2 Samuel 13 6

2 Samuel 13:6 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 13:6 nkjv

Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

2 Samuel 13:6 niv

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, "I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand."

2 Samuel 13:6 esv

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand."

2 Samuel 13:6 nlt

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, "Please let my sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dish as I watch. Then I can eat it from her own hands."

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 6 Meaning

Second Samuel 13:6 details the initial step in Amnon's malicious plan against his half-sister Tamar. Under the deceptive advice of Jonadab, Amnon feigns sickness to gain the sympathy and presence of his father, King David. His specific request is for Tamar to personally come to his private chambers to prepare a particular type of cakes and feed him "from her hand," creating a setup designed to isolate her and facilitate his wicked intentions.

2 Samuel 13 6 Context

This verse is situated at the beginning of the actual implementation of Amnon's heinous plan, following his initial confession of infatuation for his half-sister Tamar to his shrewd cousin Jonadab. Jonadab, characterized by scripture as "very crafty," has just advised Amnon to feign illness as a pretext to get Tamar alone. The broader context is David's royal household, which, after his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent prophecy of Nathan (2 Sam 12:10-12) regarding "the sword never departing from his house" and evil being raised against him "from his own house," begins to see these words grimly fulfilled. The family structure, royal protocol, and social norms surrounding unmarried women's purity make Amnon's manipulation especially egregious, as it directly violates the trust and sanctity of these relationships within the king's own family. This act of deception foreshadows further betrayal, violence, and long-lasting strife within David's house.

2 Samuel 13 6 Word analysis

• So Amnon lay down: Indicates a deliberate and intentional act, not an actual illness. This sets the stage for a calculated deception.
  • Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁכַּב (wa-yishkav) - "and he lay down." Emphasizes the action being initiated by Amnon.
• and pretended to be ill: This is the core of the deception. It shows Amnon's willingness to use dishonest means.
  • Hebrew: וַיִּתְחַל (wa-yitḥal) - "and he feigned sickness" or "and he made himself ill." The Hithpael stem suggests reflexive action, 'to make oneself sick' or 'pretend to be sick.' This confirms the fabrication.
• When the king came to see him: David, as the loving father and king, unknowingly falls into the trap. This highlights his trust and Amnon's abuse of his position.
  • Hebrew: כִּי־בָא הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְאוֹתוֹ (kī-vā ha-melekh lirʾōṯō) - "When came the king to see him." This denotes royal care and paternal concern.
• Amnon said to the king, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.': This is the carefully constructed request, revealing the manipulative nature of Amnon and the specific details designed to isolate Tamar and enable his intent.
  • Please let my sister Tamar come: The appeal to kinship ("my sister") cloaks the evil intention in apparent familial affection, making the request seem innocuous. It creates a seemingly natural reason for her presence.
  • make a couple of cakes: The request for food prepared by her directly serves as the pretext.
    • Hebrew: לְבִבוֹת (levivōṯ) - often translated as "cakes" or "heart-shaped cakes." The term "cakes" implies a homely, domestic, and seemingly innocent request for nourishment. It's a type of comfort food, often prepared for invalids, adding to the deceptive facade of genuine illness.
  • in my sight: This emphasizes the visual, controlling aspect of Amnon's manipulation. He wants her physically present and performing the act under his observation. This creates the private setting he desires.
    • Hebrew: לְעֵינָי (ləʿênāy) - "in my eyes," signifying "in my presence" or "while I watch." It adds a layer of controlling voyeurism to the demand.
  • so that I may eat from her hand: This detail heightens the requested intimacy and personal service, making it necessary for Tamar to be close to him and directly attend to him, facilitating the later assault. It further disguises his true intent under the guise of helplessness.
    • Hebrew: מִיָּדָהּ (mi-yyādāh) - "from her hand." This implies direct feeding, a tender act of care often shared within close family, deepening the deception and the subsequent violation of trust.

Words-group analysis

• So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill: This phrase establishes the foundational act of deceit. It shows Amnon's pre-meditation and the calculated nature of his plot, originating from Jonadab's wicked counsel (2 Sam 13:5).
• When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king: This sequence highlights the manipulation of King David's paternal care. David's presence provides royal legitimacy to Amnon's feigned illness and subsequent demands, making it harder to question.
• 'Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.': This full request is the climax of Amnon's manipulative setup. Every element of the request—Tamar's presence, the specific domestic task, the demand for her to prepare it "in his sight," and to feed him "from her hand"—is designed to isolate Tamar, reduce any suspicion, and create the intimate, private context necessary for Amnon to execute his vile plan. It signifies a profound abuse of family trust and patriarchal authority.

2 Samuel 13 6 Bonus section

The scene established in this verse profoundly contrasts with proper biblical conduct concerning sexual purity and protection of the vulnerable. Amnon's manipulation is an inversion of healthy familial interaction, revealing a heart devoid of genuine affection and instead consumed by base desire. The detail of Tamar coming to "make" (עָשָׂה, ʿāśāh) the cakes further implies she will engage in the entire process, delaying her and ensuring prolonged private exposure. This deliberate entrapment mirrors the "wise man" warning against the allure of the harlot in Proverbs 7, where a deceptive appearance leads to ruin. The fact that this transgression occurs within David's household echoes the curse pronounced by Nathan, serving as a bitter harvest from David's own previous moral failings. It emphasizes that sin's destructive path often begins with deceit and a disregard for sacred trust, creating a ripple effect of chaos.

2 Samuel 13 6 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:6 provides a chilling insight into the insidious nature of sin, revealing how lust, once conceived, actively schemes for its gratification. Amnon's feigned illness is a calculated pretense, born of "crafty" advice, exploiting the compassion of his royal father. His demand for Tamar to personally prepare "cakes" and serve them to him directly "from her hand" transforms an innocuous, domestic request into a meticulously crafted snare. This setup skillfully disarms any suspicion, drawing Tamar into a private setting under the guise of sibling care, thus removing her from protective public sight. This verse illustrates the dangerous power of hidden motives and the way a façade of weakness or need can be used to betray trust and enact profound evil, laying bare the moral decay simmering within King David's own house.