2 Samuel 13 9

2 Samuel 13:9 kjv

And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

2 Samuel 13:9 nkjv

And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, "Have everyone go out from me." And they all went out from him.

2 Samuel 13:9 niv

Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat. "Send everyone out of here," Amnon said. So everyone left him.

2 Samuel 13:9 esv

And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Send out everyone from me." So everyone went out from him.

2 Samuel 13:9 nlt

But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. "Everyone get out of here," Amnon told his servants. So they all left.

2 Samuel 13 verses

2 Samuel 13 9 Meaning

2 Samuel 13:9 describes Tamar bringing the special cakes she had prepared to Amnon in his private chamber, as he had feigned illness to his father King David. However, Amnon, no longer needing to maintain his deception, rejects the food. He then commands everyone else present to leave his presence, effectively isolating himself and Tamar. This pivotal moment reveals his true malicious intent, setting the stage for the deeply troubling act of violence he is about to commit in secret.

2 Samuel 13 9 Context

Chapter Context: This verse is a crucial turning point in 2 Samuel 13. Amnon, filled with lust for his half-sister Tamar, took the counsel of his cunning friend Jonadab to feign illness. His plan was to request that King David send Tamar to his chamber to prepare and serve him a special dish, isolating her. King David, unsuspecting, readily granted this request, demonstrating his affection for Amnon and unwittingly facilitating the trap. Verse 9 is where Amnon sheds the guise of illness and proceeds with his malevolent intent, immediately before the horrific act of rape.

Historical/Cultural Context: This narrative exposes the fraught dynamics within King David's royal household. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's son wielded considerable power, and his commands, even from a "sickbed," would be obeyed by servants. Women, including princesses, held a vulnerable status within a patriarchal society and could be subjected to male authority and sexual exploitation, especially behind closed doors. Tamar’s dutiful act of preparing the levivot (heart-shaped cakes, a gesture of special care) for her "sick" brother underscores her innocent obedience and David's unwitting complicity, highlighting the gross betrayal of trust. Amnon's demand for privacy before his act emphasizes the pursuit of secrecy to avoid immediate public shame or intervention, although shame would later befall Tamar and subsequently, the entire royal family.

2 Samuel 13 9 Word analysis

• "And she took" (וַתִּקַּח, vatikkah): Tamar’s compliant action, showing her obedience to her father David's instructions and her innocent willingness to care for her ailing brother.
• "the cakes" (הַלְּבִבוֹת, ha-levivot): Refers to a specific type of bread or pastry, often translated as "heart-shaped cakes" or "pancakes." This detail highlights Tamar’s personal effort and the special, caring nature of the food prepared for Amnon, further underscoring the deep betrayal.
• "which she had made" (אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂתָה, asher asataha): Reinforces Tamar's diligent labor and personal involvement in preparing the food, making Amnon's rejection and subsequent actions even more callous.
• "and brought them forth unto him" (וַתָּבֵא אֵלָיו, vattave elav): Signifies her direct delivery and presence within his private space, according to the elaborate setup of Amnon's plot.
• "into the chamber" (בַּחֶדֶר, bachchadar): "Chamber" or "inner room," highlighting the intended private and isolated setting, crucial for Amnon to carry out his plan without witnesses.
• "But he refused to eat" (וַיְמָאֵן לֶאֱכֹל, vayma'en le'ekhol): "Refused" (ma'en) indicates a definitive rejection. This marks the moment Amnon discards his pretense of illness; the food was merely a means to an end, and now he is ready for his true objective.
• "And Amnon said" (וַיֹּאמֶר אַמְנוֹן, vayyomer Amnon): Signals Amnon taking full, decisive control of the situation, shifting from deceptive illness to direct command.
• "Send out" (הוֹצִיאוּ, hotzi'u): An imperative verb, a direct command to those serving him to depart. This is the crucial step in creating an isolated, uncontrolled environment for Tamar.
• "every man" (כָּל אִישׁ, kol ish): Emphasizes that all individuals present, any potential witnesses or helpers for Tamar, were to be removed.
• "from me" (מֵעָלַי, me'alay): Specifies their departure from his presence, ensuring complete privacy and eliminating any external interference.
• "And they sent out" (וַיּוֹצִאוּ, vayyozi'u): Demonstrates immediate obedience to Amnon’s royal command, underscoring his unchallenged authority within his personal quarters.
• "every man from him" (כָּל אִישׁ מֵעָלָיו, kol ish me'alav): A re-statement affirming that complete isolation was achieved, with Tamar left entirely vulnerable.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And she took the cakes... into the chamber.": This phrase establishes Tamar's innocent, compliant, and dutiful role, unwittingly falling into Amnon's meticulously planned trap. Her personal effort in preparing the food adds to the tragedy of her impending violation.
• "But he refused to eat.": This short, powerful declaration signifies the immediate abandonment of Amnon’s carefully constructed deception. The "refusal" clearly communicates his lack of interest in the food, directly exposing his true sinister intentions.
• "And Amnon said, Send out every man from me. And they sent out every man from him.": This complete sentence pair is the ultimate execution of Amnon's premeditated design. The direct command and its immediate fulfillment illustrate Amnon's total control, systematically eliminating all witnesses and isolating Tamar. It represents the point where his hidden lust escalates to overt aggression, creating the environment for his wicked act.

2 Samuel 13 9 Bonus section

• The detail of the levivot (cakes) being "heart-shaped" (as some translations or etymological analyses suggest) adds a layer of ironic tenderness to Tamar's act, making Amnon's betrayal even more profound. Her innocent heart offering care is met with his malicious intent.
• Amnon's action of "sending out" everyone (Hotzi'u) from him signifies not just the clearing of the room, but the deliberate setting of boundaries and taking control over the environment. This demonstrates a cold, calculated planning rather than a spontaneous act.
• The absence of King David or anyone else to question Amnon's sudden shift from "illness" to asserting authority highlights a potential oversight or trusting naivete on the king's part, which Amnon ruthlessly exploited.

2 Samuel 13 9 Commentary

2 Samuel 13:9 is the chilling moment Amnon’s deception fully unravels, exposing his true predatory nature. The delicate levivot prepared by Tamar represent her innocence and dutiful care, which Amnon cruelly disregards. His curt rejection of the food signifies the end of his pretense of illness, revealing that his real hunger was for illicit sexual gratification. The immediate, non-negotiable command to clear his chamber is critical. It underscores his premeditation, as he deliberately creates a private space, devoid of witnesses or potential intervention, to enact his violence. This strategic isolation is a common tactic for perpetrators of abuse. This verse not only highlights Tamar's acute vulnerability but also marks the point of no return for Amnon, propelling him toward an abominable act that would irrevocably shatter his family and ultimately contribute to the instability of David's kingdom.