Verse 1

after this: i.e. 938. David, 53; Amnon, 22; Absalom, 20; Tamar, 15; Solomon, 2.

Absalom. Son of Maacah, daughter of king of Geshur (see note on 2 Samuel 3:3).

Amnon. Son of Ahinoam (2 Samuel 3:2).

Verse 3

Shimeah = Shammah (1 Samuel 16:9).

subtil = wise.

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

Verse 5

make = feign.

meat = heart-shaped cakes. Occurs only here and in verses: 2 Samuel 13:6-7, 2 Samuel 6:8, 2 Samuel 6:10.

Verse 6

cakes. See note on "meat", 2 Samuel 13:5.

Verse 8

flour = dough, or paste.

Verse 9

a pan = the pan. Occurs only here.

poured = put down,

men. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

Verse 12

force = humble.

Verse 16

no cause. Hebrew "[Give] no ground for talk".

evil. Hebrew. ra`a `. App-44.

Verse 18

divers colours = a long tunic with sleeves.

Verse 19

laid her hand. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, put for "grieved".

Verse 20

desolate. Hebrew "remained and [remained] desolate". Compare 1 Timothy 5:5.

Verse 24

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

Verse 25

chargeable = burdensome.

Verse 27

with him. The Septuagint and Vulgate add here "and Absalom made a banquet, like the banquet of a king". Compare 1 Samuel 25:36.

Verse 28

valiant = sons of valour.

Verse 29

as = according as.

mule. First occurrence. Not Genesis 36:24. See note there.

Verse 31

with their clothes rent = and rent their garments.

Verse 36

wept very sore. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6) = "wept with a great weeping ".

Verse 37

Ammihud, or Ammihur.

David. Septuagint reads "David the king".

Verse 39

the soul of king David. The Aramaean reads "the soul (nephesh) of the king". Compare the omission of nephesh in Psalms 16:2.