Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 13:6

So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

6. cakes ] The word occurs here only, and may denote some special delicacy suited for an invalid.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Make me cakes … a pan – The words here used occur nowhere else, and the etymology is doubtful. Some particular kind of cake or pudding is meant 2Sa 13:8, called a labybah; according to some, it was, from its etymology, shaped like a heart.

2Sa 13:9

The dish into which she poured the labybah was doubtless borne to him by one of the servants into the chamber where he lay, and from which, the doors being open, he could see the outer room where Tamar prepared the meat.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

6-8. Amnon lay down, and madehimself sickThe Orientals are great adepts in feigningsickness, whenever they have any object to accomplish.

let Tamar my sister come andmake me a couple of cakesTo the king Amnon spoke of Tamar as”his sister,” a term artfully designed to hoodwink hisfather; and the request appeared so natural, the delicate appetite ofa sick man requiring to be humored, that the king promised to sendher. The cakes seem to have been a kind of fancy bread, in thepreparation of which Oriental ladies take great delight. Tamar,flattered by the invitation, lost no time in rendering the requiredservice in the house of her sick brother.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick,…. Took the advice of his cousin Jonadab, and acted according to it:

and when the king was come to see him; as he quickly did, after he had heard of his illness:

Amnon said unto the king; who perhaps inquired of his appetite, whether he could eat anything, and what:

I pray thee let my sister Tamar come; he calls her sister, as Jonadab had directed, the more to blind his design; though it is much that so sagacious a man as David was had not seen through it; but the notion he had of his being really ill, and the near relation between him and Tamar, forbad his entertaining the least suspicion of that kind:

and make me a couple of cakes in my sight; heart cakes, as the word may be thought to signify; called so either from the form of them, such as We have with us, or from the effect of them, comforting and refreshing the heart:

that I may eat at her hand; both what is made by her hand, and received from it.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(6) That I may eat at her hand.This request from an invalid seemed natural, and was readily granted.

Sent home.Literally, into the house; i.e., to the private apartments of the womenthe harem.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

6. Cakes Hebrews, heart cakes; some kind of delicious pastry, perhaps folded and laid together in the shape of a heart.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Sa 13:6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

Ver. 6. So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick. ] He was Cereus in vitium flecti, easily drawn to do evil. He answered Jonadab, upon the matter, as Tiberius did Justinus, I am only thy clay and wax. Oh that we could find men so docile and ductile to that which is good! Sed hoc est magis optabile quam opinabile.

And when the king was come to see him. ] As fearing to lose him, like as he had lately done the child of his adultery. But could he have foreseen what shortly followed, he would either have wished himself childless with Augustus, or else have said with Moses in another case, Lord, if thou deal thus with me, “kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.” Num 11:15

And make me a couple of cakes. ] Laganet ante oculos meos duo lagana. Let her prepare me two cordial cakes, such as may refresh my heart; so the word signifieth.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

cakes. See note on “meat”, 2Sa 13:5.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

make me: Gen 18:6, Mat 13:33

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

13:6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of {d} cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

(d) Meaning, some delicate and dainty meat.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes