II Samuel 13:5-9 · Bible study
2 Samuel 13:5-9 Commentary: Jonadab's Cunning and the Trap for Tamar
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
A study of how bad counsel and unchecked lust led to a horrific act. Explore the manipulation, the rare Hebrew words, and the moral tragedy.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The passage reveals how Jonadab's cunning plan enables Amnon's lust to rape Tamar.
- Key words: subtle (H6175), feign sick (H2470), cakes (H3834), pan (H4958).
- Main debate: Jonadab's intent, was he a knowing accomplice or a naive friend?
- Theological theme: The devastating consequences of sin in David's house, fulfilling Nathan's prophecy.
- Best use: As a warning against bad counsel and unchecked lust, and a call to protect the vulnerable.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
5Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’”
6So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”
7Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”
8So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked them.
9Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. And everyone went out.
WEB World English Bible 2000
5Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”
6So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9She took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Then every man went out from him.
KJV King James Version 1769
5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
6So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9And she took a 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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.
6So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.
7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him food.
8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9And 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
5And Jonadab saith to him, `Lie down on thy couch, and feign thyself sick, and thy father hath come in to see thee, and thou hast said unto him, `Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come in and give me bread to eat; and she hath made the food before mine eyes so that I see it , and have eaten from her hand.'
6And Amnon lieth down, and feigneth himself sick, and the king cometh in to see him, and Amnon saith unto the king, `Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come, and she maketh before mine eyes two cakes, and I eat from her hand.'
7And David sendeth unto Tamar, to the house, saying, `Go, I pray thee, to the house of Amnon thy brother, and make for him food.'
8And Tamar goeth to the house of Amnon her brother, and he is lying down, and she taketh the dough, and kneadeth, and maketh cakes before his eyes, and cooketh the cakes,
9and taketh the frying-pan, and poureth out before him, and he refuseth to eat, and Amnon saith, `Take ye out every one from me;' and they go out every one from him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
5And Jonadab said to him, Lay thee down on thy bed and feign thyself sick; and when thy father comes to see thee, say to him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.
6So Amnon lay down and feigned himself sick; and the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.
7And David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go, I pray thee, to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him food.
8And Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he had lain down. And she took flour and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Put every man out from me. And they went out every man from him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
5And Jonadab said to him: Lie down upon thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father shall come to visit thee, say to him: Let my sister Thamar, I pray thee, come to me, to give me to eat, and to make me a mess, that I may eat it at her hand.
6So Ammon lay down, and made as if he were sick: and when the king came to visit him, Ammon said to the king: I pray thee let my sister Thamar come, and make in my sight two little messes, that I may eat at her hand.
7Then David sent home to Thamar, saying: Come to the house of thy brother Ammon, and make him a mess.
8And Thamar came to the house of Ammon her brother: but he was laid down: and she took meal and tempered it: and dissolving it in his sight she made little messes.
9And taking what she had boiled, she poured it out, and set it before him, but he would not eat: and Ammon said: Put out all persons from me. And when they had put all persons out,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Samuel 13:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jonadab, described as 'a very subtle man' (v.3), devises a scheme to exploit Amnon's consuming lust for his half-sister Tamar. The plan uses feigned illness to draw Tamar into a private setting where Amnon can assault her. Barnes notes that the rare word for cakes (levivot) may be heart-shaped, adding a cruel irony. Gill emphasizes how Jonadab's subtlety blinds David, who naively sends Tamar to Amnon's house. Cambridge notes that each royal prince had a separate house, making the deception plausible. The consensus holds that this passage illustrates the catastrophic consequences of unchecked desire combined with bad counsel.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Jonadab as knowing accomplice: He is described as 'very subtle'; he devises a plan that necessarily isolates Tamar with Amnon, making assault the foreseeable outcome.
- Jonadab as short-sighted friend: He may have intended only to arrange a private meeting to satisfy Amnon's desire to see Tamar, without foreseeing that Amnon would rape her.
What is clear: That Jonadab's deceptive counsel directly enabled Amnon's predatory act against Tamar, and that the passage condemns the manipulation and its tragic results.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Jonadab's character and role | Commentators agree that Jonadab is subtle and cunning, and that his counsel leads directly to the assault on Tamar. | Some argue he was a knowing accomplice who intended to enable Amnon's lust; others see him as a short-sighted friend who only meant to arrange a private meeting, without foreseeing rape. |
| The nature of Amnon's 'love' | There is consensus that Amnon's feelings were lust, not genuine love. | A few interpreters note that Amnon may have genuinely believed he loved Tamar, but the narrative demonstrates his self-centered desire. |
| David's responsibility | All agree that David was naive and failed to discern Amnon's true intent. | Some suggest David bears significant moral fault for not questioning his son's request; others see it as a tragic oversight rather than culpable negligence. |
| The meaning of the cakes (levivot) | Commentators agree the Hebrew word is rare and its exact meaning uncertain. | Barnes and others propose it was a heart-shaped delicacy, adding symbolism; Cambridge suggests it was simply a special delicacy for an invalid. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, royal princes had separate households. The Cambridge Bible notes that 'each of the royal princes evidently had a separate house,' making Amnon's request for Tamar to come to his house seem reasonable. Tamar, as a virgin princess, lived in the women's quarters of the palace. David's sending her to Amnon's house would have appeared normal; a sick son asking for his sister's cooking was a plausible request. The Hebrew word for cakes (levivot) occurs only here in the Old Testament. Barnes suggests the etymology implies a heart-shaped delicacy, a bitterly ironic detail given the heartbreak that follows. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that 'Orientals are great adepts in feigning sickness,' so David had little reason to doubt his son's illness.
The narrative unfolds within a patriarchal culture where women prepared food for male relatives. Gill points out that Tamar went 'with an innocent breast, having no suspicion of any design upon her chastity.' David's failure to question the request reflects both his trust in his children and his naivety about the depth of sin in his own house. The story sets the stage for the eventual rebellion of Absalom. Understanding the household structure helps modern readers see how Tamar's vulnerability was magnified by her lack of agency and the normalcy of her obedience.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for this passage. However, the Hebrew word for cakes (levivot, Strong's H3834) occurs only here in the Old Testament, and the word for pan (masret, Strong's H4958) is also rare. The precise nature of these items is uncertain, but the basic meaning of the narrative is clear.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this narrative has been read as a sobering example of how unchecked desire, aided by bad counsel, leads to devastating sin. Early commentators such as John Chrysostom used it to warn against lust. In the Reformation, it was often cited as evidence of the corruption within David's household, fulfilling the prophecy of the sword (2 Samuel 12:10). Modern interpreters focus on the dynamics of power and vulnerability, making it a key text in discussions of sexual violence and pastoral care. The story remains a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for righteous counsel.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Danger of Bad Counsel: Jonadab, the subtle friend, devises a plan that enables sin rather than stopping it. His advice shows how a trusted voice can lead someone into disaster.
- The Deception of Feigned Sickness: Amnon lies about his health to manipulate his father and sister. Pretense becomes the tool of predation.
- The Vulnerability of the Innocent: Tamar obeys her father and serves her brother, unaware of the trap. Her trust is exploited by those closest to her.
Five-point outline
- Jonadab's counsel exploits a brother's lust. He does not challenge Amnon but offers a way to fulfill the desire.
- Amnon's feigned illness plays on a father's love. David's concern for his son becomes the doorway for harm.
- David's naive obedience enables the trap. He sends Tamar without question, trusting the request.
- Tamar's innocent service is exploited. She comes willingly to care for her brother, not knowing his intent.
- The isolation of the victim. Amnon orders everyone out, leaving Tamar alone and vulnerable.
Illustration hooks
- A manager who isolates an employee by asking them to work late alone, using a plausible excuse.
- A friend who gives morally questionable advice to help someone 'get what they want' without considering the consequences.
- A parent who trusts a seemingly harmless request from a child, only to discover it was a cover for harmful behavior.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did David not see through the deception? Could he have prevented what happened?
- How can we protect vulnerable people from manipulation, especially when it comes from family or trusted friends?
- What does this story teach us about the difference between genuine love and consuming lust?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows how quickly a plan formed in secret can destroy lives. Jonadab's subtlety and Amnon's lust combine to trap an innocent woman. As you discuss, consider the roles of each character and how sin spreads through deception.
Discussion questions
- What does the description of Jonadab as 'a very subtle man' (v.3) tell us about his character and influence?
- How does Amnon's request to have Tamar prepare food in his sight exploit cultural norms? What does this reveal about his manipulation?
- In what ways does David fail as a father in this story? Could he have reasonably suspected Amnon's intent?
- Tamar obeys without question. What does this reveal about her position in the household and her vulnerability?
- Why does Amnon order everyone out before he acts? How does isolation make the victim more vulnerable?
- How does this passage help us recognize similar patterns of manipulation and abuse today?
- What does this story teach us about the need for wise, godly counsel, and the dangers of advice that enables sin?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Samuel 16:21 | Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” |
| II Samuel 17:4 | The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. |
| Psalms 50:18 | When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers. |
| Psalms 50:19 | “You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit. |
| Proverbs 19:27 | If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| Mark 6:24 | She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.” |
| Mark 6:25 | She came in immediately with haste to the king and requested, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” |
| Acts 23:15 | Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the word for "cakes" appears only here and in verse 8, and may mean a heart-shaped cake based on its Hebrew root. He also explains the scene: Amnon, feigning illness, could see from his room as Tamar prepared the food.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The notes clarify the details of Tamar's deception, explaining that she is told to pretend illness, that the cakes she prepares are a special dish for someone sick, and that her entry to Amnon's private house means entering the separate women's quarters of the palace.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the calculated deception in Jonadab’s scheme: Amnon is told to feign illness and request food from Tamar by calling her his own sister, not Absalom’s, to mask his intent. Gill also observes that David’s natural affection for his sick son kept the king from suspecting the design.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights Amnon's calculated use of feigned sickness, a common tactic in the East when pursuing a hidden agenda. Calling Tamar his sister was a deliberate ploy to mislead David, and the request for fancy cakes, a delicacy Oriental ladies took pride in preparing, seemed innocent enough to secure his cooperation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on Jonadab's cunning as the engine of the tragedy: a bad friend turns Amnon's already sinful lust into a calculated scheme. He notes that what Amnon called love was really a brutish passion, and that David's unsuspecting compliance made him an unwitting accomplice in his daughter's ruin.