Pretend to be ill: or more literally “become ill” or “make yourself ill” as in verse 2, using the reflexive form of the verb. The idea of pretending may have to be expressed in some languages by using a verb that requires an object indicating who is deceived by the pretension. Some may say “tell people that you are ill” or “trick people into believing that you are ill.”

Comes to see you: it becomes clear in verse 7 that Amnon was not in the royal palace but in his own house. In some languages this information may determine exactly how this expression is translated.

Let my sister Tamar come: these words contain an untranslated Hebrew particle of entreaty. See the comments on verse 6 and also on 1 Sam 2.36. Compare Revised English Bible, “Please let my sister Tamar come.”

Give me bread to eat: literally “cause me to eat bread.” The word bread is often used in Scripture to refer to food in general. This is almost certainly the case here. The two phrases give me bread to eat and prepare the food do not express two completely different ideas. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh captures the idea of these two expressions and avoids giving the impression that two different kinds of food are intended by wording this part of the verse as follows: “Let … Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in front of me….” In this way the food refers back to “something to eat.” This may be a helpful model for other languages.

In my sight: the idea here is that the food preparation should take place in the presence of Amnon. It was expected that the whole affair would then be a private matter with only Amnon and Tamar present.

See it, and eat it: literally, “see and eat.” The Hebrew has no direct object. Revised Standard Version says “see it [the food],” and Good News Translation translates “see her.” Either is possible. But it is likely that what is meant is “see her cooking the food.” Contemporary English Version has “watch her cook something for you.”

The words eat it from her hand probably should not be understood literally, that is, that Tamar was to put the food into his mouth. The sense is probably “take it from her own hands” (Revised English Bible).

The quotation of Jonadab’s words contains another direct quotation of what Amnon is instructed to say to his father when he comes to visit him. In quite a few languages this kind of structure will prove to be very awkward and unnatural. It may be better to change the quotation within the quotation into indirect speech. That part of the verse will then read something like this:

• Ask him to send your sister Tamar to prepare some food for you as you watch. And ask him to let her serve it to you herself.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

So: that is, as a result of what Jonadab had suggested, Amnon took the following course of action. The common Hebrew conjunction in this context should be translated in such a way as to show the relationship of cause and effect.

The words of Amnon are different in some ways from what Jonadab had suggested. But the main idea is the same.

Came to see him: that is, came to visit him in his own house. See the comments on verses 5 and 7.

Pray let …: the particle so translated is usually added to verbs in the imperative form to make a respectful request. In some languages it will be best translated “I beg you…,” or “If it please you…,” or “I would like…” (New International Version). In other cases it may be rendered simply “Please…” as in many modern English versions, including New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, as well as Good News Translation. Compare the same sort of structure in Ruth 2.7; 1 Sam 22.3; and 25.24.

A couple of cakes: this introduces an additional detail not in the original suggestion of Jonadab, but it does not change the overall plan. The number is literally “two” (New Century Version), but this is sometimes used to mean “a few” (Revised English Bible). New Jerusalem Bible captures the idea with “a cake or two.” New American Bible is more vague, with the word “some.” The word cakes has been the subject of much discussion by commentators. New American Bible speaks of “fried cakes” and Knox has “mouthfuls of gruel.” However, both Anchor Bible and Anderson use the English word “dumplings” and insist that the use of the word “cakes” is misleading. Since the Hebrew term is not used elsewhere in the Old Testament except for verses 8 and 10, it is difficult to be absolutely certain of its meaning. But it does seem reasonable that a person pretending to be sick would request something boiled rather than fried or baked.

In my sight: Amnon insists that the food preparation take place where he could witness it. This was a part of the plan to be alone with his half sister.

From her hand: Amnon insists on receiving the food directly from Tamar herself.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Then: the common Hebrew conjunction indicates the next step in a sequence of events.

Sent home: since David’s home was the royal palace, Tamar was “in the palace” as Good News Translation indicates. He sent the message to her there and ordered that she do as Amnon had requested. Some translators may prefer to say “sent a messenger to tell Tamar….”

Amnon’s house: only here does the reader find out for sure that Amnon is in a different house and not in another part of the royal palace. This may affect the translation of the expression “comes to see you” and “came to see him” in verses 5 and 6. The Hebrew contains the particle of entreaty, which is not translated in Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation. Compare New American Bible, “Please go to the house of your brother.” Translators should use an expression that a king would use when asking his daughter to do something.

Prepare food: here the more general terminology is used as in verse 5. There is no mention of the specific kind of food that Amnon speaks of in verse 6.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

So: as a result of the king’s command Tamar performs the actions described in this verse.

Her brother: in those languages that have only terms for “older sibling” and “younger sibling,” it will be appropriate to use “older sibling” to describe the relationship of Amnon to Tamar, since he was the “firstborn” of David (see 3.2).

Dough: this was a mixture of wheat flour and water (or possibly some other liquid) in a soft but thick kind of paste (compare Exo 12.34, 39; Jer 7.18; and Hos 7.4). This mixture had to be kneaded, or repeatedly pressed together by hand (compare Gen 18.6; 1 Sam 28.24). The verb will in many cases have to be translated using a habitual form showing that it was a repeated action.

In his sight: within the view of Amnon, but not necessarily in the same room with him at this point. Since in verse 10 the food was to be brought “into the chamber,” the idea is probably that of Amnon looking through an open door to witness the preparation of the food.

Baked (so also New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New International Version): both Anchor Bible and Anderson have “boiled,” in keeping with the notion that these were not cakes in the traditional Western understanding of the word. The same term is used in 1 Sam 2.13 and 1 Kgs 19.21 for the boiling of meat, and in most of the other places where the verb is used, it has the sense of boiling rather than baking. Others understand this verb to mean that she “fried” the cakes (so New American Bible, Nueva Biblia Española). The precise meaning here is not certain, but “boil” seems to be the most likely sense. Translators may wish to use a general term such as “cooked,” that is, “she put the dough in to cook.”

Cakes: see the comments on verse 6.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The pan: this is the first reference to the instrument in which the food was being prepared. The term so translated is found only here in the Old Testament, but it comes from a root meaning “to hollow out.” If the dough was indeed boiled, the word pan does not seem appropriate, since it would not be deep enough to be used for boiling. It may be better to speak of a “pot.”

In those languages where there is no distinction between masculine and feminine pronouns, translators should be careful to ensure that the pronoun references are clear in this verse. In some cases this will mean translating certain pronouns by proper nouns.

Emptied it out before him: that is, transferred the food from the utensil in which it was prepared into a dish from which it could be eaten. The image is still that of actions taking place in an adjoining room where Amnon could see, since Tamar does not enter the “chamber” until verse 10.

But he refused to eat: some interpreters suppose that the cakes, or dumplings, were given to a servant who then presented them to Amnon to eat. Since this was not in keeping with Amnon’s plan to be alone with Tamar, he rejected the food and demanded that everyone except Tamar be sent away.

Send out every one from me: commentators have observed that this second person plural verb form is a kind of royal command used elsewhere (compare Gen 45.1 and Judges 3.19) to get rid of surrounding subjects. Instead of the verb send it may be more natural in some languages to use a more direct command like “All of you, get out of my presence!” Or the direct quotation may be changed into indirect speech as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “and ordered everyone to withdraw.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Good News Translation changes the proper nouns to pronouns, perhaps in order to make the story move faster. While this may be acceptable in some languages, those that do not distinguish between masculine and feminine pronouns may find it difficult.

At this point the food refers to the dumplings (or cakes) that Tamar had prepared. In some languages it may be more natural to use the more specific term here, since it has already been introduced earlier in the story.

Into the chamber: at last Amnon was able to get Tamar into the same room where he was lying. With the servants no longer around, he finally had the opportunity of taking her to bed with him. Chamber translates a Hebrew noun meaning a “dark inner room.” Such a room was often used for a bedroom, since it was away from the sunlight.

If the receptor language requires it, the direct quotation here may be made indirect by saying something like “Then Amnon told her to bring the dumplings into his room so that he could eat them directly from her hand.”

Her brother will, of course, be rendered “her half brother” in languages where this is more natural.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

But: because the events that follow are very different from what Tamar had expected, some languages will mark this by a conjunction like But or “However.” Nevertheless what happens is not contrary to what the reader or hearer of the story is expecting. So in other languages the conjunction may be better translated “Then,” simply showing the next step in the series of events.

Took hold of her: the words used here indicate clearly that significant force was involved. Several versions use the English verb “grabbed” (New International Version and New Century Version as well as Good News Translation). Some other renderings are “caught hold of” (Knox) and “seized her” (New American Bible, Bible en français courant, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Lie with me: see the comments on 11.11 and 12.11. The same imperative form is used in Gen 39.7 and 12, where Potiphar’s wife attempts to force Joseph into a sexual relationship. But note that there the roles are reversed.

Good News Translation omits the words my sister. While it may seem unnatural to have this as a part of the direct quotation, it is so pertinent to the story that some translators may choose to introduce the quotation by saying “said to his [half] sister” instead of simply said to her.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

My brother: again Good News Translation drops the reference to kinship, but this is not recommended to translators in most situations. The whole point of Tamar’s response is that their kinship makes sexual relations between them unthinkable. In some languages it may even be wise to say “No, you are my brother!”

Do not force me: the verb used here is repeated three more times in this story (verses 14, 22, and 32). In the form in which it occurs here, it means “to oppress,” “to humble,” and “to abuse” or “to rape.” In the later verses it is often translated “raped” where it occurs in the past tense. In some languages “do not rape me” may be a fitting translation here. Other versions, however, focus on the shame that results from such an action: “do not shame me” (New American Bible); “do not dishonour me” (Revised English Bible); and “do not humiliate me” (Anderson). Either interpretation is an acceptable choice.

For such a thing is not done in Israel: the connecting word for indicates that Tamar is giving the reason for her refusal. The people of Israel distinguished themselves from their Canaanite neighbors, who took incestuous relationships less seriously. Good News Translation cannot be recommended as a model here, because it does not make clear that the people of Israel have standards different from other people. These words may be restated as “That is a serious crime (or, offense) in Israel” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Compare Gen 34.7 and Deut 17.4.

Wanton folly: the Hebrew navalah translated by these two words normally carries the idea of foolishness, but recent studies have shown that such a translation may be too weak. The word refers to a violation of basic principles of society and is often used of wrong behavior related to sex. Prostitution (Deut 22.14), homosexuality (Judges 19.23), rape (Judges 20.5-10), and adultery (Jer 29.23) are all considered folly in this sense. Compare also the comments on 1 Sam 25.25, where there is a play on words between the name Nabal and the word here translated wanton folly. The term may be better rendered “anything so disgraceful” (New Jerusalem Bible), “wicked thing” (New International Version), or “outrage.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .