WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.337 Day 200 and 3 00:00:04.787 --> 00:00:09.077 now, David's son, Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar 00:00:09.597 --> 00:00:13.587 and Nan, her half-brother, fell desperately in love with her. 00:00:14.697 --> 00:00:17.667 Nan became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. 00:00:18.587 --> 00:00:21.997 She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her. 00:00:23.077 --> 00:00:27.047 But Amnon had a very crafty friend, his cousin Jonadab. 00:00:28.297 --> 00:00:30.667 He was the son of David's brother Shimea. 00:00:31.687 --> 00:00:35.347 One day Jonadab said to Amnon, What's the trouble? 00:00:35.827 --> 00:00:39.487 Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning? 00:00:40.427 --> 00:00:46.467 So Amnon told him, I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 00:00:47.607 --> 00:00:50.927 Well, Jonadab said, I'll tell you what to do. 00:00:51.637 --> 00:00:53.667 Go back to bed and pretend you are ill. 00:00:54.357 --> 00:00:57.847 When your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come 00:00:57.847 --> 00:00:59.247 and prepare some food for you. 00:00:59.957 --> 00:01:03.547 Tell him you'll feel better if she prepares it as you watch and 00:01:03.547 --> 00:01:05.147 feeds you with her own hands. 00:01:06.277 --> 00:01:09.187 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. 00:01:09.937 --> 00:01:15.217 And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, Please let my sister Tamar 00:01:15.227 --> 00:01:17.677 come and cook my favorite dish as I watch. 00:01:18.047 --> 00:01:20.017 Then I can eat it from her own hands. 00:01:20.982 --> 00:01:25.492 So David agreed and sent Tamar to Amnon's house to prepare some food for him. 00:01:26.732 --> 00:01:31.252 When Tamar arrived at Amnon's house, she went to the place where he was lying down 00:01:31.262 --> 00:01:33.012 so he could watch her mix some dough. 00:01:33.632 --> 00:01:35.782 Then she baked his favorite dish for him. 00:01:36.742 --> 00:01:40.642 But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. 00:01:41.732 --> 00:01:44.812 Everyone get out of here, Amnon told his servants. 00:01:45.277 --> 00:01:51.857 So they all left then he said to Tamar now bring the food into my bedroom and feed 00:01:51.857 --> 00:01:58.837 it to me here So Tamar took his favorite dish to him But as she was feeding him 00:01:59.087 --> 00:02:05.907 he grabbed her and demanded come to bed with me my darling sister No, my brother. 00:02:05.947 --> 00:02:06.657 She cried. 00:02:06.897 --> 00:02:08.117 Don't be foolish. 00:02:08.317 --> 00:02:12.452 Don't do this to me Such wicked things aren't done in Israel. 00:02:12.792 --> 00:02:14.632 Where could I go in my shame? 00:02:15.332 --> 00:02:18.562 And you would be called one of the greatest fools in Israel. 00:02:19.002 --> 00:02:22.762 Please, just speak to the king about it and he will let you marry me. 00:02:23.792 --> 00:02:25.742 But Amnon wouldn't listen to her. 00:02:26.202 --> 00:02:29.572 And since he was stronger than she was, he raped her. 00:02:30.582 --> 00:02:35.222 Then suddenly Amnon's love turned to hate, and he hated her even 00:02:35.222 --> 00:02:36.662 more than he had loved her. 00:02:37.352 --> 00:02:40.002 Get out of here, he snarled at her. 00:02:40.622 --> 00:02:43.202 No, no, Temar cried. 00:02:43.632 --> 00:02:47.132 Sending me away now is worse than what you've already done to me. 00:02:47.997 --> 00:02:49.977 But Amnon wouldn't listen to her. 00:02:50.467 --> 00:02:54.697 He shouted for his servant and demanded, Throw this woman out 00:02:54.927 --> 00:02:56.657 and lock the door behind her. 00:02:57.877 --> 00:03:01.147 So the servant put her out and locked the door behind her. 00:03:01.857 --> 00:03:05.867 She was wearing a long, beautiful robe, as was the custom in those 00:03:05.867 --> 00:03:07.837 days for the king's virgin daughters. 00:03:08.647 --> 00:03:12.417 But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. 00:03:13.047 --> 00:03:17.277 And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying. 00:03:18.557 --> 00:03:24.187 Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, Is it true that Amnon has been with you? 00:03:25.247 --> 00:03:29.097 Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he's your brother. 00:03:29.627 --> 00:03:31.017 Don't you worry about it. 00:03:32.097 --> 00:03:36.237 So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom's house. 00:03:37.497 --> 00:03:41.507 When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. 00:03:42.267 --> 00:03:47.642 And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, He hated Amnon deeply because 00:03:47.642 --> 00:03:49.452 of what he had done to his sister. 00:03:51.052 --> 00:03:55.542 Two years later, when Absalom's sheep were being sheared at Baal Hazor 00:03:55.572 --> 00:04:00.712 near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king's sons to come to a feast. 00:04:01.222 --> 00:04:05.602 He went to the king and said, My sheep shearers are now at work. 00:04:06.062 --> 00:04:09.672 Would the king and his servants please come to celebrate the occasion with me? 00:04:10.412 --> 00:04:12.882 The king replied, No, my son. 00:04:13.392 --> 00:04:16.792 If we all came, we would be too much of a burden on you. 00:04:17.772 --> 00:04:21.412 Absalom pressed him, but the king would not come, though 00:04:21.412 --> 00:04:23.242 he gave Absalom his blessing. 00:04:24.392 --> 00:04:29.022 Well then, Absalom said, if you can't come, how about sending 00:04:29.022 --> 00:04:30.502 my brother Amnon with us? 00:04:31.582 --> 00:04:32.532 Why Amnon? 00:04:32.842 --> 00:04:33.752 the king asked. 00:04:34.422 --> 00:04:38.522 But Absalom kept on pressing the king until he finally agreed to let all 00:04:38.522 --> 00:04:41.062 his sons attend, including Amnon. 00:04:41.882 --> 00:04:44.872 So Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king. 00:04:46.222 --> 00:04:50.432 Absalom told his men, Wait until Amnon gets drunk. 00:04:51.012 --> 00:04:53.352 Then at my signal, kill him. 00:04:53.902 --> 00:04:54.802 Don't be afraid. 00:04:54.802 --> 00:04:57.402 I'm the one who has given the command. 00:04:57.782 --> 00:04:59.312 Take courage and do it. 00:05:00.402 --> 00:05:03.412 So, at Absalom's signal, they murdered Amnon. 00:05:03.882 --> 00:05:07.252 Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled. 00:05:08.352 --> 00:05:12.482 As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David. 00:05:13.102 --> 00:05:17.662 Absalom has killed all the king's sons, not one is left alive. 00:05:18.402 --> 00:05:22.372 The king got up, tore his robe, and threw himself on the ground. 00:05:22.922 --> 00:05:26.412 His advisors also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow. 00:05:27.502 --> 00:05:32.062 But just then, Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shemiah, arrived 00:05:32.062 --> 00:05:36.772 and said, No, don't believe that all the king's sons have been killed. 00:05:37.062 --> 00:05:38.602 It was only Amnon. 00:05:39.252 --> 00:05:43.402 Absalom has been plotting this ever since Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 00:05:44.002 --> 00:05:47.982 No, my lord the king, your sons aren't all dead. 00:05:48.232 --> 00:05:49.592 It was only Amnon. 00:05:50.202 --> 00:05:52.192 Meanwhile, Absalom escaped. 00:05:53.502 --> 00:05:57.532 Then the watchmen on the Jerusalem wall saw a great crowd coming down 00:05:57.532 --> 00:05:59.382 the hill on the road from the west. 00:06:00.212 --> 00:06:05.152 He ran to tell the king, I see a crowd of people coming from the Horenayim 00:06:05.152 --> 00:06:06.762 road along the side of the hill. 00:06:08.052 --> 00:06:11.452 Look, Jonadab told the king, there they are now. 00:06:12.002 --> 00:06:14.692 The king's sons are coming, just as I said. 00:06:15.932 --> 00:06:20.292 They soon arrived, weeping and sobbing, and the king and all his 00:06:20.292 --> 00:06:22.262 servants wept bitterly with them. 00:06:22.992 --> 00:06:25.692 And David mourned many days for his son Amnon. 00:06:27.232 --> 00:06:32.832 Absalom fled to his grandfather, Talmai, son of Amihud, the king of Gesher. 00:06:33.552 --> 00:06:35.992 He stayed there in Gesher for three years. 00:06:36.642 --> 00:06:41.182 And King David, now reconciled to Amnon's death, longed to be 00:06:41.182 --> 00:06:43.132 reunited with his son Absalom. 00:06:44.672 --> 00:06:48.212 Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom. 00:06:48.772 --> 00:06:53.362 So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. 00:06:53.912 --> 00:06:56.947 He said to her, Pretend you are in mourning. 00:06:57.367 --> 00:07:00.157 Wear mourning clothes and don't put on lotions. 00:07:00.677 --> 00:07:04.447 Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 00:07:05.267 --> 00:07:09.037 Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you. 00:07:10.157 --> 00:07:12.247 Then Joab told her what to say. 00:07:13.077 --> 00:07:17.057 When the woman from Tekoa approached the king, she bowed with her face 00:07:17.057 --> 00:07:22.047 to the ground in deep respect, and cried out, O king, help me. 00:07:22.767 --> 00:07:23.777 What's the trouble? 00:07:23.887 --> 00:07:24.827 the king asked. 00:07:25.467 --> 00:07:28.127 Alas, I am a widow, she replied. 00:07:28.477 --> 00:07:29.837 My husband is dead. 00:07:30.127 --> 00:07:32.567 My two sons had a fight out in the field. 00:07:33.027 --> 00:07:36.597 And since no one was there to stop it, one of them was killed. 00:07:37.327 --> 00:07:41.282 Now the rest of the family is demanding Let us have your son. 00:07:41.592 --> 00:07:44.122 We will execute him for murdering his brother. 00:07:44.492 --> 00:07:47.492 He doesn't deserve to inherit his family's property. 00:07:48.562 --> 00:07:52.122 They want to extinguish the only coal I have left. 00:07:52.612 --> 00:07:56.502 And my husband's name and family will disappear from the face of the earth. 00:07:57.667 --> 00:07:59.897 Leave it to me, the king told her. 00:08:00.607 --> 00:08:03.787 Go home, and I'll see to it that no one touches him. 00:08:05.137 --> 00:08:09.397 Oh, thank you, my lord the king, the woman from Tekoa replied. 00:08:09.907 --> 00:08:13.767 If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and 00:08:13.767 --> 00:08:17.537 on my father's house, and let the king and his throne be innocent. 00:08:18.667 --> 00:08:22.537 If anyone objects, the king said, bring him to me. 00:08:23.027 --> 00:08:25.377 I can assure you he will never harm you again. 00:08:26.602 --> 00:08:31.652 Then she said, Please swear to me by the Lord your God that you won't let 00:08:31.662 --> 00:08:33.862 anyone take vengeance against my son. 00:08:34.582 --> 00:08:36.272 I want no more bloodshed. 00:08:37.262 --> 00:08:40.132 As surely as the Lord lives, he replied. 00:08:40.502 --> 00:08:43.362 Not a hair on your son's head will be disturbed. 00:08:44.602 --> 00:08:48.882 Please allow me to ask one more thing of my Lord the King, she said. 00:08:49.722 --> 00:08:52.022 Go ahead and speak, he responded. 00:08:52.612 --> 00:08:53.482 She replied. 00:08:54.592 --> 00:08:59.122 Why don't you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me? 00:08:59.932 --> 00:09:04.342 You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused 00:09:04.352 --> 00:09:06.592 to bring home your own banished son. 00:09:07.222 --> 00:09:09.432 All of us must die eventually. 00:09:09.842 --> 00:09:12.902 Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which 00:09:12.902 --> 00:09:14.322 cannot be gathered up again. 00:09:15.072 --> 00:09:17.232 But God does not just sweep life away. 00:09:17.742 --> 00:09:22.652 Instead, He devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from Him. 00:09:23.562 --> 00:09:27.632 I have come to plead with my Lord the King, because people have threatened me. 00:09:28.202 --> 00:09:32.252 I said to myself, perhaps the King will listen to me and rescue us 00:09:32.252 --> 00:09:36.272 from those who would cut us off from the inheritance God has given us. 00:09:36.992 --> 00:09:40.482 Yes, my Lord the King will give us peace of mind again. 00:09:41.662 --> 00:09:45.412 I know that you are like an angel of God in discerning good from evil. 00:09:46.332 --> 00:09:48.342 May the Lord your God be with you. 00:09:49.482 --> 00:09:52.042 I must know one thing, the King replied. 00:09:52.822 --> 00:09:53.952 And tell me the truth. 00:09:54.912 --> 00:09:56.202 Yes, my lord the king. 00:09:56.412 --> 00:09:59.892 She responded, Did Joab put you up to this? 00:10:00.682 --> 00:10:06.212 And the woman replied, My lord the king, how can I deny it? 00:10:06.882 --> 00:10:08.942 Nobody can hide anything from you. 00:10:09.702 --> 00:10:12.792 Yes, Joab sent me and told me what to say. 00:10:13.502 --> 00:10:16.492 He did it to place the matter before you in a different light. 00:10:17.152 --> 00:10:20.742 But you are as wise as an angel of God, and you understand 00:10:20.752 --> 00:10:22.452 everything that happens among us. 00:10:23.582 --> 00:10:28.742 So the king sent for Joab and told him, All right, go and 00:10:28.752 --> 00:10:30.782 bring back the young man Absalom. 00:10:32.092 --> 00:10:35.822 Joab bowed with his face to the ground in deep respect and said, 00:10:36.572 --> 00:10:41.692 At last I know that I have gained your approval, my Lord the King, for 00:10:41.692 --> 00:10:43.572 you have granted me this request. 00:10:44.892 --> 00:10:48.762 Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 00:10:49.792 --> 00:10:55.532 But the king gave this order, Absalom may go to his own house, but he 00:10:55.532 --> 00:10:57.572 must never come into my presence. 00:10:58.442 --> 00:11:00.342 So Absalom did not see the king. 00:11:02.222 --> 00:11:05.072 This concludes today's Immerse Reading Experience. 00:11:05.212 --> 00:11:06.402 Thank you for joining us.