Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 13:2
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
2. Amnon thought it hard ] It seemed impossible to Amnon. Tamar lived a secluded life in the women’s apartments, where Amnon could not obtain access to her.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Amnon was so vexed – for she was a virgin] It has been well remarked that “the passion of love is nowhere so wasting and vexatious, as where it is unlawful. A quick sense of guilt, especially where it is enormous, as in the present instance, strikes the soul with horror; and the impossibility of an innocent gratification loads that horror with desperation: a conflict too cruel and too dreadful for human bearing.” – Delaney.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. for she was a virginUnmarrieddaughters were kept in close seclusion from the company of men; nostrangers, nor even their relatives of the other sex, being permittedto see them without the presence of witnesses. Of course, Amnon musthave seen Tamar, for he had conceived a violent passion for her,which, though forbidden by the law (Le18:11), yet with the sanction of Abraham’s example (Ge20:12), and the common practice in neighboring countries forprinces to marry their half sisters, he seems not to have consideredan improper connection. But he had no means of making it known toher, and the pain of that disappointment preying upon his mindproduced a visible change in his appearance and health.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 s:
for she [was] a virgin; and so kept very recluse from the company of men, that he could not come at her; so Philo t, 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 , from a word which signifies to hide; and Phocylides u 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.
s See the Universal History, vol. 3. p. 519. Ed. fol. t In Flaccum, p. 977. u Poem. admon. v. 203, 204.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Thought it hard.Rather, it seemed impossible to Amnon. The modest seclusion of Tamar in the harem of her mother seemed to leave him no opportunity to carry out his desires.
It appears from the narrative that the kings children lived in different households, and each grown-up son dwelt in his own house.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. So vexed, that he fell sick “Not being able to obtain his desires, his grief so ate up his body that he grew lean, and his colour was changed.” Josephus.
Amnon thought it hard Literally, it was difficult in the eyes of Amnon to do her any thing. The meaning is, that being a virgin, Tamar was kept in such seclusion and custody that it was hardly possible for him to come at her; and, being his half sister, it was unlawful for him to marry her. Lev 20:17.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 13:2. Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick It is natural to think, that the passion of love is nowhere so wasting and vexatious as where it is unlawful. A quick sense of guilt, especially where it is enormous, as in the present instance, strikes the soul with horror; and the impossibility of an innocent gratification loads that horror with desperation. Witness the two most remarkable instances of this kind found in history; that of Antiochus for Stratonice his mother-in-law, and this of Amnon for Tamar his sister. Indeed, that of Antiochus appears the less criminal of the two, inasmuch as he seemed determined to conceal his till death, and at the same time to hasten that death to prevent its publication, had not the sagacity of his physician discovered it. Though possibly Amnon had done the same, had not the importunity of his false and subtle friend Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, drawn the secret from him. It is lamentable to think, that the heirs of royalty, whose virtue is of infinitely more consequence than that of meaner men, should yet be under more temptations to taint it, from the poison of infectious flatterers.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(2) And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.
Observe, how fleshly lusts war both against soul and body: and of all the lusts of our poor fallen nature, this of uncleanness wars the most. How it levels us with the brute that perisheth. Lord! I would say, in the very thought of it, remember thy sweet promise; in which thou hast said, I will also save you from all your uncleannesses. Eze 36:29 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 13:2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
Ver. 2. And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick. ] So did Antiochus, the son of Seleucus, king of Syria, for the love of his step-mother, Stratonice; so that he was near to death. a Mors et Amor comites sunt, et mutant et mutuant aliquando sagittas. b
“ Mutarunt arma inter se Mors atque Cupido:
Haec falcem gestat, gestat at ille facem. ”
The reason hereof is given by some, and it is this: The affections are in the grossest and basest part of the mind, which hath greatest affinity with the body; and thence it is that the vehemency of the affections worketh such bodily distempers.
For she was a virgin.
And Amnon thought it hard. a
b Val Max., lib. v. cap. 7.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
vexed: 1Ki 21:4, Son 5:8, 2Co 7:10
Amnon: etc. Heb. it was marvellous, or hidden, in the eyes of Amnon
Reciprocal: Son 2:5 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 13:2. Amnon fell sick for his sister Tamar He fell deeply in love with her, and being conscious that his passion was very criminal, he concealed it for some time, but at the expense of his health, being racked by the violence of a strong desire, and the terror of indulging it. Thus fleshly lusts are their own punishment, and not only war against the soul, but the body too, and are the rottenness of the bones. See what a hard master sinners serve, and how heavy a yoke sin is! For she was a virgin And therefore under a strict guard, so that it was difficult for him to get private converse with her, or to enjoy her company. Amnon thought it hard to do any thing unto her Thought it criminal, as indeed it was in a high degree, to betray that virtue and honour of which, as a brother, he ought to be the protector. His conscience at first startled and shrunk back from the commission of so great a sin, and he could not think of it without horror. But what wickedness is so vile as not to gain entrance into an unsanctified, unguarded heart, especially when evil counsel comes to aid its assaults!
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a {b} virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
(b) And therefore kept her father’s house, as virgins were accustomed.