And 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.
2 SAMUEL 13:5KJVWhat does 2 Samuel 13:5 mean?
2 Samuel 13:5 describes Jonadab advising Amnon to pretend to be sick and ask his father, King David, to send his sister Tamar to prepare food for him, so that Amnon can see her and eat from her hand. This is part of Jonadab’s scheme to help Amnon get close to Tamar under false pretenses.
In this verse, Jonadab is speaking to Amnon, who is lovesick over his half-sister Tamar. Jonadab, described earlier as a crafty man, suggests a deceptive plan to arrange a private meeting between Amnon and Tamar. The verse sets up the troubling events that follow in the chapter, showing how manipulation and deceit are used to take advantage of family trust.
The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 13:5
- The word for "lay thee down" is שָׁכַב (shakhav), which means to lie down or recline, often used for resting or sleeping. Here, it is part of the plan to feign illness.
- The word for "make thyself sick" is חָלָה (chalah), meaning to be or become sick or weak. Jonadab’s advice is for Amnon to deliberately act as if he is ill.
- The word for "meat" is לֶחֶם (lechem), which generally means bread or food. The request is for Tamar to prepare food, a normal act of care within a family, but here it is used as a pretext.
- The word for "hand" is יָד (yad), meaning hand. The idea of eating from Tamar’s hand emphasizes the personal, intimate nature of the request, which is key to Amnon’s intentions.
Why 2 Samuel 13:5 matters
- This verse shows the beginning of a calculated plan that leads to great harm, highlighting how manipulation can twist normal family care into something dangerous.
- The details about pretending to be sick and asking for Tamar specifically reveal the level of deceit involved and foreshadow the betrayal of trust within David’s family.
- Understanding Jonadab’s role helps explain the dynamics of influence and counsel in the royal household, setting the stage for the tragic consequences that follow in the narrative.