Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 13

Verse 1

after this : i.e. 938. David, 53; Amnon, 22; Absalom, 20; Tamar, 15; Solomon, 2.

Absalom . Son of Maacah, daughter of king of Geshur (see note on 2 Samuel 3:3 ).

Amnon . Son of Ahinoam (2 Samuel 3:2 ).

Verse 3

Shimeah = Shammah (1 Samuel 16:9 ).

subtil = wise.

man . Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

Verse 5

make = feign.

meat = heart-shaped cakes. Occurs only here and in verses: 2 Samuel 13:6-7 , 2 Samuel 6:8 , 2 Samuel 6:10 .

Verse 6

cakes . See note on "meat", 2 Samuel 13:5 .

Verse 8

flour = dough, or paste.

Verse 9

a pan = the pan. Occurs only here.

poured = put down,

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 12

force = humble.

Verse 16

no cause . Hebrew "[Give] no ground for talk".

evil . Hebrew. ra`a `. App-44 .

Verse 18

divers colours = a long tunic with sleeves.

Verse 19

laid her hand . Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put for "grieved".

Verse 20

desolate . Hebrew "remained and [remained] desolate". Compare 1 Timothy 5:5 .

Verse 24

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 25

chargeable = burdensome.

Verse 27

with him . The Septuagint and Vulgate add here "and Absalom made a banquet, like the banquet of a king". Compare 1 Samuel 25:36 .

Verse 28

valiant = sons of valour.

Verse 29

as = according as.

mule . First occurrence. Not Genesis 36:24 . See note there.

Verse 31

with their clothes rent = and rent their garments.

Verse 36

wept very sore . Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ) = "wept with a great weeping ".

Verse 37

Ammihud , or Ammihur.

David . Septuagint reads "David the king".

Verse 39

the soul of king David . The Aramaean reads "the soul (nephesh) of the king". Compare the omission of nephesh in Psalms 16:2 .