2 Samuel 13:8

13:1-20 From henceforward David was followed with one trouble after another. Adultery and murder were David's sins, the like sins among his children were the beginnings of his punishment: he was too indulgent to his children. Thus David might trace the sins of his children to his own misconduct, which must have made the anguish of the chastisement worse. Let no one ever expect good treatment from those who are capable of attempting their seduction; but it is better to suffer the greatest wrong than to commit the least sin.

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house,.... In obedience to the king's commands, and in affection to her brother, with an innocent breast, having no suspicion of any design upon her chastity: (and he was laid down); upon a couch or bed in his chamber, as being sick as was pretended, into which she was introduced: and she took flour, and kneaded it; made it into a paste: and made cakes in his sight; a kind of fritters of them, as in the Talmud (y): and did bake the cakes: or fried them in a frying pan, in oil. (y) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 21. 1.

2Sa 13:6-27. He Defiles Her. 6-8. Amnon lay down, and made himself sick—The Orientals are great adepts in feigning sickness, whenever they have any object to accomplish. let Tamar my sister come and make me a couple of cakes—To the king Amnon spoke of Tamar as "his sister," a term artfully designed to hoodwink his father; and the request appeared so natural, the delicate appetite of a sick man requiring to be humored, that the king promised to send her. The cakes seem to have been a kind of fancy bread, in the preparation of which Oriental ladies take great delight. Tamar, flattered by the invitation, lost no time in rendering the required service in the house of her sick brother.

Amnon acted upon the advice, and begged his father, when he came to ask him how he was, to allow his sister Tamar to come and bake two heart-cakes for him before his eyes, which she very speedily did. לבּב is a denom. from לבבות, to make or bake heart-cakes. לבבות is a heart-strengthening kind of pastry, a kind of pancake, which could be very quickly made. It is evident from these verses that the king's children lived in different houses. Probably each of the king's wives lived with her children in one particular compartment of the palace.

Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.” Verse 13 Speak unto the king - So it appears that she thought that the king, her father, would give her to him as wife. This is another strong mark of indelicacy in those simple but barbarous times. There might have been some excuse for such connections under the patriarchal age, but there was none now. But perhaps she said this only to divert him from his iniquitous purpose, that she might get out of his hands. 2SAMUEL 13: 14 However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. ADAM CLARKE'S BIBLE COMMETARY 2 SAMUEL 2SAMUEL 13: 15 Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” Verse 15 Hated her exceedingly - Amnon's conduct to his sister was not only brutal but inexplicable. It would be easy to form conjectures concerning the cause, but we can arrive at no certainty. 2SAMUEL 13: 16 She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!” But he would not listen to her. 2SAMUEL 13: 17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.” 2SAMUEL 13: 18 She had a garment of various colours on her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed.

Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. Verse 18 A garment of divers colors - See the note on Genesis 37:3, where the same words occur. 2SAMUEL 13: 19 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colours that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. 2SAMUEL 13: 20 Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 2SAMUEL 13: 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. Verse 21 But when King David heard - To this verse the Septuagint add the following words: Και ουκ ελυπησε το πνευμα Αμνων του υἱου αυτου, ὁτι ηγαπα αυτον, ὁτι πρωτοτοκος αυτου ην; "But he would not grieve the soul of Amnon his son, for he loved him, because he was his first-born." The same addition is found in the Vulgate and in Josephus, and it is possible that this once made a part of the Hebrew text. 2SAMUEL 13: 22 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. ADAM CLARKE'S BIBLE COMMETARY 2 SAMUEL 2SAMUEL 13: 23 After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

of Moloch , called also Milchom , and here Malchen ; punishing them with their own sin, and with the same kind of punishment which they inflicted upon their own children: see 2Ki_16:3 23:10 Lev_18:21 20:2 Deu_18:10. ## 2 Samuel 13:1 2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 13 Ammon loveth his sister Tamar; ravisheth her; then hateth and driveth her away, 2Sa_13:1-19. Absalom entertaineth and revengeth her with Amnon’s death, 2Sa_13:20-29. David is grieved: Absalom fleeth to Geshur, 2Sa_13:30-39. ## A fair sister; his sister by father and mother: see 2Sa_3:3. ## 2 Samuel 13:2 He fell sick; the passion of his mind disturbed his body, as is usual. She was a virgin, and therefore diligently kept, so as he could not get private converse with her; and withal modest, and abhorring any compliance with his lustful desires, both from her inclination and interest. 2 Samuel 13:3 Shimeah, called also Shammah, 1Sa_16:9. ## 2 Samuel 13:4 From day to day, Heb. from morning to morning ; for whereas in the day he had many diversions and refreshments, in the night he was pestered with tormenting thoughts and passions; the effects whereof appeared in his countenance in the morning. ## Wilt thou not tell me, thy sure friend and faithful servant, who am ready to advise and assist thee? ## 2 Samuel 13:5 Let my sister Tamar come; so he calls her, to prevent the suspicion of any dishonest design upon so near a relation, whom neither nature nor respect and affection would permit him to vitiate.