John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And Amnon was so vexed , etc.] Distressed, straitened, and perplexed in his mind through unruly and unbridled lusts that raged in him: that he fell sick for his sister Tamar ; as Antiochus son of Seleucus did for his mother in law Stratonice, who, to cure him of it, was delivered to him by his father f211 : for she [was] a virgin ; and so kept very recluse from the company of men, that he could not come at her; so Philo f212 , speaking of the Jewish women, and particularly virgins, says, that they were shut up in their chambers, and through modesty shun the sight of men, even those of their own house; hence they are called twml[ , from a word which signifies to hide; and Phocylides the poet advises to the shutting of them up in like manner: and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her ; that it was difficult to have access to her, almost impossible, what he despaired of, and what, if attained to, would be wonderful and amazing; he was at his wits’ end how to contrive any scheme to get at her, and obtain his desire.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-20 - From henceforward David was followed with one trouble after another Adultery and murder were David's sins, the like sins among his children were the beginnings of his punishment: he was too indulgent to his children. Thus David might trace the sins of his children to his ow misconduct, which must have made the anguish of the chastisement worse Let no one ever expect good treatment from those who are capable of attempting their seduction; but it is better to suffer the greates wrong than to commit the least sin.
Original Hebrew ויצר3334 לאמנון550 להתחלות2470 בעבור5668 תמר8559 אחתו269 כי3588 בתולה1330 היא1931 ויפלא6381 בעיני5869 אמנון550 לעשׂות6213 לה מאומה׃3972
