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5. Make thyself sick. That is, pretend to be ill. In one sense Amnon had already fallen sick (v. 2). His sickness was the result of ungoverned and ungratified passion. In this instance he would feign illness of a different character, that would make its appeal to the sympathies of the king.

At her hand. David as a wise and discerning father must have understood somewhat of the nature of his son. There is, however, nothing in the record to suggest that he discerned Amnon’s full intentions, or he would not have acceded to his wishes. But he should have been alert enough and sufficiently courageous not to permit Tamar to leave her own quarters and to enter Amnon’s establishment, where such serious consequences might follow.