Her brother Absalom: it is not known whether Absalom was older or younger than Tamar, but in some languages translators must decide. If a decision is forced it will probably be better to use the term for “older sibling” to describe the relationship of Absalom to Tamar.

Has Amnon your brother been with you? Good News Translation again drops the words your brother, presumably for the sake of naturalness in English, but this provides an emphasis that is important to the story. The use of the expression “to be with” is to be taken as a euphemism for sexual relations, as may be surmised from the statement in the story of Joseph (Gen 39.10). Most English versions translate this euphemistic expression literally, but in many languages it may be misleading to do so. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh leaves the reader to imagine that there was some obvious physical evidence of what had happened to Tamar as it translates this question “Was it your brother Amnon who did this to you?” New Century Version is even more direct: “has Amnon, your brother, forced you to have sexual relations with him?”

The form of the name Amnon in Hebrew at this point is different from other references to him in this passage. In the mouth of Absalom the diminutive form is taken by some interpreters as a sign of his contempt for his half brother. One scholar has even suggested translating “Amnon your little brother.” But this will almost certainly be misleading in many languages, since Amnon was the oldest son of David (3.2). Most translations either ignore the diminutive form or mention it only in a footnote.

Hold your peace: this may be understood in two very different ways: (a) “Stop your crying” or “Be quiet now” (New International Version), and (b) “don’t tell anyone what happened” (Contemporary English Version). Many translations retain the ambiguity, but in view of Absalom’s plan to get revenge, perhaps it is better to follow the second interpretation, “keep quiet about it” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Note that Good News Translation reverses the order of elements at this point.

He is your brother: as indicated in Good News Translation, Amnon is actually her half brother, but this repetition underlines the importance of their close relationship.

Do not take this to heart: the idiom “take something to heart” really means “to worry about something.” Absalom is telling his sister not to worry about what had happened to her; “Don’t let this upset you so much” (New Century Version). Compare 13.33 and 1 Sam 21.12, where Hebrew forms that are slightly different from that here express the same meaning.

A desolate woman: some scholars take this expression to refer to the fact that Tamar remained unmarried, and point to Isa 54.1, where a desolate woman is used in contrast with one that is married. But others leave this implicit while focusing on the fact that she was “sad and lonely” (New Century Version as well as Good News Translation) or “inconsolable” (New Jerusalem Bible). The basic sense is that Tamar was removed from contact with other people.

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 .