Enraged over the rape of his sister Tamar, Absalom arranged for Amnon's murder (2 Sam. 13:23-29). Two years after the tragedy, Absalom encouraged Amnon to attend a sheepshearing festival. There, at a prearranged signal, Absalom's men killed him. After years of tension between father and son, Absalom conspired to commandeer the throne (2 Sam. 15-17). Sensing that popular opinion had swung to Absalom, David and his officials headed east for the Transjordan.