2 Samuel 13 2

2 Samuel 13:2 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 13:2 nkjv

Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.

2 Samuel 13:2 niv

Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

2 Samuel 13:2 esv

And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

2 Samuel 13:2 nlt

Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 2 Meaning

This verse describes Amnon's overwhelming desire for his half-sister, Tamar, a desire so intense it led to physical illness. His affliction stemmed from the impossibility, in his view, of honorably or easily obtaining her, as she was a virgin and a princess, meaning access was tightly restricted. This internal conflict and lust culminated in his subsequent wicked plot against her.

2 Samuel 13 2 Context

This verse opens a pivotal and tragic chapter in David's life and household, marking the beginning of the fulfilling of Nathan's prophecy from 2 Sam 12:10-11 that the sword would never depart from David's house due to his sin with Bathsheba. Immediately preceding this, David has been established as king over all Israel, but the narrative now shifts from his external victories to internal turmoil within his own family. Amnon, David's firstborn son and heir apparent, harbors an illicit and obsessive lust for his half-sister Tamar. The verse sets the stage for a calculated and violent act of incest and rape, orchestrated with the "help" of Amnon's shrewd cousin, Jonadab. This deeply personal sin within the royal family directly precipitates Absalom's murderous revenge against Amnon and Absalom's subsequent rebellion against David, unleashing a cascade of sorrow and conflict that plagues David’s reign thereafter.

2 Samuel 13 2 Word analysis

• And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick
  • vexed: Hebrew: ḥārāh (חָרָה). This word means "to burn," "to be kindled," "to be hot." It denotes intense inner heat, often translated as anger, grief, or fierce distress. Here, it signifies a burning passion, a consuming, distressed agitation arising from his unfulfilled, unlawful desire. It's not just a passing feeling but an internal fire.
  • fell sick: Hebrew: ḥālâh (חָלָה). Meaning "to be sick," "to be weak," "to be diseased." This indicates a psychosomatic ailment; his overwhelming desire and the internal conflict over its apparent impossibility literally manifested as physical illness. This highlights the all-consuming and destructive nature of unbridled lust.
• for his sister Tamar
  • Tamar: The name means "date palm." She was David's daughter by Maacah, King of Geshur's daughter, and the full sister of Absalom. She is presented here as innocent and vulnerable, the object of Amnon's unlawful passion. Her lineage highlights the high status of David's family, yet she remained unprotected by family duty.
• for she was a virgin; and it was hard for Amnon to do anything to her.
  • virgin: Hebrew: bĕtûlâh (בְּתוּלָה). This term explicitly states her pure, unmarried, and sexually untouched status. In ancient Israelite society, a virgin's purity was highly valued and legally protected (e.g., Deut 22:28-29). Her virginity served as a barrier to Amnon, meaning she would be secluded and not easily accessible for a clandestine liaison, especially by a male relative without marriage intentions.
  • hard: Hebrew: niplāʾ (נִפְלָא). Meaning "wonderful," "marvelous," but in this context, "difficult," "extraordinary," or even "impossible." It was "difficult" or "an extraordinary problem" for Amnon to fulfill his desire because her status as a virgin sister within a royal household meant she was under strict supervision and moral guard, precluding easy access or seduction. This "difficulty" forced Amnon and Jonadab to concoct a deceptive scheme. The problem was not simply the social stigma of incest, but the physical logistical difficulty of obtaining her in secrecy.

2 Samuel 13 2 Bonus section

• The Psychological Aspect of Lust: Amnon's condition highlights the psychosomatic nature of human experience. Unchecked desire and moral frustration did not merely cause him mental anguish but manifested as tangible physical illness, indicating a deeply disturbed inner state that mirrors the concept of being "sick with longing" but here twisted to a wicked end.
• A Failed Royal Education: This verse, and the subsequent events, indirectly reveal a vacuum in David’s parental leadership. Amnon, a prince, seemingly lacked proper moral guidance or internal discipline to manage sinful desires, perhaps accustomed to having his way as the king's firstborn. His actions indicate a spiritual immaturity and a lack of understanding of divine and family law.
• Prophetic Echoes: This incident is a chilling and precise fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy in 2 Sam 12:11, where God declared that trouble would arise for David "from your own household," and his wives would be shamed publicly. Amnon's act directly causes the subsequent turmoil with Absalom, leading to Absalom shaming David’s concubines publicly.
• Contrasting Figures: While Amnon is sick with lust for what he cannot honorably have, other biblical figures like Ahab also experienced psychosomatic distress (1 Kgs 21:4) when their covetous desires were thwarted. This demonstrates a recurring theme where the human heart, when consumed by unholy desires, can bring forth physical illness or deep mental anguish.

2 Samuel 13 2 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:2 presents the intense internal turmoil of Amnon, David's son, driven by a consuming, unlawful lust for his half-sister Tamar. This wasn't a passing fancy but an obsession so deep it led to a literal physical sickness, showcasing the destructive power of unbridled sinful desires on the individual. The narrative emphasizes two critical factors that made his desire so "hard": Tamar's status as his sister, violating the explicit incest prohibitions of the Mosaic Law (Lev 18:9), and her virginity, which legally and culturally safeguarded her and made any illicit approach exceedingly difficult. Amnon's vexation stemmed from this inaccessibility, prompting him, with the wicked counsel of Jonadab, to devise a treacherous plan to overcome these barriers through deceit and violence. This verse initiates a chain of tragic events—rape, murder, and civil war—fulfilling Nathan's prophecy about the sword never departing David's house, and powerfully illustrating how internal sin, unchecked and nourished, can unleash devastating external consequences within a family and kingdom.