Amnon and Tamar: violence in the king's own house, and hatred greater than the love; two full years later, Absalom's sheep-shearing feast at Baal-hazor becomes his brother's execution, and he flees to Geshur.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
verse value 2544
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "fair" (יָפָ֖ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Absalom" (וּלְאַבְשָׁל֧וֹם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 415: and·to·Absalom, sister. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·to·Absalom" (וּלְאַבְשָׁל֧וֹם), "fair" (יָפָ֖ה), "and·loved" (וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֖הָ). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "son·of·David" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel); "and·to·Absalom" (root אבשלום, 64x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אחות ("sister") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root תמר ("Tamar") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Tamar', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֣י [and·it·was] (31) + אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן [after·this] (289) + וּלְאַבְשָׁל֧וֹם [and·to·Absalom] (415) + בֶּן־דָּוִ֛ד [son·of·David] (66) + אָח֥וֹת [sister] (415) + יָפָ֖ה [fair] (95) + וּשְׁמָ֣הּ [and·her·name] (351) + תָּמָ֑ר [Tamar] (640) + וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֖הָ [and·loved] (29) + אַמְנ֥וֹן [Amnon] (147) + בֶּן־דָּוִֽד [son·of·David] (66) = 2544.
Rashi
And to Absalom, a fair sister. Who was the daughter of his mother.
Radak
“A fair sister, whose name was Tamar.” Tamar was the daughter of a “beautiful woman [taken in war]” [yefat to'ar], as our Sages of blessed memory stated. And the proof is [her words], “for he will not withhold me from you” [13:13]. And she was Absalom's sister from his mother, for Maacah, Absalom's mother, David took in war and lay with her before she converted, for the Torah permitted this against the evil inclination, as it is written: “And you see among the captives a woman of fair form, etc.” [Deut. 21:11]. And she is not permitted to him before she converts, except for the first intercourse only. And afterward, if she wishes to convert, he may take her as a wife. And Maacah conceived Tamar from David through that first intercourse while she was still a non-Jew. Therefore, Tamar was permitted to Amnon, even though she was David's daughter, since it was while Maacah was still a gentile that she conceived her, and Maacah converted afterward, and David took her as a wife, and she bore him Absalom. And as for what Amnon said, “Let my sister Tamar please come”—since she was David's daughter, he called her “my sister.”
Metzudat David
His sister. From the father and from the mother, for Maakah daughter of the king of Geshur was beautiful of form, and David took her in battle, and he came to her before she converted, and she conceived and bore Tamar; and Absalom she bore after she converted (Sanhedrin 21a):
Malbim
The questions: What is the meaning of “And it came to pass after this”? And regarding Tamar, whether she was Amnon’s sister or not, in which matter there is confusion, as stated below.
"And it came to pass afterward" — this passage recounts how the decrees of punishment that Nathan had proclaimed to David were fulfilled one by one. For after the death of the child, there occurred the incident of Tamar, which led to the killing of Amnon, and after that, the incident of Absalom. This is indicated by the fact that it is written, "And it came to pass afterward, that Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister." From this phrasing, it implies that Tamar was not Amnon's sister. Likewise, this is evident from verse 4, and it also appears from what is stated in verse 13: "Speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you," which makes clear that she was not his sister. Nevertheless, throughout the entire narrative, she calls him "my brother." On this basis, we are compelled to accept the teaching of our Sages of blessed memory, that Maacah, the mother of Tamar, was a beautiful captive (a yefat to'ar), and David had his first union with her during the war, and she conceived Tamar from him while she was still a non-Jewess. According to Torah law, she was permitted to Amnon, for a son born from a non-Jewish woman is not considered "your son." This is what is meant by the verse, "And Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister," indicating that only Absalom, who was born after she had converted, is legally considered David's son. Likewise, the text carefully states, "And Amnon, David's son, loved her," thereby specifying Amnon as David's son in the legal sense.
And Amnon was so distressed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do any thing to her.
verse value 4535
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 66 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·become·sick" (לְהִתְחַלּ֗וֹת, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·was·distressed" (וַיֵּ֨צֶר), "to·become·sick" (לְהִתְחַלּ֗וֹת), "virgin" (בְתוּלָ֖ה). The root אמנון appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel); "to·do" (root עשה, 79x in II Samuel); "she" (root הוא, 53x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'she', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Rashi
To become sick. Until he became ill.
For she was a virgin. She was modest in the house and did not go outside; therefore 'it seemed impossible in the eyes of Amnon,' etc.—it was hidden and concealed from him what pretext he could seek, in order to lie with her, as (Deuteronomy 17:8): 'If a matter be too hard for you'—[Targum]: 'it is hidden from you.'
Radak
“To become sick.” [He was so distraught] that he appeared ill from the intensity of his desire for her.
“for she was a virgin.” Therefore, he desired her with a stronger, more intense desire. And some say that this is the meaning of the words “and it seemed very hard in the eyes of Amnon,” even though he did it in the end; namely, the matter seemed astonishing to him: how could he lie with her, since she did not go out of her house, for she was a virgin, and the custom of virgins in Israel is to be modest in the house and not to go out. And Jonadab was wise and cunning, and he counseled Amnon with a scheme that she would come before him. And it is stated: “And Jonadab was a very wise man,” wise for evil and for wickedness.
Metzudat David
"Amnon was distressed." He was tormented and anxious, to the point that he appeared ill due to the intensity of his desire for her.
His sister. From the father:
"For she was a virgin." And it is the custom of virgins to remain at home; therefore, it seemed impossible in Amnon's eyes to do anything to her to satisfy his desire, and thus he became greatly distressed.
Metzudat Zion
And it grieved. From the word grief and worry.
To become sick. From the word illness.
And it was hidden. A matter of covering and hindrance, and so (Deuteronomy 17:8): if a thing be too hard for you.
Anything. Any thing.
Malbim
Amnon was so distressed that he became sick, and the verse explains that he had no hope of marrying her as a wife because of Tamar, his sister, for she was raised as a daughter among the sons. The fact that she became pregnant during the war did not diminish her honor in the eyes of the House of David, so that she would not be regarded as his daughter, even though according to the law of the Torah she is indeed so. And he knew that she and her brothers would not consent to give her to Amnon in marriage, thereby proclaiming that she was like a foundling gathered from the marketplace and that she would not be considered of the king's seed. Nor could he approach her by force or by seduction, for she was a virgin, and the virgins were modest within the palace, and it was impossible for her to come before him. Therefore, it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
verse value 1879
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "friend·of" (רֵ֗עַ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Amnon" (וּלְאַמְנ֣וֹן, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·to·Amnon" (וּלְאַמְנ֣וֹן), "friend·of" (רֵ֗עַ), "and·Jonadab" (וְי֣וֹנָדָ֔ב). The root יונדב appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "son·of·Shimeah" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root יונדב ("Jonadab") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root חכם ("wise") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'David', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וּלְאַמְנ֣וֹן [and·to·Amnon] (183) + רֵ֗עַ [friend·of] (270) + וּשְׁמוֹ֙ [and·his·name] (352) + יֽוֹנָדָ֔ב [Jonadab] (72) + בֶּן־שִׁמְעָ֖ה [son·of·Shimeah] (467) + אֲחִ֣י [brother] (19) + דָוִ֑ד [David] (14) + וְי֣וֹנָדָ֔ב [and·Jonadab] (78) + אִ֥ישׁ [man] (311) + חָכָ֖ם [wise] (68) + מְאֹֽד [very] (45) = 1879.
Rashi
A wise man. For wickedness.
Ralbag
And Jonadab, a very wise man. That is to say, in finding schemes to do evil. And behold, he led him to do what was difficult in his eyes to do. But when he saw that Jonadab's counsel agreed in this, he permitted himself to do it.
Metzudat David
A very wise man. Wise to do evil:
Metzudat Zion
Friend. Companion and one who loves him.
Malbim
The Questions: In most places where the term "wise" is used of someone without qualification, it denotes something good; yet Yonadab advised for evil.
And Jonadab was a very wise man. Indeed, the title "wise man" found in the Holy Writings, when unqualified, refers to one who employs wisdom for good, not for evil; and so it is here as well. And [Scripture] recounts the wisdom of Jonadab in two respects:
And he said to him: ‘Why, O son of the king, are you thus becoming leaner from day to day? will you not tell me?’ And Amnon said to him: ‘I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.’
verse value 4509
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 78 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֗וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֗וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "son·of·the·king" (בֶּן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 304: in·the·morning, in·the·morning. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "like this" (כָּ֣כָה), "low" (דַּ֤ל), "Baal-tamar" (אֶת־תָּמָ֗ר). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "son·of·the·king" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel); "is·it·not" (root לא, 76x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root אבשלם ("Absalom") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 9 words.
Rashi
Faint. Emaciated, as (Genesis 41:19): 'Lean and ill-favored.'
Radak
"Dal." Weak, emaciated, and with a sallow countenance. And the reason it says “every morning, every morning” is that during the night his thoughts were occupied with her, and he was awake on her account; and in the morning he had a sallow countenance.
Metzudat David
"In the morning, in the morning." In every morning You appear before Me, poor and emaciated, as if Your heart had not lain down [to rest] during the night.
"The sister of Absalom." This implies: Is she not solely the sister of Absalom, and from the mother's side only, but she is not considered a sister from the father's side, neither to me nor to him? This is because her mother conceived her while she was a gentile, and she is not considered a daughter to the father. Therefore, she is permitted to me, and I love her, and I think of her at night, and my sleep is stolen away.
Metzudat Zion
Thin. Emaciated and lean, as (Genesis 41:19): lean and ill-favored.
Malbim
1. And he said to him, “Why are you so emaciated, morning after morning?”—for by his wisdom he discerned in him that he was suffering from lovesickness. This was evident from what he observed: that he was thin and gaunt every morning upon rising from his bed, for such is the condition of those afflicted with the disease of longing. And he was compelled to reveal his innermost secrets to him. 2. This was in accordance with his counsel, which was wise and solely for the good.
And Jonadab said to him: ‘Lay you down on your bed, and feign thyself sick; and when your father comes to see you, say to him: Let my sister Tamar come, I pray you, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.’
verse value 8279
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 110 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (לוֹ֙) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (לוֹ֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·your·bed" (עַל־מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖, 7 letters). 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Jonadab" (יְה֣וֹנָדָ֔ב), "upon·your·bed" (עַל־מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖), "and·feign·yourself·sick" (וְהִתְחָ֑ל). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·he·shall·come" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root בריה ("the·food") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·feign·yourself·sick', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 19 words.
Rashi
The food. The meal.
Radak
"Vehithal." Show yourself to be sick:
"And she will feed me." She will give me food to eat:
"The dish." The food:
Metzudat David
"And feign illness." Make yourself like a sick person:
"And she will give me bread to eat." She will feed me, for she will prepare the food before my eyes, and when I see its preparation, I will desire the food and eat from her hand; as if to say: and when she comes to your chamber, do as your hand finds [fit].
Metzudat Zion
And he shall pretend to be sick. From the word illness.
To see you. To visit you, as (I Samuel 19:15): to see David.
And you shall feed me the sustenance. A matter of eating a small amount, as (above 12:17): and he did not eat with them.
Malbim
(5–7) The Questions: Why did he elaborate and not say briefly, "and she shall prepare the food before my eyes and I will eat from her hand," as Amnon [later] said? And why is the order reversed between "and she shall feed me bread" and "and she shall prepare the food before my eyes"? And David said, "Prepare food for him," and did not say that she should feed him with her own hand. How could David not have discerned that he was seeking something wrong here? And how did Yonadab not fear that David would understand this — for why would he want her to feed him with her own hand?
And he said to him, "Please let Tamar, my sister, come." In truth, it never entered Yonadab's mind that he would commit this wickedness; rather, he spoke these words so that from them the king would recognize that he desires Tamar, his sister, and is sick with longing for her to the point of death. By this, the king would know that he should give her to him as a wife, since she is permitted to him according to the law. Furthermore, through the fact that she would be sent to him inevitably, he would be able to reveal to her all his heart, and she too would consent, upon sensing his love for her and his illness on her account. And he told him that he should say to the king that his cure lies in two things: (1) that Tamar, his sister, should feed him bread—that is to say, that he should eat from her hand; (2) that she should prepare the food before his eyes. And he explains what was said, "And she shall prepare the food before my eyes," meaning "so that I may see," and what was said, "And she shall feed me bread," meaning "so that I may eat from her hand." He placed the condition that she feed him by hand before the condition that she prepare the food before his eyes, reversing the order—that first she should prepare the food and afterward feed him—so that the king would perceive the matter. For why should she feed him by hand specifically? Is it not because he loves her?
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick; and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said to the king: ‘Let my sister Tamar come, I pray you, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.’
verse value 5778
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 85 letters. Verse gematria: 5778 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "Tamar" (תָּמָ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·see·him" (לִרְאוֹת֗וֹ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 440: and·let·her·make·cakes, cakes. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·feigned·himself·sick" (וַיִּתְחָ֑ל), "to·see·him" (לִרְאוֹת֗וֹ), "let·come·now" (תָּבוֹא־נָ֞א). The root אמנון appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "to·the·king" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·feigned·himself·sick', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 15 words.
Radak
"And she will make cakes before my eyes" – two cakes. Its Targum is: "and she will scald before my eyes two scalded [cakes]" (ותחלוט לעיני תרתין חליטתא). And scalding is known in the words of our Sages of blessed memory, that they scald the dough in very hot water.
Ralbag
And she kneaded before my eyes two dough cakes. It is the making of a marcheshet [deep frying-pan], kishpi'l in the vernacular.
And I will eat.
Metzudat David
And make before my eyes. Make before me two cakes:
Metzudat Zion
And she shall boil cakes. Targum Yonatan translates: and she shall scald a scalding. In the words of our Sages, of blessed memory (Pesachim 6): the scalded dough of householders, and they are called by the name of the action in which they boil them in boiling water.
And I will eat a morsel.
Malbim
And Amnon said — Amnon, who did not understand the counsel of Jonadab, and had it in his mind to do evil, shortened the matter, and said, in [proper] order, that she should prepare before him two cakes, and afterward he would eat from her hand. And in this, David only looked at the beginning of his words, that she prepare before him two cakes, and he thought that since [in his illness] his soul loathed all food, he would crave the specific type of food that is cakes, which Tamar alone knows how to make well, and he wanted her to make them before him, in order that he would be assured that these are the cakes that he loves. And therefore:
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying: ‘Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and dress him food.’
verse value 3085
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 50 letters. The shortest word is "please" (נָ֗א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·make·for·him" (וַעֲשִׂי־ל֖וֹ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 422: home, and·make·for·him. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·make·for·him" (וַעֲשִׂי־ל֖וֹ). The root בית appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "to·Baal-tamar" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח [and·he·sent] (354) + דָּוִ֛ד [David] (14) + אֶל־תָּמָ֖ר [to·Baal-tamar] (671) + הַבַּ֣יְתָה [home] (422) + לֵאמֹ֑ר [saying] (271) + לְכִ֣י [go] (60) + נָ֗א [please] (51) + בֵּ֚ית [house·of] (412) + אַמְנ֣וֹן [Amnon] (147) + אָחִ֔יךְ [your·brother] (39) + וַעֲשִׂי־ל֖וֹ [and·make·for·him] (422) + הַבִּרְיָֽה [food] (222) = 3085.
Ralbag
The meal. The food.
Malbim
And David sent, etc., "prepare food for him," but did not caution that she should feed him from her hand, because he did not think that Amnon was particular specifically about eating from her hand — for had that been so, he would have taken note of it and would not have sent her to him.
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
verse value 6809
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 69 letters. Notable word values: "and·he" (וְה֣וּא) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "Tamar" (תָּמָ֗ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·cakes" (אֶת־הַלְּבִבֽוֹת, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "the·dough" (אֶת־הַבָּצֵ֤ק), "and·kneaded" (וַתָּ֙לׇשׁ֙), "in·his·sight" (לְעֵינָ֔יו). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "house·of" (root בית, 97x in II Samuel); "and·went" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel); "and·he" (root הוא, 53x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'lying·down', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Rashi
And she scalded [it]. Fine flour scalded first with boiling water, and afterward with oil.
Radak
"And she took the dough and kneaded it." The term "dough" is named after its final state, for flour, once kneaded, is called "dough." Similarly, [the verse states], "grind flour," and likewise, "I baked bread on its coals."
Ralbag
And she cooked the dough cakes. She cooked them in oil in an alfas (pot). And behold, it uses the term 'cook' also of roasting -- it says, 'And they cooked the paschal offering.'
Metzudat David
And she cooked. Yet again on the griddle with oil:
Metzudat Zion
The dough. The dough (paste), and he said so because of its end, for after kneading it is called dough, and so (Isaiah 44:19): I baked upon its embers bread.
And she formed it into cakes. She scalded it.
Malbim
And she took the dough, and behold, she did as her father had said, to make cakes before his eyes. After they had kneaded the dough to a known measure, she took it and kneaded it again for the purpose of the cakes, and she made the cakes before his eyes.
And she took the 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.
verse value 4489
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 70 letters. Verse gematria: 4489 = 67². The shortest word is "and·took" (וַתִּקַּ֤ח, 4 letters) and the longest is "the·pan" (אֶת־הַמַּשְׂרֵת֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 361: all·man, all·man. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "the·pan" (אֶת־הַמַּשְׂרֵת֙), "and·poured" (וַתִּצֹ֣ק), "bring·out" (הוֹצִ֤יאוּ). The root יצא appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "all·man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "from·upon·me" (root על, 121x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·eat', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַתִּקַּ֤ח [and·took] (514) + אֶת־הַמַּשְׂרֵת֙ [the·pan] (1346) + וַתִּצֹ֣ק [and·poured] (596) + לְפָנָ֔יו [to·his·face] (176) + וַיְמָאֵ֖ן [and·refused] (107) + לֶאֱכ֑וֹל [to·eat] (87) + וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + אַמְנ֗וֹן [Amnon] (147) + הוֹצִ֤יאוּ [bring·out] (118) + כׇל־אִישׁ֙ [all·man] (361) + מֵעָלַ֔י [from·upon·me] (150) + וַיֵּצְא֥וּ [and·went·out] (113) + כׇל־אִ֖ישׁ [all·man] (361) + מֵעָלָֽיו [from·upon·him] (156) = 4489.
Rashi
The pan. A translation of a frying pan—'mesrita.'
Radak
“And she took the pan and poured it out before him.” The “mishreth” is the pan (frying pan), and likewise the Targum translates “pan” (machavat) as “mashritta.” And the “mishreth” is that in which she cooked the cakes. She took the pan and poured [its contents] before him into a bowl. And according to the words of our Sages of blessed memory, she prepared for him various types of fried food, which is when one fries the dough in a pan with oil.
Ralbag
The serving vessel. An alfas (pan).
And she poured them before him. She poured before him the dough cakes with the oil, in the vessel in which she had brought the food before him. And she did this before him because Amnon had already specified that she knead the dough cakes before his eyes. And Amnon made an effort to bring her into the chamber so that he could attain there his desire from her, lest it be a disgrace if her voice be heard outside when he violates her.
Metzudat David
And she poured. She poured upon the bowl the cakes with the oil:
Metzudat Zion
The pan. The translation of machavat [griddle], it is masrita.
And she poured. From the word pouring.
From upon me. From beside me.
Malbim
And she poured it out before him, but she did not give it to him with her own hand; and therefore he refused to eat, and said, "Remove [everyone from before me]," etc., for I do not wish to eat by the hand of my servants, but only by her hand.
And Amnon said to Tamar: ‘Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat of your hand.’ And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
verse value 5938
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "Tamar" (תָּמָ֗ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·cakes" (אֶת־הַלְּבִבוֹת֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 222: food, chamber. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "bring" (הָבִ֤יאִי), "chamber" (הַחֶ֔דֶר), "from·your·hand" (מִיָּדֵ֑ךְ). The root אמנון appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "to·Baal-tamar" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·your·hand', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 9 words.
Metzudat David
The chamber. "To the chamber of his bed:"
"And she brought." [Namely] the cakes:
Malbim
And on this basis he said, "Bring the food into the chamber" — the chamber designated for eating there — "and let me eat specifically from your hand."
And when she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her: ‘Come lie with me, my sister.’
verse value 2163
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "to·her" (לָ֔הּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·seized·her" (וַיַּֽחֲזֶק־בָּהּ֙, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·brought·near" (וַתַּגֵּ֥שׁ), "and·seized·her" (וַיַּֽחֲזֶק־בָּהּ֙), "go·in" (בּ֛וֹאִי). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "go·in" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel); "with·me" (root עם, 90x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·eat', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַתַּגֵּ֥שׁ [and·brought·near] (709) + אֵלָ֖יו [to·him] (47) + לֶאֱכֹ֑ל [to·eat] (81) + וַיַּֽחֲזֶק־בָּהּ֙ [and·seized·her] (138) + וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + לָ֔הּ [to·her] (35) + בּ֛וֹאִי [go·in] (19) + שִׁכְבִ֥י [lie] (332) + עִמִּ֖י [with·me] (120) + אֲחוֹתִֽי [my·sister] (425) = 2163.
Metzudat David
And she brought near. She brought near to him the cakes to eat:
And she answered him: ‘Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel; do not you this wanton deed.
verse value 4115
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 52 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֗וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֗וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "do·not·force·me" (אַל־תְּעַנֵּ֔נִי, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·brother" (אַל־אָחִי֙), "do·not·force·me" (אַל־תְּעַנֵּ֔נִי), "not·is·done" (לֹא־יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה). The root איל appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·she·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "to·brother" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַתֹּ֣אמֶר [and·she·said] (647) + ל֗וֹ [to·him] (36) + אַל־אָחִי֙ [to·brother] (50) + אַל־תְּעַנֵּ֔נִי [do·not·force·me] (611) + כִּ֛י [for] (30) + לֹא־יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה [not·is·done] (416) + כֵ֖ן [so] (70) + בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [in·Israel] (543) + אַֽל־תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה [do·not·do] (806) + אֶת־הַנְּבָלָ֥ה [the·senselessness] (493) + הַזֹּֽאת [this] (413) = 4115.
Ralbag
For such a thing is not done in Israel. She did not say this because it is not fitting to lie with his sister on account of exposing nakedness -- for if that were so, how would the king have consented to it? Rather she said that such a thing is not done in Israel: to come upon a woman in the manner of fornication unless it be in the manner of marriage. And from this it is made clear that Tamar was not truly his sister. And for this our Sages of blessed memory said that Tamar was the daughter of a yefat to'ar [a beautiful captive woman], who had relations with David while still a gentile and became pregnant by him; afterward she converted and David married her. And since her mother was not a convert at the time she conceived her [Tamar], the daughter was not [legally] David's daughter, for a son born to an Israelite from a maidservant is not called that Israelite's son. And for this it is said in the parashah 'These are the judgments' concerning the sons born to an Israelite from a Canaanite maidservant -- they are, like her, slaves, not Israelites.
Metzudat David
"Don't, my brother." Do not do such a thing; you are my brother.
"Do not violate me." Do not force me.
"For such is not done, etc."—namely, to force virgins; and thus you too shall not do this vile deed.
Metzudat Zion
Afflict me. From the word affliction.
The wicked thing. A matter of reproach and shame.
Malbim
“Do not afflict me, my brother”—this is explained by three reasons. If from the perspective of the act itself, she said: “Such a thing shall not be done in Israel; do not commit this wickedness” (and she also alluded to the incident of Shechem, son of Hamor, of whom it is stated there: “He has acted wickedly in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter; such a thing shall not be done”). And if from the perspective of her honor, she said:
And I, whither shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the base men in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.’
verse value 4089
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֛י, 2 letters) and the longest is "reproach" (אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִ֔י, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 67: and·I, shall·I·carry. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "shall·I·carry" (אוֹלִיךְ֙), "reproach" (אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִ֔י), "the·fool" (הַנְּבָלִ֖ים). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "shall·be" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Rashi
For he will not withhold me from you. I am permitted to you, because my mother became pregnant with me when she was a foreign woman of fair appearance, whom David took in war; and whoever has a son or daughter from a maidservant is not his son for every matter.
Metzudat David
"And I, etc." Even if it were to happen through coercion, nevertheless it would be counted as a disgrace to me, and where shall I carry it to hide my shame from people?
"And you." And even you will be counted as one of the scoundrels.
"And now." Since you desire me, please speak, etc., for he will not refuse to give me to you as a wife.
Metzudat Zion
Whither. To where:
The wicked ones. The lowly and base.
Malbim
"And I, where shall I carry my shame?" And if from the perspective of his honor she said, "and you will be like one of the scoundrels," (and at the start of her words she included all of this in what she said, "my brother," meaning: are you not my brother, and each person must have regard for his brother's honor; and regarding the deed itself she said, "do not violate me"), and she added, saying, "and now, speak to the king, for he will not refuse to give me to you," and you will be able to marry me by a permitted route, as [explained] above.
However he would not hearken to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.
verse value 1779
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 37 letters. The shortest word is "and·not" (וְלֹ֥א, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·her·voice" (בְּקוֹלָ֑הּ, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "in·her·voice" (בְּקוֹלָ֑הּ), "and·violated·her" (וַיְעַנֶּ֔הָ). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·not" (root לא, 76x in II Samuel); "to·hear" (root שמע, 34x in II Samuel); "from·her" (root מן, 21x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·her·voice', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְלֹ֥א [and·not] (37) + אָבָ֖ה [he·was·willing] (8) + לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ [to·hear] (440) + בְּקוֹלָ֑הּ [in·her·voice] (143) + וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק [and·strengthened] (131) + מִמֶּ֙נָּה֙ [from·her] (135) + וַיְעַנֶּ֔הָ [and·violated·her] (141) + וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב [and·he·slept] (338) + אֹתָֽהּ [you] (406) = 1779.
Metzudat David
And he prevailed. He overpowered her and raped her:
Malbim
"And he violated her" — at first he violated her not in her usual way, so that she would not lose her virginity; and when his passion was not satisfied, he lay with her in the usual way.
Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said to her: ‘Arise, be gone.’
verse value 3486
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 73 letters. Notable word values: "loves·it" (אֲהֵבָ֑הּ) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·said·to·her" (וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֥הּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·he·hated·her" (וַיִּשְׂנָאֶ֣הָ), "the·hatred" (הַשִּׂנְאָה֙), "than·love" (מֵאַהֲבָ֖ה). The root שנא appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said·to·her" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'loves·it', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 4 words.
Rashi
And Amnon hated her. Our Sages said (Sanhedrin 21a): a hair became knotted [around his membrum], and it made him like one whose membrum was severed.
Radak
"And Amnon hated her." This hatred was caused by God in order to increase the disgrace by sending her away from his house, so that Absalom would hate him even more, to the point of death, to the extent that he planned to kill him. And this incident was the punishment for David for the incident of Bathsheba and Uriah, for in that punishment there occurred in his house immorality that led to the sword, to fulfill what the prophet said to him, "The sword shall not depart from your house." And likewise regarding the matter of Absalom: immorality and the sword, everything was measure for measure. And in the midrashic interpretation: What was this hatred? She tied a hair on him at the time of intercourse and made him like one whose member was severed [impotent].
Ralbag
And Amnon hated her with very great hatred. It seems that she exerted herself according to her ability to oppose his will, and perhaps she caused him pain through that struggle between them, or she spoke to him words of reproach. And for this he hated her, for she had already said to him, 'And you will be like one of the villains in Israel.' Or perhaps she said to him things harsher than these. And behold, out of the abundance of hatred, Amnon sent her from his house in contempt. We learn from this that the definition of hatred is that he does not speak with him whether for bad or for good. And since it says, 'and he was an enemy to him from time past,' we learn that if he did not speak with him for three days, he is not exiled [i.e., such silence itself establishes him as a known enemy, disqualifying him from the law of cities of refuge].
Metzudat David
And he hated her. Perhaps she reviled him with words, and this was from Hashem, to reveal his disgrace before a large congregation:
"For greater..." The hatred was, in its estimation, greater than the value of the former love.
“Arise, go.” And He did not want her to remain any longer in his house.
Malbim
And he hated her, because it had been a bestial desire, like a dog's; as soon as the flame of desire was extinguished, the love passed away, for it had not been an intrinsic love. Then, upon recognizing the abomination of this vile deed, he returned to hating the object through which this came about for him. This is what is written: "the hatred was greater than the love," for the love itself brought about the hatred; for when he recalled the abomination of that love, which was now alien in his eyes, his heart turned within him to great hatred.
And she said to him: ‘Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is worse than the other that you did to me.’ But he would not hearken to her.
verse value 4869
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 60 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֗וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֗וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·you·did" (אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "because·of" (אַל־אוֹדֹ֞ת), "than·another" (מֵאַחֶ֛רֶת), "that·you·did" (אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·she·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "because·of" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "that·you·did" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·send·me·away', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַתֹּ֣אמֶר [and·she·said] (647) + ל֗וֹ [to·him] (36) + אַל־אוֹדֹ֞ת [because·of] (442) + הָרָעָ֤ה [the·evil] (280) + הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ [the·great] (53) + הַזֹּ֔את [this] (413) + מֵאַחֶ֛רֶת [than·another] (649) + אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָ [that·you·did] (1281) + עִמִּ֖י [with·me] (120) + לְשַׁלְּחֵ֑נִי [to·send·me·away] (428) + וְלֹ֥א [and·not] (37) + אָבָ֖ה [he·was·willing] (8) + לִשְׁמֹ֥עַֽ [to·hear] (440) + לָֽהּ [to·her] (35) = 4869.
Rashi
"Not on account of." Do not commit this great evil of sending me away—which is greater than the other wrong that you did to me and violated me; and you would add further evil beyond it by sending me away.
Radak
"Al, concerning." Let not this matter be for sending me away, for this evil is greater, and a disgrace and humiliation, more than the other one that you did to me; for that one was in secret, and this one is in public. And the Targum [renders]: "Al, upon."
Metzudat David
"Concerning the evil, etc." – This means: Do not engage in this great evil, which is greater than the other one.
"Asher asita" (Which You have done). This means: And what is the great evil? She said, "Which You are doing to me, to drive me out of Your house," for from now on she desired to be married to him, in order to cover her disgrace.
Metzudat Zion
Concerning. Business.
Malbim
The Questions: This verse is difficult, and the commentators have not found its explanation:
"Al odot" – concerning this matter, because she remained in his house to compel him to marry her, according to the law of one who rapes a virgin: she shall become his wife, and he may not send her away all his days. She replied to him: "al odot ha-ra'ah ha-gedolah hazot" – explanation: that this great evil, namely my being sent away, is on his account. She meant that it is impossible for this [evil of being sent away] to be caused by the other [evil] that you did to me; for regarding the prior evil [the rape], it would have been fitting that you should never be able to send me away, and not the reverse – that because you raped me, you would send me away. Her intention was also that, by means of the other evil you committed against me – namely, that you raped me – this evil that you are now doing by sending me away is even greater, since it is contrary to custom and the commandment of the Torah. And "he refused to listen to her" at first – (verse 14) it says "and he would not listen to her voice": while he still loved her, he listened to her; only "he did not listen to her voice" means he did not accept her advice. But now, because he hated her, he did not wish to listen to her words at all.
Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said: ‘Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.’—
verse value 4534
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "from·upon·me" (מֵעָלַ֖י, 4 letters) and the longest is "a boy" (אֶֽת־נַעֲרוֹ֙, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "a boy" (אֶֽת־נַעֲרוֹ֙), "send·away·now" (שִׁלְחוּ־נָ֥א), "this" (אֶת־זֹ֛את). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "from·upon·me" (root על, 121x in II Samuel); "send·away·now" (root שלח, 65x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'outside', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְרָ֗א [and·called] (317) + אֶֽת־נַעֲרוֹ֙ [a boy] (727) + מְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ [his·attendant] (946) + וַיֹּ֕אמֶר [and·said] (257) + שִׁלְחוּ־נָ֥א [send·away·now] (395) + אֶת־זֹ֛את [this] (809) + מֵעָלַ֖י [from·upon·me] (150) + הַח֑וּצָה [outside] (114) + וּנְעֹ֥ל [and·bolt] (156) + הַדֶּ֖לֶת [door] (439) + אַחֲרֶֽיהָ [after·her] (224) = 4534.
Now she had a garment of many colours upon her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled.—And his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
verse value 6052
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 72 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּי֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "daughters·of·the·king" (בְנוֹת־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ, 8 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·upon·her" (וְעָלֶ֙יהָ֙), "tunic" (כְּתֹ֣נֶת), "flat" (פַּסִּ֔ים). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "daughters·of·the·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "and·upon·her" (root על, 121x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root כתנת ("tunic") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'robes', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Radak
"Coats." Targum Yonatan renders this as "kardutin," and this particular coat was made in the manner of a tunic, as it is stated, "and upon her was a tunic of many colors," unlike the coat mentioned in the Torah. This garment was well known among them. And Jonathan, who translated it as "kardutin," likewise translated the linen ephod as "kardut of fine linen [buts]."
Ralbag
A striped tunic. [It] was a garment of alternating colors, by way of example: the size of a handbreadth of one color, and so it continued to be of many colors.
Metzudat David
"For thus shall they be clothed": This was the custom of their garments.
“Coats.” This refers to the ornamented tunic, and their meaning is one and the same.
Metzudat Zion
Multi-colored. Embroidered in the breadth of a hand's breadth stripe, and so (Genesis 37:3): and he made him a coat of many colors.
Malbim
The questions: Is it not known that there is a distinction between a "ketonet" (tunic) and a "me'il" (robe)? How does the verse begin with "ketonet" and conclude with "me'il," and then return to say "and the ketonet passim"?
And regarding "and upon her was a striped tunic," there is a distinction between a "tunic" (ketonet) and a "cloak" (me'il): the tunic is the undergarment, while the cloak is wrapped over all the other garments from above. It was the custom of virgin princesses to wrap a cloak over a striped tunic worn underneath. At the time of the act, he removed the upper cloak from her, and she wore only the striped tunic. When he took her out, she did not wrap on the cloak; rather, "and upon her was a striped tunic" — [meaning] he took her out wearing only the undergarment. Although it is true that virgin princesses wear cloaks and it is not their custom to go out in just a tunic, nevertheless, his [Amnon's] servant led her outside stripped of her cloak and stripped of her honor, and thrust out like one of the harlots.
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of many colours that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
verse value 6179
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "Tamar" (תָּמָ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·head" (עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 606: upon·head, upon·head. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "ashes" (אֵ֙פֶר֙), "and·a·tunic·of" (וּכְתֹ֧נֶת), "flat" (הַפַּסִּ֛ים). The root ראש appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "on" (root על, 121x in II Samuel); "and·went" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root זעק ("and·will·cry") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'tore', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Radak
“Halekh ve-tza’akah.” The verb is in the past tense, yet it carries a continuous sense, meaning “she went on crying out,” as Jonathan [the Aramaic translator] rendered it: “And she went on, going and crying out.” And our Sages of blessed memory said, based on a tradition in their possession, that on account of that incident at that time they decreed regarding the seclusion of an unmarried woman. They reasoned: If the daughters of kings [are subject to this concern], how much more so the daughters of commoners; if modest women [are subject to this concern], how much more so promiscuous women. Thus, King David’s court convened and decreed, prohibiting seclusion with an unmarried woman.
Metzudat David
"Upon her head." This means: she threw it above her head out of distress, in order to inform the public that she had been raped.
"And she put her hand, etc." Thus is the way of one who is in distress:
And Absalom her brother said to her: ‘Has Amnon your brother been with you? but now hold your peace, my sister: he is your brother; take not this thing to heart.’ So Tamar remained desolate in her brother, Absalom’s house.
verse value 6958
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 102 letters. The shortest word is "was" (הָיָ֣ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "Amnon" (הַאֲמִינ֣וֹן, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 379: Absalom, Absalom. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Amnon" (הַאֲמִינ֣וֹן), "be·silent" (הַחֲרִ֙ישִׁי֙), "do·not·set" (אַל־תָּשִׁ֥יתִי). The root אח appears 4 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "do·not·set" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'this', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 6 words.
Radak
"Ha'Aminon" [a diminishing form of the name Amnon]. A way of contempt:
"and she was desolate." The vav [prefix] adds nothing, like the vav in "and Abraham lifted up his eyes," and my master, my father, of blessed memory, explained these and similar cases as an ellipsis of a similar word, and he explained "and she was desolate" [as if it read] "she was sad, and desolate."
Ralbag
Now therefore, my sister, be silent, your brother he is. That is to say, and it is not fitting to publicize his shame.
And Tamar sat desolate in the house of Absalom her brother. It seems that, due to her shame and her distress, she remained there without company, as is the meaning of their saying, 'All her gates are desolate, for many are the children of the desolate.'
Metzudat David
He was with you. He means to say: He raped you, and he spoke in euphemistic language:
"And now: since it has already been done, remain silent and do not humiliate him, for he is your brother, and it is fitting for you to have compassion on his honor."
"Do not set your heart, etc." This means: Do not grieve over this.
Metzudat Zion
"Ha'aminon" [Amnon, with an added letter]. It is the way of speakers to add letters to diminish a word [form a diminutive], and so (Deuteronomy 32:10): "He guarded him as the apple of his eye" — called so because of the image of the small man seen in the eye.
Be silent. A matter of silence.
You will put. You will place:
And desolate. The vav is superfluous, and so (Psalms 76:7): and chariot and horse.
Malbim
"Ha-Aminon" ["Was it Amnon your brother who was with you?"] – he [Absalom] said to her that she should be silent for three reasons (mentioned in verses 12–13): If it is on account of your honor, you will not be despised because you secluded yourself with a man, for it was not a stranger, but only your brother who was with you. And if it is on account of his honor, [the verse says] "be silent, he is your brother." And if it is on account of the vileness of the deed itself, [the verse says] "do not set your heart to this matter" — it is better that you forget this from your heart, for what has happened has happened. And "she sat" — Tamar, whose way was always to walk about, and to rejoice and be glad like the virgin princesses; now "she sat" and did not go outside, and was forlorn, and did not sit in the company of merrymakers.
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
verse value 1583
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 34 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֖וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֖וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·things" (כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים, 8 letters). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·the·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "all·the·things" (root דבר, 107x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'these', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words.
Malbim
And King David was very angry, yet he did not reprove him for this, and all of this aroused Absalom’s hatred.
And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
verse value 5012
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·Amnon" (עִם־אַמְנ֖וֹן, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 379: Absalom, Absalom. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·did·not·speak" (וְלֹא־דִבֶּ֧ר), "with·Amnon" (עִם־אַמְנ֖וֹן), "to·bad" (לְמֵרָ֣ע). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·did·not·speak" (root דבר, 107x in II Samuel); "with·Amnon" (root עם, 90x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·unto·good', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 9 words.
Ralbag
For Absalom hated Amnon. We learn from this that hatred is already removed once a person stands to speak with his fellow, away from the hatred, whether for bad or for good.
Metzudat David
To the bad. Whether a bad thing or a good thing:
"For he hated, etc." And he harbored hatred in his heart to take revenge on him when the time was right, and so that he would not notice the matter, he did not speak to him at all.
Malbim
"And he did not speak" — the sense of the verse is: because Absalom hated Amnon over the matter that he had violated Tamar his sister, he did not speak with him, either for bad or for good. Due to the abundance of his hatred, he did not reprove him about this with harsh words about the violation, for if he had reproved him and appeased him with words, the outcome would have been good. This is what is written: "for evil, and until good." (And regarding Laban it says: "Take heed to yourself that you speak not with Jacob either by good or by evil," for there he would begin with the good he had done to him and turn to the evil he repaid him by fleeing.) But because of his hatred, he did not wish at all to speak of this; rather, he kept animosity in his heart, to take vengeance on him when the time was opportune. And this was also a cause that Amnon did not guard himself against him, since no one spoke to him a word, neither David nor Absalom; he forgot what he had done.
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
verse value 3757
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 70 letters. Verse gematria: 3757 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Absalom" (לְאַבְשָׁל֔וֹם, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·years" (לִשְׁנָתַ֣יִם), "in·Baal" (בְּבַ֥עַל), "Hazor" (חָצ֖וֹר). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·Ephraim', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + לִשְׁנָתַ֣יִם [to·years] (830) + יָמִ֔ים [days] (100) + וַיִּהְי֤וּ [and·they·were] (37) + גֹֽזְזִים֙ [shearing] (67) + לְאַבְשָׁל֔וֹם [to·Absalom] (409) + בְּבַ֥עַל [in·Baal] (104) + חָצ֖וֹר [Hazor] (304) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + עִם־אֶפְרָ֑יִם [with·Ephraim] (441) + וַיִּקְרָ֥א [and·called] (317) + אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם [Absalom] (379) + לְכׇל־בְּנֵ֥י [to·all·sons·of] (142) + הַמֶּֽלֶךְ [king] (95) = 3757.
Rashi
And there were shearers. And their way was to make a feast at the shearing of their sheep.
Radak
Shearing. Their custom was to hold a feast on the day that they sheared their sheep, and likewise in the matter of Nabal.
With Ephraim. [This is read as] "Close to the land of Ephraim." And similarly: "And Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi" (Genesis 25:11).
Metzudat David
And they were shearing. And it was their custom to make a feast and a celebration, and similarly of Nabal it is said (I Samuel 25:8): We have come on a good day:
Metzudat Zion
Two years. Two years.
Shearing. The sheep.
With Ephraim. Near the inheritance of Ephraim, as (Genesis 25:11): with Beer-lahai-roi.
And Absalom came to the king, and said: ‘Behold now, your servant has sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your servant.’
verse value 1595
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "and·came" (וַיָּבֹ֤א, 4 letters) and the longest is "Absalom" (אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 126: to·the·king, to·your·servant. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·your·servant" (לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ), "with·your·servant" (עִם־עַבְדֶּֽךָ). The root עבד appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "to·the·king" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root ילך ("let·him·go·now") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·your·servant', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיָּבֹ֤א [and·came] (19) + אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ [Absalom] (379) + אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ [to·the·king] (126) + וַיֹּ֕אמֶר [and·said] (257) + הִנֵּה־נָ֥א [behold·now] (111) + גֹזְזִ֖ים [shearing] (67) + לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ [to·your·servant] (126) + יֵלֶךְ־נָ֥א [let·him·go·now] (111) + הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ [king] (95) + וַעֲבָדָ֖יו [and·his·servants] (98) + עִם־עַבְדֶּֽךָ [with·your·servant] (206) = 1595.
Ralbag
Behold now, your servant's shearers are. When they had their shearings they rejoiced at the good thing, as David sent to Nabal, 'For we have come on a good day.' And behold, it was from Absalom's scheme that he asked the king that he and his servants go with him to rejoice and eat and drink with him, for he knew that this was a thing not fitting that the king agree to. And he also did this so that David would agree to send Amnon with him and not pay attention to the matter of Amnon, the hatred that ought to be between Absalom and Amnon concerning Tamar his sister. And behold, Amnon was David's firstborn son, who was fit for the kingship, who was fit to reign after him. And for this David was saddened more over Amnon than over the rest of his sons.
And the king said to Absalom: ‘Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.’ And he pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.
verse value 2554
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 68 letters. The shortest word is "let·us·go" (נֵלֵךְ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Absalom" (אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·son" (אַל־בְּנִי֙), "let·us·go" (נֵלֵךְ֙). The root איל appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "to·Absalom" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'upon·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֨אמֶר [and·said] (257) + הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ [king] (95) + אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם [to·Absalom] (410) + אַל־בְּנִי֙ [to·son] (93) + אַל־נָ֤א [please·not] (82) + נֵלֵךְ֙ [let·us·go] (100) + כֻּלָּ֔נוּ [all·of·us] (106) + וְלֹ֥א [and·not] (37) + נִכְבַּ֖ד [we·will·be·heavy] (76) + עָלֶ֑יךָ [upon·you] (130) + וַיִּפְרׇץ־בּ֛וֹ [and·pressed·him] (394) + וְלֹא־אָבָ֥ה [but·was·not·willing] (45) + לָלֶ֖כֶת [to·go] (480) + וַֽיְבָרְכֵֽהוּ [and·blessed] (249) = 2554.
Radak
"And we shall not be a burden upon you." This means that we should not all become a burden to you due to the excessive expenses.
Metzudat David
"And it shall not be a burden to you. For when we all go, it will be for you a heavy yoke and much toil."
"And he blessed him." Because of the generosity of his heart.
Metzudat Zion
And he urged [him]. A matter of persuading through a multitude of words, and it is the opposite of (there, 19:3): and he entreated them.
Malbim
"And he broke out against him, and he would not go." Initially, he replied that he was refraining from going because it would be burdensome for him, for then all the king's servants would inevitably have to accompany him. And since the latter pressed him insistently, he replied that he did not wish to go on his own account.
Then said Absalom: ‘If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us.’ And the king said to him: ‘Why should he go with you?’
verse value 2060
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 51 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (לוֹ֙) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (לוֹ֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "Absalom" (אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "should·he·go" (יֵלֵ֖ךְ). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "should·he·go" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·brother', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ [and·said] (257) + אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם [Absalom] (379) + וָלֹ֕א [and·not] (37) + יֵלֶךְ־נָ֥א [let·him·go·now] (111) + אִתָּ֖נוּ [with·us] (457) + אַמְנ֣וֹן [Amnon] (147) + אָחִ֑י [my·brother] (19) + וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·said] (257) + לוֹ֙ [to·him] (36) + הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ [king] (95) + לָ֥מָּה [why] (75) + יֵלֵ֖ךְ [should·he·go] (60) + עִמָּֽךְ [with] (130) = 2060.
Rashi
But if not, let him go with us. And if you cannot go, let Amnon at least go with us.
Radak
"And not." The expression is in the form of a request, like [the phrase] "velo yiten la'avadekha" ("would that he give to your servants").
Metzudat David
"And he shall not go." In a question, he said to him, "And if not, Amnon shall go" (for when he summoned all the king's sons, Amnon was not included among them, because he was the firstborn, and he stood in the place of his father the king).
"Why should he go? For it would be a burden upon you:"
Malbim
And Absalom said — and by this he found an opportunity to say: "Then let my brother Amnon come with us," since he is the firstborn and stands in the place of the king.
And Absalom commanded his servants, saying: ‘Mark you now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say to you: Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.’
verse value 6346
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 111 letters. The shortest word is "please" (נָ֠א, 2 letters) and the longest is "his·servants" (אֶת־נְעָרָ֜יו, 7 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "his·servants" (אֶת־נְעָרָ֜יו), "as·being·good" (כְּט֨וֹב), "inner man·Amnon" (לֵב־אַמְנ֤וֹן). The root צוה appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "not·fear" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "and·be·you" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root יין ("in·the·wine") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'not·fear', dividing the verse into phrases of 16 and 8 words.
Radak
"Halo" [Is it not / Behold]. This word sometimes comes to denote urging and emphasis, and similarly "halo shelachtikha" ("Have I not sent you?") and "halo ki meshachakha" ("Is it not that [the LORD] has anointed you?").
Metzudat David
"As good...", etc. And then he will not be on his guard.
"Is it not that I have commanded?" And it shall be required from my hand.
Be strong. In case he perhaps tries to fight for his life:
Malbim
“Behold, as I commanded you” – this implies that you shall not be punished for having acted in accordance with My command.
And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled.
verse value 3725
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 68 letters. The shortest word is "commanded" (צִוָּ֖ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "Absalom" (אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 379: Absalom, Absalom. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "the·servants·of" (נַעֲרֵ֤י), "upon·mule" (עַל־פִּרְדּ֖וֹ). The root אבשלום appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "as" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Absalom', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֞וּ [and·they·did] (392) + נַעֲרֵ֤י [the·servants·of] (330) + אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ [Absalom] (379) + לְאַמְנ֔וֹן [to·Amnon] (177) + כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר [as] (521) + צִוָּ֖ה [commanded] (101) + אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם [Absalom] (379) + וַיָּקֻ֣מוּ [and·they·arose] (162) + כׇּל־בְּנֵ֣י [all·sons·of] (112) + הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ [king] (95) + וַֽיִּרְכְּב֛וּ [and·they·mounted·and·ride] (244) + אִ֥ישׁ [man] (311) + עַל־פִּרְדּ֖וֹ [upon·mule] (390) + וַיָּנֻֽסוּ [and·they·fled] (132) = 3725.
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying: ‘Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.’
verse value 2865
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָֽד) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "abundance" (הֵ֣מָּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·sons·of" (אֶת־כׇּל־בְּנֵ֣י, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·the·report" (וְהַשְּׁמֻעָ֣ה), "all·sons·of" (אֶת־כׇּל־בְּנֵ֣י), "from·them" (מֵהֶ֖ם). The root הם appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "to·David" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + הֵ֣מָּה [abundance] (50) + בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ [way] (226) + וְהַשְּׁמֻעָ֣ה [and·the·report] (426) + בָ֔אָה [went·in] (8) + אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד [to·David] (45) + לֵאמֹ֑ר [saying] (271) + הִכָּ֤ה [struck] (30) + אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ [Absalom] (379) + אֶת־כׇּל־בְּנֵ֣י [all·sons·of] (513) + הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ [king] (95) + וְלֹא־נוֹתַ֥ר [and·not·remained] (693) + מֵהֶ֖ם [from·them] (85) + אֶחָֽד [one] (13) = 2865.
Metzudat David
On the way. Until they came to the city:
And the rumor. The voice of a false rumor:
Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
verse value 2476
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 51 letters. The shortest word is "and·arose" (וַיָּ֧קׇם, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·all·his·courtiers" (וְכׇל־עֲבָדָ֥יו, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·he·tore" (וַיִּקְרַ֥ע), "his·clothes" (אֶת־בְּגָדָ֖יו), "torn·of" (קְרֻעֵ֥י). The root קרע appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "and·all·his·courtiers" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel); "land" (root ארץ, 40x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root נצב ("standing") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'land', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֧קׇם [and·arose] (156) + הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ [king] (95) + וַיִּקְרַ֥ע [and·he·tore] (386) + אֶת־בְּגָדָ֖יו [his·clothes] (426) + וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב [and·he·slept] (338) + אָ֑רְצָה [land] (296) + וְכׇל־עֲבָדָ֥יו [and·all·his·courtiers] (148) + נִצָּבִ֖ים [standing] (192) + קְרֻעֵ֥י [torn·of] (380) + בְגָדִֽים [clothes] (59) = 2476.
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said: ‘Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
verse value 6863
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 108 letters. The shortest word is "died" (מֵ֑ת, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·young·men" (כׇּל־הַנְּעָרִ֤ים, 8 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "brother·of·David" (אֲחִי־דָוִ֜ד), "not·say" (אַל־יֹאמַ֤ר), "all·the·young·men" (כׇּל־הַנְּעָרִ֤ים). The root ענה appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "brother·of·David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "sons·of·the·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'died', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 9 words.
Rashi
According to Absalom's command it was done. By Absalom's command this was done upon his servants—to kill Amnon.
Radak
"Shumah." A noun denoting an action, meaning that the killing of Amnon was always on Absalom's lips, for he was constantly speaking of his evil intent from the day he humiliated Tamar, his sister. And the Targum [renders]: "for in Absalom's heart it was [already] planned/determined," and likewise the Targum renders [the phrase] "which he laid for him along the way" as "who lay in wait for him."
Ralbag
This was decided by Absalom's word. That is to say, this matter had been fixed in Absalom's mind constantly from the day he violated Tamar his sister, that whenever the opportunity arose he would take his vengeance on him.
Metzudat David
Let him not say. Let him not think:
It was a decree. That decree was imposed upon his servants by the command of Absalom, from the day that Amnon humiliated Tamar.
Malbim
(32-33) The Questions: There are here duplicated statements; first it says, “All the young men, the sons of the king, have been killed,” and afterward it says, “All the sons of the king died.”
Let not my lord say [that all the king's sons have been killed], for the rumor arose from the fact that whoever saw that they had killed Amnon thought that Absalom had killed him [Amnon] so that he [Amnon] would not be an adversary to him [Absalom] in the inheritance of the kingship, and supposed that, by the same reasoning, he [Absalom] would therefore cut off all the royal seed. And Yonadav answered, "Let not my lord say that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons" — meaning that he should not say that they killed all the young men because they are the king's sons, and that Absalom's intention was to cut off the king's seed. Not so; rather, only Amnon alone died, and not for the reason of the inheritance of the kingship, for this matter had been fixed in Absalom's mind long before, from the day he violated Tamar his sister, to take vengeance on him.
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.’
verse value 2921
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "died" (מֵֽת, 2 letters) and the longest is "for·if·Amnon" (כִּֽי־(אם)־אַמְנ֥וֹן, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 95: king, king. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "not·put" (אַל־יָשֵׂם֩), "for·if·Amnon" (כִּֽי־(אם)־אַמְנ֥וֹן). The root איל appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 334x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "not·put" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'died', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְעַתָּ֡ה [now] (481) + אַל־יָשֵׂם֩ [not·put] (381) + אֲדֹנִ֨י [my·lord] (65) + הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ [king] (95) + אֶל־לִבּוֹ֙ [to·inner man] (69) + דָּבָ֣ר [thing] (206) + לֵאמֹ֔ר [saying] (271) + כׇּל־בְּנֵ֥י [all·sons·of] (112) + הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ [king] (95) + מֵ֑תוּ [died] (446) + כִּֽי־(אם)־אַמְנ֥וֹן [for·if·Amnon] (218) + לְבַדּ֖וֹ [alone] (42) + מֵֽת [died] (440) = 2921.
Metzudat David
A matter to say. The report that says: all the king's sons etc.:
Malbim
And now he added to say that one might still think that although Absalom did not wish to kill Amnon, it can be said that the king's sons risked their lives to save their brother, and through this came to battle and they all died. This is what is written: "And now, let not my lord the king take this matter to heart, saying, 'All the king's sons have died of their own accord through battle.'" Not so; only Amnon alone has died.
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people in a roundabout way by the hill-side.
verse value 3497
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 61 letters. Verse gematria: 3497 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "side" (מִצַּ֥ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "Absalom" (אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·fled" (וַיִּבְרַ֖ח), "his·eyes" (אֶת־עֵינָ֔ו), "with·great" (עַם־רַ֜ב). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "go" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel); "with·great" (root עם, 90x in II Samuel); "Absalom" (root אבשלום, 64x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root צפה ("the·watchman") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Absalom', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 12 words. Full calculation: וַיִּבְרַ֖ח [and·fled] (226) + אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם [Absalom] (379) + וַיִּשָּׂ֞א [and·lifted] (317) + הַנַּ֤עַר [the·boy] (325) + הַצֹּפֶה֙ [the·watchman] (180) + אֶת־עֵינָ֔ו [his·eyes] (537) + וַיַּ֗רְא [and·saw] (217) + וְהִנֵּ֨ה [and·behold] (66) + עַם־רַ֜ב [with·great] (312) + הֹלְכִ֥ים [go] (105) + מִדֶּ֛רֶךְ [from·way] (264) + אַחֲרָ֖יו [after·him] (225) + מִצַּ֥ד [side] (134) + הָהָֽר [hill] (210) = 3497.
Radak
"From the way behind him." This refers to the people — the king's sons and the rest of the people who had fled — who were coming to Jerusalem. The watchman saw them coming from the path that is behind the mountain, from the side of the mountain, and he used the pronoun before [identifying] its referent, as in "and she saw him, the child" [Exodus 2:6], and other such instances.
Metzudat David
Behind his back. For the watchman was looking toward the road on which they were going, and they fled on a winding road, and came to the city from behind the watchman:
Metzudat Zion
The watchman. He is the one who stands in a high place to look far.
Malbim
“And Absalom fled”: This means that by virtue of this report, since the king was preoccupied and waiting to learn of the welfare of the king’s sons, he did not take it upon himself to send [men] to pursue and overtake Absalom; and consequently, Absalom fled.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept; and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
verse value 1958
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "they·went·in" (בָּ֔אוּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·his·courtiers" (וְכׇל־עֲבָדָ֔יו, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "when·He·finished" (כְּכַלֹּת֣וֹ), "their·voice" (קוֹלָ֖ם), "and·also·the·king" (וְגַם־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·the·king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "they·went·in" (root בוא, 131x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·they·wept', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.
verse value 3054
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "he·fled" (בָּרַ֔ח, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Ammihud" (בֶּן־עַמִּיה֖וּד, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·Talmai" (אֶל־תַּלְמַ֥י), "son·of·Ammihud" (בֶּן־עַמִּיה֖וּד). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "upon·son" (root על, 121x in II Samuel); "son·of·Ammihud" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Geshur', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words.
Radak
"To Talmai." [Noting] that he was the father of his [Absalom's] mother.
"And David mourned." He was mourning for his son Amnon "all the days" — as is stated afterward — and these were three years, the period during which Absalom was in Geshur.
Ralbag
And he mourned for his son all the days. That is to say, many days, for after three years he was comforted over Amnon that he died, as it mentions afterward. And perhaps he said 'all the days' to indicate that there was no day in the days of the year, and even the festivals, that David was not grieving over this. And we found in the first son born of Bathsheba that immediately after he died, he washed and anointed and ate and drank, and said to his servants, 'Now then, since the child is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.' And behold, in this it was fitting that we say: why does he mourn for him so much, and he will not return to him? But the resolution of this difficulty is from what is light, for David distanced himself from fasting after the child's death, for fasting is done by way of prayer and request from God, and this is not fitting after the child's death. But he should mourn for him, and grief is a matter that nature requires the love of the imaginations. And for this he was not distanced from this, mourning over the deceased.
Metzudat David
"To Talmai." For he was his mother's father.
“And he mourned.” The king mourned for his son Amnon, all the days of his life.
Malbim
(37–38) "And Absalom fled, etc." — "And Absalom fled": The Mahar"I explains that initially he fled to Talmai, his grandfather, and he went with him wherever Talmai traveled. However, since David mourned for his son throughout all these days, which were the three years, Absalom feared that [David] might send after him and overtake him on his way. Therefore, he fled and went to Geshur, shutting himself up in a walled city with double doors and a bar.
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
verse value 2571
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "he·fled" (בָּרַ֖ח, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Absalom" (וְאַבְשָׁל֥וֹם, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·was·there" (וַֽיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·was·there" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "and·went" (root הלך, 96x in II Samuel); "and·Absalom" (root אבשלום, 64x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Geshur', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְאַבְשָׁל֥וֹם [and·Absalom] (385) + בָּרַ֖ח [he·fled] (210) + וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ [and·went] (66) + גְּשׁ֑וּר [Geshur] (509) + וַֽיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם [and·was·there] (371) + שָׁלֹ֥שׁ [three] (630) + שָׁנִֽים [years] (400) = 2571.
Metzudat David
And Absalom fled etc. At first he said that he fled from his place, and after that he said that he went to Talmai, and now he comes to say that he remained there for three years:
And the soul of king David failed with longing for Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
verse value 2341
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 39 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֣ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Absalom" (אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·finished" (וַתְּכַל֙), "to·go·out" (לָצֵ֖את), "for·he·was·comforted" (כִּי־נִחַ֥ם). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "to·Absalom" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Absalom', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַתְּכַל֙ [and·finished] (456) + דָּוִ֣ד [David] (14) + הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ [king] (95) + לָצֵ֖את [to·go·out] (521) + אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם [to·Absalom] (410) + כִּי־נִחַ֥ם [for·he·was·comforted] (128) + עַל־אַמְנ֖וֹן [upon·Amnon] (247) + כִּי־מֵֽת [that·was·dead] (470) = 2341.
Rashi
And David longed. This is an elliptical verse, [meaning] 'and the soul of David longed'; and so Targum Yonatan renders it: 'and the soul of David desired'—like (Psalms 84:3): 'yearns, and also pines'—an expression of longing.
For he was comforted concerning Amnon. He received consolation.
Radak
"And [the soul of] David longed to go out to Absalom." Its meaning is according to its Targum: "and the soul of King David longed to go out concerning Absalom" — that is, his soul desired to go out on Absalom's account, out of the intensity of his longing for him, in the manner of "my soul went out when he spoke" (Song of Songs 5:6). And the sage Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra explained "vattichal" [as taking] "the wife of David" [as its unstated subject], it being a transitive verb — that is, his wife, the mother of Absalom, pleaded with David greatly, until David longed for Absalom with a longing that one of his own attendants should go out after him on his behalf; and this is the meaning of "to go out to Absalom."
Ralbag
And King David pined [the elided subject is 'soul']. It is from the same sense as 'kesef' (yearning), as in the phrase 'my soul yearns, indeed it pines' (Psalms 84:3). And it is missing the connected word ['soul' is implied but not written]. And the intention is: the soul of King David longed to go out to Absalom, to bring him to himself, for he had gotten over Amnon's death.
Metzudat David
"And David was weary." The soul of David was exhausted with longing to go out for the sake of Absalom, and this refers to a desire and craving for the matter, as it is written (Psalms 119:81): "My soul is weary for Your salvation."
"for he was comforted." Even though he mourned for him all those days, nevertheless he accepted some consolation, for he is dead, and it is decreed to accept consolation for the dead (end of Tractate Soferim; Genesis Rabbah 84:21).
Metzudat Zion
And David pined. The word 'soul' is missing, and therefore it is stated in the feminine, since it speaks of the soul — as if it said 'and the soul of David pined.'
Malbim
The questions: What is meant by "and David concluded"? The wording is unusual, as will be explained:
"Va-tekhal David" [and David...] – the explanation of ha'Ephodi: During the first three years that David mourned for his son, David constantly desired to go out against Absalom – that is, to go out to war, to capture him from Geshur, and to take vengeance upon him. But now, either Maacah his wife or Tamar restrained David (from the root כלא, meaning to restrain). "Va-tekhal" is a transitive verb (she restrained and prevented David) from going out against Absalom to bring him back and put him to death. This was because she saw that he had gotten over Amnon's death; thus, she found the strength to prevent David from pursuing Absalom any further.
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David
Malbim