John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And he said unto him, why [art] thou, [being] the king’s son , lean from day today ? etc.] Or “morning by morning”, f214 ; he was the king’s eldest son, heir to the crown, fed at his table, had everything to make him gay and cheerful, and yet pined away; his flesh wasted f215 , his countenance waxed wan and pale, and especially in the mornings; in the daytime he met with diversions which, in some measure, took off his thoughts from the object his mind was impressed with, but in the night season they were continually employed about it; so that he could have no rest and sleep, which made him look ruefully in the morning; and this man had a suspicion of his case, and therefore put this and the following question to him: wilt thou not tell me ? who am so nearly related to thee, and who have such a particular value and affection for thee: and Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister ; he does not call her his sister, but Absalom’s sister, to lessen his sin of unlawful love to her, which, being thus closely pressed, and by a friend, he could not conceal.
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 ויאמר559 לו מדוע4069 אתה859 ככה3602 דל1800 בן1121 המלך4428 בבקר1242 בבקר1242 הלוא3808 תגיד5046 לי ויאמר559 לו אמנון550 את853 תמר8559 אחות269 אבשׁלם53 אחי251 אני589 אהב׃157
