Pretend to be ill: or more literally “become ill” or “make yourself ill” as in verse 2, using the reflexive form of the verb. The idea of pretending may have to be expressed in some languages by using a verb that requires an object indicating who is deceived by the pretension. Some may say “tell people that you are ill” or “trick people into believing that you are ill.”

Comes to see you: it becomes clear in verse 7 that Amnon was not in the royal palace but in his own house. In some languages this information may determine exactly how this expression is translated.

Let my sister Tamar come: these words contain an untranslated Hebrew particle of entreaty. See the comments on verse 6 and also on 1 Sam 2.36. Compare Revised English Bible, “Please let my sister Tamar come.”

Give me bread to eat: literally “cause me to eat bread.” The word bread is often used in Scripture to refer to food in general. This is almost certainly the case here. The two phrases give me bread to eat and prepare the food do not express two completely different ideas. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh captures the idea of these two expressions and avoids giving the impression that two different kinds of food are intended by wording this part of the verse as follows: “Let … Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in front of me….” In this way the food refers back to “something to eat.” This may be a helpful model for other languages.

In my sight: the idea here is that the food preparation should take place in the presence of Amnon. It was expected that the whole affair would then be a private matter with only Amnon and Tamar present.

See it, and eat it: literally, “see and eat.” The Hebrew has no direct object. Revised Standard Version says “see it [the food],” and Good News Translation translates “see her.” Either is possible. But it is likely that what is meant is “see her cooking the food.” Contemporary English Version has “watch her cook something for you.”

The words eat it from her hand probably should not be understood literally, that is, that Tamar was to put the food into his mouth. The sense is probably “take it from her own hands” (Revised English Bible).

The quotation of Jonadab’s words contains another direct quotation of what Amnon is instructed to say to his father when he comes to visit him. In quite a few languages this kind of structure will prove to be very awkward and unnatural. It may be better to change the quotation within the quotation into indirect speech. That part of the verse will then read something like this:

• Ask him to send your sister Tamar to prepare some food for you as you watch. And ask him to let her serve it to you herself.

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 .