the tabernacle of God。 He also commanded them to set supper
before him； and thereby greatly surprised his kindred and
servants； while he did nothing of this when the child was sick；
but did it all when he was dead。 Whereupon having first begged
leave to ask him a question； they besought him to tell them the
reason of this his conduct； he then called them unskillful
people； and instructed them how he had hopes of the recovery of
the child while it was alive； and accordingly did all that was
proper for him to do； as thinking by such means to render God
propitious to him； but that when the child was dead； there was no
longer any occasion for grief； which was then to no purpose。 When
he had said this； they commended the king's wisdom and
understanding。 He then went in unto Bathsheba his wife； and she
conceived and bare a son； and by the command of Nathan the
prophet called his name Solomon。
5。 But Joab sorely distressed the Ammonites in the siege； by
cutting off their waters； and depriving them of other means of
subsistence； till they were in the greatest want of meat and
drink； for they depended only on one small well of water； and
this they durst not drink of too freely； lest the fountain should
entirely fail them。 So he wrote to the king； and informed him
thereof； and persuaded him to come himself to take the city； that
he might have the honor of the victory。 Upon this letter of
Joab's； the king accepted of his good…will and fidelity； and took
with him his army； and came to the destruction of Rabbah； and
when he had taken it by force； he gave it to his soldiers to
plunder it； but he himself took the king of the Ammonites' crown；
whose weight was a talent of gold； （13） and it had in its middle
a precious stone called a sardonyx； which crown David ever after
wore on his own head。 He also found many other vessels in the
city； and those both splendid and of great price； but as for the
men； he tormented them； （14） and then destroyed them； and when he
had taken the other cities of the Ammonites by force； he treated
them after the same manner。
CHAPTER 8。
How Absalom Murdered Amnon； Who Had Forced His Own Sister； And
How He Was Banished And Afterwards Recalled By David。
1。 When the king was returned to Jerusalem； a sad misfortune
befell his house； on the occasion following： He had a daughter；
who was yet a virgin； and very handsome； insomuch that she
surpassed all the most beautiful women； her name was Tamar； she
had the same mother with Absalom。 Now Amnon； David's eldest son；
fell in love with her； and being not able to obtain his desires；
on account of her virginity； and the custody she was under； was
so much out of order； nay； his grief so eat up his body； that he
grew lean； and his color was changed。 Now there was one Jenadab；
a kinsman and friend of his； who discovered this his passion； for
he was an extraordinary wise man； and of great sagacity of mind。
When； therefore； he saw that every morning Amnon was not in body
as he ought to be； he came to him； and desired him to tell him
what was the cause of it： however； he said that he guessed that
it arose from the passion of love。 Amnon confessed his passion；
that he was in love with a sister of his； who had the same father
with himself。 So Jenadab suggested to him by what method and
contrivance he might obtain his desires； for he persuaded him to
pretend sickness； and bade him； when his father should come to
him； to beg of him that his sister might come and minister to
him； for if that were done； he should be better； and should
quickly recover from his distemper。 So Amnon lay down on his bed；
and pretended to be sick； as Jonadab had suggested。 When his
father came； and inquired how he did； he begged of him to send
his sister to him。 Accordingly； he presently ordered her to be
brought to him； and when she was come； Amnon bade her make cakes
for him； and fry them in a pan； and do it all with her own hands；
because he should take them better from her hand ＇than from any
one's else＇。 So she kneaded the flour in the sight of her
brother； and made him cakes； and baked them in a pan； and brought
them to him； but at that time he would not taste them； but gave
order to his servants to send all that were there out of his
chamber； because he had a mind to repose himself； free from
tumult and disturbance。 As soon as what he had commanded was
done； he desired his sister to bring his supper to him into the
inner parlor； which； when the damsel had done； he took hold of
her； and endeavored to persuade her to lie with him。 Whereupon
the damsel cried out； and said； 〃Nay； brother； do not force me；
nor be so wicked as to transgress the laws； and bring upon
thyself the utmost confusion。 Curb this thy unrighteous and
impure lust； from which our house will get nothing but reproach
and disgrace。〃 She also advised him to speak to his father about
this affair； for he would permit him ＇to marry her＇。 This she
said； as desirous to avoid her brother's violent passion at
present。 But he would not yield to her； but； inflamed with love
and blinded with the vehemency of his passion； he forced his
sister： but as soon as Amnon had satisfied his lust； he hated her
immediately； and giving her reproachful words； bade her rise up
and be gone。 And when she said that this was a more injurious
treatment than the former； if； now he had forced her； he would
not let her stay with him till the evening； but bid her go away
in the day…time； and while it was light； that she might meet with
people that would be witnesses of her shame； … he commanded his
servant to turn her out of his house。 Whereupon she was sorely
grieved at the injury and violence that had been offered to her；
and rent her loose coat； （for the virgins of old time wore such
loose coats tied at the hands； and let down to the ankles； that
the inner coats might not be seen；） and sprinkled ashes on her
head； and went up the middle of the city； crying out and
lamenting for the violence that had been offered her。 Now
Absalom； her brother； happened to meet her； and asked her what
sad thing had befallen her； that she was in that plight； and when
she had told him what injury had been offered her； he comforted
her； and desired her to be quiet； and take all patiently； and not
to esteem her being corrupted by her brother as an injury。 So she
yielded to his advice； and left off her crying out； and
discovering the force offered her to the multitude； and she
continued as a widow with her brother Absalom a long time。
2。 When David his father knew this； he was grieved at the actions
of Amnon； but because he had an extraordinary affection for him；
for he was his eldest son； he was compelled not to afflict him；
but Absalom watched for a fit opportunity of revenging this crime
upon him； for he thoroughly hated him。 Now the second year after
this wicked affair about his sister was over； and Absalom was
about to go to shear his own sheep at Baalhazor； which is a city
in the portion of Ephraim； he besought his father； as well as his
brethren； to come and feast with him： but when David excused
himself； as not being willing to be burdensome to him； Absalom
desired he would however send his brethren； whom he did send
accordingly。 Then Absalom charged his own servants； that when
they should see Amnon disordered and drowsy with wine； and he
should give them a signal； they should fear nobody； but kill him。
3。 When they had done as they were commanded； the rest of his
brethren were astonished and disturbed； and were afraid for
themselves； so they immediately got on horseback； and rode away
to their father； but somebody there was who prevented them； and
told their father they were all slain by Absalom； whereupon he
was overcome with sorrow； as for so many of his sons that were
destroyed at once； and that by their brother also； and by this
consideration； that it was their brother that appeared to have
slain them； he aggravated his sorrow for them。 So he neither
inquired what was the cause of this slaughter； nor staid to hear
any thing else； which yet it was but reasonable to have done；
when so very great； and by that greatness so incredible； a
misfortune was related to him： he rent his clothes and threw
himself upon the ground； and there lay lamenting the loss of all
his sons； both those who； as he was informed； were slain； and of
him who slew them。 But Jonadab； the son of his brother Shemeah；
entreated him not to indulge his sorrow so far； for as to the
rest of his sons he did not believe that they were slain； for he
found no cause for such a suspicion； but he said it might deserve
inquiry as to Amnon； for it was not unlikely that Absalom might
venture to kill him on account of the injury he had offered to
Tamar。 In the mean time； a great noise of horses； and a tumult of
some people that were coming； turned their attention to them；
they were the king's sons； who were fled away from the feast。 So
their father met them as they were in their grief； and he himself
grieved with them； but it was more than he expected to see those
his sons again； whom he had a little before heard to have
perished。 However； their were tears on both sides； they lamenting
their brother who was killed； and the king lamenting his son； who
was killed also； but Absalom fled to Geshur； to his grandfather
by his mother's side； who was king of that country； and he
remained with him three whole years。
4。 Now David had a design to send to Absalom； not that he should
come to be punished； but that he might be with him； for the
effects of his anger were abated by length of time。 It was Joab；
the captain of his host； that chiefly persuaded him so to do； for
he suborned an ordinary woman； that was stricken in age； to go to
the king in mourning apparel； who said thus to him： … That two of
her sons； in a coarse way； had some difference between them； and
that in the progress of that difference they came to an open
quarrel； and that one was smitten by the other； and was dead； and
she desired him to interpose in this case； and to do her the
favor to save this her son from her kindred； who were very
zealous to have him that had slain his brother put to death； that
so she might not be