2 Samuel 13:2

2 Amnon's sister Tamar was a virgin. It seemed impossible for him to do what he wanted to do with her. But he wanted her so much it almost made him sick.

2 Samuel 13:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 13:2

And Amnon was so vexed
Distressed, straitened, and perplexed in his mind through unruly and unbridled lusts that raged in him:

that he fell sick for his sister Tamar;
as Antiochus son of Seleucus did for his mother in law Stratonice, who, to cure him of it, was delivered to him by his father ^F19:

for she [was] a virgin;
and so kept very recluse from the company of men, that he could not come at her; so Philo ^F20, speaking of the Jewish women, and particularly virgins, says, that they were shut up in their chambers, and through modesty shun the sight of men, even those of their own house; hence they are called (twmle) , from a word which signifies to hide; and Phocylides ^F21 the poet advises to the shutting of them up in like manner:

and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her;
that it was difficult to have access to her, almost impossible, what he despaired of, and what, if attained to, would be wonderful and amazing; he was at his wits' end how to contrive any scheme to get at her, and obtain his desire.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 See the Universal History, vol. 3. p. 519. Ed. fol.
F20 In Flaccum, p. 977.
F21 Poem. admon. v. 203, 204.

2 Samuel 13:2 In-Context

1 Some time later, David's son Amnon fell in love with Tamar. She was the beautiful sister of Absalom. He was another one of David's sons.

2 Amnon's sister Tamar was a virgin. It seemed impossible for him to do what he wanted to do with her. But he wanted her so much it almost made him sick.

3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab. He was the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very clever man.

4 He asked Amnon, "You are the king's son, aren't you? So why do you look so worn out every morning? Won't you tell me?" Amnon answered, "I'm in love with Tamar. She's the sister of my brother Absalom."

5 "Go to bed," Jonadab said. "Pretend to be sick. Your father will come to see you. When he does, tell him, 'I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food right here in front of me where I can watch her. Then she can feed it to me.' "