13 ²³ Two years later Absalom invited all the king's sons to his sheep-shearing at Baal-hazor, near Ephron prob. rdg, Heb Ephraim. 13 ²⁴ He approached the king and said, 'Sir, I am shearing; will your majesty and your servants come?' 13 ²⁵ The king answered, 'No, my son, we must not all come and be a burden to you.' Absalom pressed him, but David was still unwilling to go and dismissed him with his blessing. 13 ²⁶ But Absalom said, 'If you cannot, may my brother Amnon come with us?' 'Why should he go with you?' the king asked; 13 ²⁷ but Absalom pressed him again, so he let Amnon and all the other princes go with him.

Then Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king. 13 ²⁸ He gave his servants these orders: 'Bide your time, and when Amnon is merry with wine I shall say to you, "Strike." Then kill Amnon. You have nothing to fear, these are my orders; be bold and resolute.' 13 ²⁹ Absalom's servants did as he had told them, whereupon all the king's sons mounted their mules in haste and set off for home.

13 ³⁰ While they were on their way, a rumour reached David that Absalom had murdered all the royal princes and that not one was left alive. 13 ³¹ The king stood up and rent his clothes and then threw himself on the ground; all his servants were standing round him with their clothes rent. 13 ³² Then Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, said, 'Your majesty must not think that they have killed all the young princes; only Amnon is dead; Absalom has looked black ever since Amnon ravished his sister Tamar. 13 ³³ Your majesty must not pay attention to a mere rumour that all the princes are dead; only Amnon is dead.'

13 ³⁴ Absalom made good his escape. Meanwhile the sentry looked up and saw a crowd of people coming down the hill from the direction of Horonaim prob. rdg, Heb from a road behind him. He came and reported to the king, 'I see men coming down the hill from Horonaim.' 13 ³⁵ Then Jonadab said to the king, 'Here come the royal princes, just as I said they would.' 13 ³⁶ As he finished speaking, the princes came in and broke into loud lamentations; the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.

13 ³⁷ But Absalom went to take refuge with Talmai son of Ammihur king of Geshur; and for a long while the king mourned for Amnon.

13 ³⁸ Absalom, having escaped to Geshur, stayed there for three years; 13 ³⁹ and David's heart went out to him with longing, for he became reconciled to the death of Amnon.