Quotes About Family

Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child

After some time, Davidís son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Davidís son Absalom.

Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of Davidís brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Wonít you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalomís sister.”

Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ëPlease let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.í”

So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”

Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”

So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked them.

Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, so that I may eat it from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnonís bedroom.

So Amnonís attendant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a robe of many colors, because this is what the kingís virgin daughters wore.

Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.

When King David heard all this, he was furious.

And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar.

Two years later, when Absalomís sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king.

“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.

“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.

But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons.

So Absalomís young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.

While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!”

But Jonadab, the son of Davidís brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.

So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! It is just as your servant said.”

And as he finished speaking, the sons of the king came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.

Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son every day.