But Amnonhad a friendwhose namewas Jonadab,the sonof Shimeah,David'sbrother;and Jonadabwas a veryshrewdman.
Now the serpentwas morecraftythananybeastof the fieldwhichthe LORDGodhad made.And he saidto the woman,"Indeed,has Godsaid,'You shall not eatfrom anytreeof the garden'?"
And it cameabout at that time,that Judahdepartedfrom his brothersand visiteda certainAdullamite,whose namewas Hirah.
When Judahsentthe younggoatby his friendthe Adullamite,to receivethe pledgefrom the woman'shand,he did not findher.
Amnonwas so frustratedbecauseof his sisterTamarthat he madehimself ill,for she was a virgin,and it seemedhardto Amnonto doanythingto her.
Jonadab,the sonof Shimeah,David'sbrother,responded,"Do not let my lordsupposethey have putto deathallthe youngmen,the king'ssons,for Amnonaloneis dead;becauseby the intentof Absalomthis has beendeterminedsincethe daythat he violatedhis sisterTamar.
He saidto him, "O sonof the king,whyare you sodepressedmorningafter morning?Will you not tellme?" Then Amnonsaidto him, "I am in lovewith Tamar,the sisterof my brotherAbsalom."
So Joabsentto Tekoaand broughta wisewomanfrom thereand saidto her, "Pleasepretendto be a mourner,and puton mourninggarmentsnow,and do not anointyourself with oil,but be like a womanwho has been mourningfor the deadmanydays;
When he defiedIsrael,Jonathanthe sonof Shimei,David'sbrother,struckhim down.
and Jessebecamethe fatherof Eliabhis firstborn,then Abinadabthe second,Shimeathe third,
Also Jonathan,David'suncle,[was] a counselor,a manof understanding,and a scribe;and Jehielthe sonof Hachmonitutoredthe king'ssons.
Hamancontrolledhimself, however, wentto his houseand sentfor his friendsand his wifeZeresh.
Then Zereshhis wifeand allhis friendssaidto him, "Have a gallowsfiftycubitshighmadeand in the morningaskthe kingto have Mordecaihangedon it; then gojoyfullywith the kingto the banquet."And the advicepleasedHaman,so he had the gallowsmade.
Hamanrecountedto Zereshhis wifeand allhis friendseverythingthat had happenedto him. Then his wisemenand Zereshhis wifesaidto him, "IfMordecai,beforewhomyou have begunto fall,is of Jewishorigin,you will not overcomehim, but will surelyfallbeforehim."
Manywill seekthe favorof a generousman,And everymanis a friendto him who gives gifts.
"For My peopleare foolish,They knowMe not; They are stupidchildrenAnd havenounderstanding.They are shrewdto doevil,But to dogoodthey do not know."
For the wisdomof thisworldis foolishnessbeforeGod.For it is written,"[He is] THE ONE WHO CATCHESTHE WISEIN THEIR CRAFTINESS";
Thiswisdomis not that which comes downfrom above,but is earthly,natural,demonic.
But Samson'swifewas [given] to his companionwhohad been his friend.
And Samuelsaidto Jesse,"Are these allthe children?"And he said,"There remainsyetthe youngest,and behold,he is tendingthe sheep."Then Samuelsaidto Jesse,"Sendand bringhim; for we will not sitdown untilhe comeshere."
Next Jessemade Shammahpassby. And he said,"The LORDhas not chosenthisoneeither."
