1tn 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.

2tn Heb “and there was distress to Amnon so that he made himself sick.”

3tn Heb “and he said to him.”

4tn An more idiomatic translation might be “Why are you of all people…?”

5tn 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.

6tn Heb “in his sight.”

7tn Heb “the cakes.”

8tn Heb “from upon me.”

9tc A few medieval Hebrew mss have “and they removed everyone” (Hiphil preterite with vav consecutive 3cp, rather than Qal preterite with vav consecutive 3cp).

10tn Heb “lie with me” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV); NCV “come and have sexual relations with me.”

11tn Heb “and you will be like one of the fools.”

12tn Heb “Now.”

13tn Heb “to her voice.”

14tn Heb “and he humiliated her and lay with her.”

15tn Heb “and Amnon hated her with very great hatred.”

16tn Heb “for greater was the hatred with which he hated her than the love with which he loved her.”

17tn 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.

18tn Heb “send this [one] from upon me to the outside.”

19tn The Hebrew expression used here (כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים, k˙tonet 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.

20tn Heb “his”; the referent (Amnon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

21tn 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).

22tn Heb “Don’t set your heart to this thing!”

23tc 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.

24map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-D3; Map3-A2; Map4-C1.

25tn Heb “your servant has sheepshearers.” The phrase “your servant” also occurs at the end of the verse.

26tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

27tc Here and in v. 27 the translation follows 4QSama 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 (wealseh), and Vulgate (cogeret eum).

28tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

29tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

30tn Heb “and not.”

31tn Heb “when good is the heart of Amnon with wine.”

32tn Heb “and become sons of valor.”

33tn Heb “it was placed on the mouth of Absalom.”

34tn Heb “he”; the referent (Amnon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

35tn Heb “behind him.”

36tn Heb “and they lifted their voice and wept.”

37tn Heb “with a great weeping.”

38tc 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.

39tc The translation follows 4QSama 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.

40tn Heb “was consoled over Amnon, because he was dead.”