2 Samuel 13 10

2 Samuel 13:10 kjv

And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

2 Samuel 13:10 nkjv

Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.

2 Samuel 13:10 niv

Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom.

2 Samuel 13:10 esv

Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

2 Samuel 13:10 nlt

Then he said to Tamar, "Now bring the food into my bedroom and feed it to me here." So Tamar took his favorite dish to him.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 10 Meaning

This verse describes the pivotal moment in Amnon's elaborate plan to assault his half-sister Tamar. Amnon, feigning illness, directs Tamar to bring the food she prepared directly into his private chamber. Tamar, innocent of his malevolent intent and eager to serve her supposedly ailing brother, complies. The "chamber" signifies a secluded, private space, essential for Amnon's hidden evil deed, and Tamar's act of bringing food by hand implies intimate care, tragically exploited for a wicked purpose. This moment seals her fate and sets the stage for a horrific act of familial betrayal and violence.

2 Samuel 13 10 Context

This verse is the climax of Amnon's sinister plan in 2 Samuel chapter 13. David's eldest son, Amnon, obsessed with his half-sister Tamar, feigned illness after his cousin Jonadab provided a wicked strategy. The scheme involved King David visiting Amnon, during which Amnon requested Tamar, the king's daughter, to come and prepare food for him personally, to demonstrate her brotherly love and care. This entire setup—the feigned illness, David's compassionate sending of Tamar, and the private request for her to serve him "by hand"—was a calculated manipulation. The verse shows Tamar innocently complying, taking the bread cakes she had skillfully made and bringing them directly into Amnon's private "chamber," thereby walking unwittingly into his carefully laid trap. This horrific act of incestuous rape subsequently ignites Absalom's murderous revenge and leads to severe unrest and further tragedies within David's royal family, fulfilling the prophet Nathan's curse (2 Sam 12:10-12). Historically, the loose morals within David's own house reflected wider societal issues, and this incident critiques the abuse of royal power and the devastating consequences of unbridled lust.

2 Samuel 13 10 Word analysis

• And Amnon said: Shows Amnon's direct, assertive initiation. His "saying" is a command disguised as a plea from an "ailing" brother. This highlights his deceptive agency.
• to Tamar: Direct target of the deception, implying her proximity and accessibility. She is a sister, trusting and innocent.
• "Bring the food: Lāqach et-hamma'ăkāl (לָקַח אֶת־הַמַּאֲכָל). "Bring" or "take" (לָקַח - lāqach) implies her action, but it's an obedient response to his request. The "food" (ma'ăkāl) is a common, comforting element, making the request seem innocuous. This simple request serves as the ultimate lure, masking a malicious intent.
• into the chamber,: Bēhacheder (בַּחֶדֶר). This word refers to a private, inner room, often a bedroom or private parlor, and is distinct from more public spaces. Its significance is paramount: it ensures privacy, making a public outcry or intervention impossible. This setting enables the crime by isolating the victim. In ancient Near Eastern culture, going into a private chamber with a non-relative, especially a woman, carried strong connotations of intimacy. Here, it is twisted from intimacy into violation.
• that I may eat from your hand.": This phrase, wᵉ'ōchel mîyāḏēḵ (וְאֹכֵל מִיָּדֵךְ), expresses a desire for personalized care and closeness. "From your hand" signifies a deep level of service and trust, suggesting an intimate act of nurturing and tenderness from Tamar. Amnon manipulates this cultural expectation of sisterly care to ensure she personally serves him in his secluded space. The verb "eat" here masks a predatory desire; it implies consumption, not just of food but of the person serving.
• And Tamar took: Tamar's compliant action, showing her immediate, unquestioning obedience and pure intent. She perceives herself fulfilling a duty of care to her ailing brother.
• the cakes which she had made: These "cakes" (lēvāvōt - לְבָבוֹת) were heart-shaped or round pastries, prepared specifically by Tamar for Amnon, reflecting her care and effort. Her personal effort makes her innocent cooperation all the more tragic and emphasizes Amnon's betrayal of her affections.
• and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. Watāḇe' ’eṯ-habḥil'îm... ’el-Amôn ’āhîhā. This final action brings Tamar into the complete vulnerability Amnon had planned. The reiteration of "the chamber" emphasizes her entry into the trap. The phrase "to Amnon her brother" serves as a jarring contrast, highlighting the profound and unnatural breach of familial trust and sanctity. The brotherhood that should have protected her became the very means of her undoing.

2 Samuel 13 10 Bonus section

The seemingly innocent request by Amnon to eat food "from your hand" subtly alludes to a broader biblical and cultural understanding of shared meals. In many ancient contexts, sharing food signified fellowship, peace, and mutual trust (e.g., Gen 18:8, Gen 27:31, Luke 24:30). Amnon perverts this sacred act, using the appearance of fellowship to draw Tamar into a trap for violating that very trust. This manipulation mirrors a spiritual reality where temptation often presents itself as appealing or beneficial before revealing its destructive nature (Prov 9:17-18). The vulnerability of women in patriarchal societies without strong protective measures from authority figures (like David, who was remiss in his leadership after his own sin with Bathsheba) is also highlighted, as Tamar had little means to question or resist a royal brother's directive once alone with him.

2 Samuel 13 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:10 is a chilling testament to the insidious nature of lust and manipulation. It depicts the calculated, deceptive mechanism Amnon employed to isolate and abuse Tamar, his own sister. The verse is stark in its portrayal of innocence walking blindly into evil, driven by familial duty and affection. The emphasis on the "chamber" (heder) is crucial; it underscores the premeditated isolation and the shift from a public, family space to a private, vulnerable one. Amnon's demand for Tamar to personally bring food "from your hand" exploited the cultural norms of familial care and submission, turning a gesture of love into a weapon of control. Tamar's painstaking preparation of the "cakes" highlights her pure heart and effort, magnifying the depravity of Amnon's exploitation. This moment is not merely a detail; it is the culmination of Amnon's perversion, orchestrated by wicked advice, and allowed by the failures of David's oversight. The verse serves as a sober reminder that evil often operates under the guise of legitimacy, utilizing intimacy and trust to achieve its destructive ends. It is a severe biblical commentary on the abuse of power within family structures and the devastating chain reactions unaddressed sin can cause, paving the way for further bloodshed and division within God's chosen royal line.