And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.
vexed
1 Kings 21:4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
Song of Solomon 5:8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Amnon, etc.
for she was a virgin
Tamar's virginity is significant in the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, where a woman's purity was highly valued and protected. Her status as a virgin daughter of the king underscores the gravity of Amnon's obsession and the potential dishonor to the royal family. This detail also emphasizes the violation of social and moral boundaries that Amnon contemplates, reflecting the broader biblical theme of the sanctity of sexual relations within the covenant of marriage.
and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her
The phrase "it seemed implausible" suggests that Amnon recognized the barriers to acting on his desires, whether due to social norms, legal restrictions, or moral considerations. This acknowledgment of the impossibility of his intentions highlights the internal conflict between his desires and the reality of the situation. The narrative tension here points to the broader biblical theme of temptation and the struggle between fleshly desires and righteous living. It also foreshadows the tragic decisions that Amnon will make, leading to devastating consequences for himself and his family.
• 2 Samuel 13:2 records: “Amnon was frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister Tamar…”
• Desire left unchecked can affect the body. Proverbs 13:12 notes, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” and James 1:14-15 warns that unchecked lust conceives sin and brings forth death.
• Amnon’s physical ailment is not an excuse; it exposes the corrosive power of sinful obsession (cf. Proverbs 4:23).
• His condition foreshadows the tragedy that follows, reminding us that sin begins in the heart long before outward actions appear (Mark 7:21-23).
• Tamar was Amnon’s half-sister, a relationship strictly forbidden (Leviticus 18:9; Deuteronomy 27:22).
• The family connection heightens the moral offense; what should have evoked brotherly protection instead stirred predatory desire (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1 for New-Testament abhorrence of incest).
• David’s household already bore scars from David’s own moral failure with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). The text quietly suggests how parental compromise can ripple through a family (Exodus 20:5).
• As a royal virgin daughter, Tamar lived in guarded quarters and wore a special robe (2 Samuel 13:18). Her status symbolized purity and the hope of an honorable marriage (Deuteronomy 22:13-19).
• Amnon’s desire was therefore not simply lustful but also predatory, targeting one whom God’s law and social custom were designed to protect.
• Scripture consistently links sexual purity with covenant faithfulness (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 14:4). Tamar’s virginity underscores how grievous Amnon’s intent truly was.
• Social and legal restraints initially blocked Amnon. “It seemed impossible for him,” yet his sinful imagination kept probing for a path (Proverbs 1:10-16).
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God provides a way of escape from temptation; Amnon chose the opposite route, later soliciting Jonadab’s cunning plan (2 Samuel 13:3-5).
• The verse exposes the moment between temptation and action—a critical juncture where turning to God’s provision could have prevented disaster (Psalm 119:9, 11).
• When godly boundaries feel “implausible,” the believer must remember that obedience, not gratification, is the path to life (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24).
• Amnon’s bodily sickness reveals how unchecked lust corrupts from the inside out.
• Targeting his own sister flagrantly violated God’s clear commands and the protective design of family relationships.
• Tamar’s virginity heightened both the moral gravity and the protective barriers God had established.
• The “impossibility” Amnon felt was actually divine mercy—yet he chose to press through the barrier rather than flee temptation.
This verse therefore stands as a sober warning: sinful desire, if entertained, blinds the heart, breaches God-given boundaries, and leads to catastrophic harm.
(2) Thought it hard.--Rather, it seemed impossible to Amnon. The modest seclusion of Tamar in the harem of her mother seemed to leave him no opportunity to carry out his desires.It appears from the narrative that the king's children lived in different households, and each grown-up son dwelt in his own house.
Verse 2. - Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick. The Hebrew literally is, and it was narrow to Amnon, even to becoming sick. To an Oriental a feeling of narrowness means distress, while in joy there is a sense of largeness and expansion. Our words for distress have lost this picturesque force. That Amnon thought it hard does not mean that he had any feeling for his sister's disgrace, but that he knew that his attempt was difficult. He did not see how he could get Tamar into his power, and feared the consequences. The wives had each her own dwelling, and the daughters were kept in strict seclusion.