All these things: this, of course, refers to what had happened between Tamar and Amnon. In some languages this will have to be made clearer in translation. Some possible ways to do this will be to say “what Amnon had done to Tamar” or “how Amnon had violated Tamar.”

He was very angry: literally “he burned very much.” Compare the similar idiom in 3.8; 12.5; and 1 Sam 18.8.

Some manuscript evidence indicates that the original may have added the following words at the end of this verse: “But he did not grieve his son Amnon’s spirit because he loved him, since he was his firstborn.” This is recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, which gives it an {A} rating, and is followed by New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Osty-Trinquet, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, and Bible en français courant. Probably a scribe accidentally jumped over part of this verse while copying it. The same idea is translated in Contemporary English Version as “But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy.” Although these words are not found in either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation, translators are advised to include this idea in their rendering of this verse. That Amnon was the firstborn means that he was the first in line to become king when David died.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .