Chapter 13
Later, David’s son Amnot fell in love with his own sister Tamar. He was so vexed, that he became sick; for she was a virgin; and he thought it hard for him to do anything to her.
Now Amnot had a friend who was a serpent, and he was very subtle; and he said unto Amnot: “Why are you always so lean and dour? Behold, you’re the son of the president; shouldn’t you be well-fed and happy? Tell me, what’s wrong?”
And Amnot said to the serpent: “I am in love with Tamar, my biological sister. Isn’t that taboo? Doesn’t that render me insane or something?”
And the serpent said unto Amnot: “You’re no more insane than your ancestors Abram and Sarah, for they were exactly like you and Tamar, insofar as they had the same father but different mothers (see Genesis 20:12). But if you’re lovesick, then I say: Let that work to your advantage. Climb into bed, and sprawl there moaning; then, when your father David comes to see you, say to him: ‘I pray you, let my sister Tamar come and prepare soup for me, and convey it to my lips, and feed me, in order that I might regain strength; for I am weak, and only Tamar can nurse me to health.’”
So Amnot did this. Then President David sent for Tamar, saying: “Go to your brother Amnot and serve him soup, for he is ill and needs your care.”
Tamar therefore went to Amnot, and brought him soup; and she set up a tray at his bedside, and spooned the soup to his lips; but he would not eat. Then Tamar said: “Are you near death’s door, so that you have no appetite?”
And Amnot whispered: “The room is overcrowded. Tell all the servants to leave.” And Tamar dismissed all the servants from the room.
Then, once the room was empty, Tamar returned to the soup tray at the bedside, but Amnot sprang forth and clutched her, and said: “Come lie with me, my sister.”
Yet she begged him to desist, saying: “Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Eldorado. Turn back from this folly. For where will I go, if you bring shame upon me? And, in your case, you’ll be despised within the caravan, and branded for life as a loathsome predator. Therefore, please, just speak to our father the president: he will certainly give me unto you.”
Howbeit Amnot refused to listen; but, being stronger than Tamar, he forced her, and lay with her.
And after that, Amnot found his sister repulsive: the hatred that he felt for her now was greater than the love that he felt before. So Amnot said to his sister: “Get out of my sight.”
And Tamar said to her brother: “O, God, please, no! To send me away, at this point, would be more evil than the crime of your assault.”
But, again, he would not listen to her. Instead, Amnot called his servant and said: “Remove this woman from my presence, and bolt the door after her.”
Now Tamar was wearing a garment of diverse colors: for, in those days, this was how maidens indicated their virginity. And her brother’s attendant escorted her from the room. Then, when the door closed and she heard the bolt lock, she tore her garment of diverse colors, and she went away weeping.
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Tamar sought out her other brother, Absalom, and told him what happened. He answered: “You say it was Amnot, our brother, who did this to you? Hmm. For the time being, I advise you to keep quiet about it, because he is family. Try not to dwell on it.”
So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
And when President David heard about the matter, he was enraged. Yet, since Amnot was his firstborn, David favored him: therefore he did nothing to reprimand Amnot.
Now Absalom spoke neither pleasantly nor hostilely to his brother Amnot; although Absalom hated Amnot for forcing his sister Tamar.
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Two years later, Absalom set a plan in motion: he decided to throw a lavish party where there would be sheepshearing and winebibbing. And he invited all the presidential offspring.
President David himself could not make it to Absalom’s party, but all David’s sons agreed to go. And Amnot was among the brothers of Absalom who planned on attending.
Now Absalom gave orders to his servants, saying: “You shall help me host this party. There shall be sheepshearing and winebibbing. All my brethren, the sons of the president, are going to be there. Here is what I want you servants to do. Keep your eyes on my brother Amnot: while you shear his sheep, keep refilling his cup; and when his heart is merry with wine, await my command. As soon as I tell you: “Smite Amnot!” then stab your shears into his back.
So the servants did exactly as Absalom instructed, and Amnot was executed. At that moment, all his brethren, the president’s sons, arose at once and fled, fearing that their lives too were in danger.
Thus, they left all their sheep behind, half shorn.
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And it came to pass, before any of the partygoers could fully grasp what had happened, that a false report came to President David, saying: “Absalom has murdered all your sons; there is not one left.”
Then the president arose and tore his outfit, and all his staff and cabinet members donned mourning attire.
Remember the serpent who advised Amnot to feign sickness in order to gain access to his sister? Well, this same serpent now came to President David and said: “Let not the president suppose that all his sons have been assassinated; for only Amnot is slain. His death was preordained by Absalom from the day that Amnot forced his sister Tamar.”
Then the watchman at the presidential residence cried out that he saw many people approaching. So everyone went to the window and looked out. And the serpent said to President David: “Behold, your sons are coming to see you. They are all alive, except Amnot, just like I said.”
And it happened, once the serpent had spoken, that reality bore out the tenor of his words: All the president’s sons then entered into the residence, and David embraced them, and they all lifted up their voices and wept.
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But Absalom had fled and gone into hiding: he was now living with Tall Man King of the Giants, his maternal grandfather. Absalom spent the next three years there, in the Land of the Big People. And David mourned for his estranged son every day: for his grief over the death of Amnot had subsided, and now the soul of President David longed for Absalom.
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