translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “Amnon the son of David loved her.” The following verse indicates the extreme nature of his infatuation, so the translation uses “madly in love” here. sn Amnon was the half-brother of Tamar; Absalom was her full blood-brother.


text: Heb “and there was distress to Amnon so that he made himself sick.”


text: Heb “and he said to him.”


text: An more idiomatic translation might be “Why are you of all people…?”


text: This verb is used in the Hitpael stem only in this chapter of the Hebrew Bible. With the exception of v. 2 it describes not a real sickness but one pretended in order to entrap Tamar. The Hitpael sometimes, as here, describes the subject making oneself appear to be of a certain character. On this use of the stem, see GKC 149-50 §54. e .


text: Heb “in his sight.”


text: Heb “the cakes.”


text: Heb “from upon me.”


label: NET textual note

text: A few medieval Hebrew mss have “and they removed everyone” (Hiphil preterite with vav consecutive 3cp, rather than Qal preterite with vav consecutive 3cp).


text: Heb “lie with me” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); NCV “come and have sexual relations with me.”


text: Heb “and you will be like one of the fools.”


text: Heb “Now.”


text: Heb “to her voice.”


text: Heb “and he humiliated her and lay with her.”


text: Heb “and Amnon hated her with very great hatred.”


text: Heb “for greater was the hatred with which he hated her than the love with which he loved her.”


text: Heb “No, because this great evil is [worse] than the other which you did with me, by sending me away.” Perhaps the broken syntax reflects her hysteria and outrage.


text: Heb “send this [one] from upon me to the outside.”


text: The Hebrew expression used here ( כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים , kÿtonet passim ) is found only here and in Gen 37:3, 23, 32 . Hebrew פַּס ( pas ) can refer to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot; here the idea is probably that of a long robe reaching to the feet and having sleeves reaching to the wrists. The notion of a “coat of many colors” (KJV, ASV “garment of divers colors”), a familiar translation for the phrase in Genesis, is based primarily on the translation adopted in the LXX χιτῶνα ποικίλον ( citona poikilion ) and does not have a great deal of support.


text: Heb “his”; the referent (Amnon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: The Hebrew verb is a perfect with nonconsecutive vav , probably indicating an action (locking the door) that complements the preceding one (pushing her out the door).


text: Heb “Don’t set your heart to this thing!”


text: The LXX and part of the Old Latin tradition include the following addition to v. 21 , also included in some English versions (e.g., NAB, NRSV, CEV): “But he did not grieve the spirit of Amnon his son, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn.” Note David’s attitude toward his son Adonijah in 1 Kgs 1:6 .


text: For location see Map1-D2 ; Map2-D3 ; Map3-A2 ; Map4-C1 .


text: Heb “your servant has sheepshearers.” The phrase “your servant” also occurs at the end of the verse.


text: Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: ויצפר ( vayyitspar , “and he pressed”) rather than the MT וַיִּפְרָץ ( vayyiprats , “and he broke through”). This emended reading seems also to underlie the translations of the LXX ( καὶ ἐβιάσατο , kai ebiasato ), the Syriac Peshitta ( we ’ alseh ), and Vulgate ( cogeret eum ).


text: Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “and not.”


text: Heb “when good is the heart of Amnon with wine.”


text: Heb “and become sons of valor.”


text: Heb “it was placed on the mouth of Absalom.”


text: Heb “he”; the referent (Amnon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “behind him.”


text: Heb “and they lifted their voice and wept.”


text: Heb “with a great weeping.”


text: The Hebrew text leaves the word “David” to be inferred. The Syriac Peshitta and Vulgate add the word “David.” Most of the Greek tradition includes the words “King David” here.


text: in reading רוּחַ הַמֶּלֶךְ ( ruakh hammelekh , “the spirit of the king”) rather than the MT דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ ( david hammelekh , “David the king”). The understanding reflected in the translation above is that David, though alienated during this time from his son Absalom, still had an abiding love and concern for him. He longed for reconciliation with him. A rather different interpretation of the verse supposes that David’s interest in taking military action against Absalom grew slack with the passing of time, and this in turn enabled David’s advisers to encourage him toward reconciliation with Absalom. For the latter view, see P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 344, and cf. CEV.


text: Heb “was consoled over Amnon, because he was dead.”