’s son Amnon loved her.
2. He was in such anguish over his sister Tamar that he became sick; she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it impossible to do anything to her.
3. Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah, who was very clever.
4. He asked him, “Prince, why are you so dejected morning after morning? Why not tell me?” So Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5. Then Jonadab replied, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to visit you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and encourage me to take food. If she prepares something in my presence, for me to see, I will eat it from her hand.’”